Boostering under 40 pounds

[dmpmercury]

I not thinking about now but the future. My dd is 3.5 now and weighs 28 pounds and is on the small side height wise too for her age. She currectly rides rear facing and will do so for a while. Her boulevard expires in Spring of 2012 when she will be 5.5. I doubt she will be 40 pounds by then or even close. She gains slowly. Would you put a 5.5 year old in a booster if they could sit good if they were tiny or would you get a 5 point harness. Would she be at risk for submarining if she fit properly? I also hope I can get a booster to work in a 3 across. I will need to eventually anyway.

 

[safeinthecar]

I would cross that bridge when you come to it. My DS was the same asyour DD at 3.5. He was actually just outgrowing a 30# rfing roundabout at that point. He hit 33# (weight limit of the MA) at 4.5 and 40# right around 5.5.

 

[lorismurph]

I did. My dd is now 5 1/2 and just 2 weeks ago, I made the decision to put her in a booster full-time. She's only 38lbs (finally). I have a Nautilus but when #4 outgrew the SS1, he needed the Titan which meant either a new seat (which my hubby was NOT keen on) or move everyone up and put her in a booster. I've been very happy about her behavior in there, I was worried. The threat of "if you don't sit right, I'll buy you a Maestro that does NOT come in pink" was enough for her.

 

[vermontmoms]

At 5.5yrs our boys were 38lbs and outgrew their marathons in height but we were not comfortable putting them in a booster so we got 2 Regents. We have loved them; our Regents are only 1.5yrs old but our boys are outgrowing them quickly in height. If I had to do it again...I would buy the Regent in a heartbeat.

For your daughter, I would not fret or plan anything at this point...seats are changing so fast and by 2012 who knows what cool seats there will be on the market. But for me I would not even entertain the idea of a booster for a child as small as her...I would plan on getting a EH seat that converts to a booster. But that is just my :twocents: and my personal preference.

 

[lpperry]

My 5 1/2 year old recently outgrew her seat in my husband's car by height and she was only 36-37 pounds. I asked this same question, and the response I got was enough to make me feel comfortable boostering 5 1/2 year old in my husbands car. We really didn't want to spend the money on a Nautilus or the like.

She rides in the booster in dh's car and in Radian in my car.

 

[Lily]

This is an interesting discussion from my perspective. In my jurisdiction (province of British Columbia, Canada) it is a requirement to be in a harnessed seat until 40 lbs. I had not realized that it was possible to be just as safe in a booster before 40lbs. I guess it is a good law, though, at least for the most part, since some kids would reach 40 lbs at a very young age.

http://www.tsfbcaa.com/28.aspx

 

[carseatcoach]

Assuming proper fit and use, I would be okay with a 35ish# 5.5yo in a booster, but think that a narrow HWH seat like the Maestro would play nicer in a tight three-across.

 

[Genevieve]

I'm fine with my 5.5 year old (37lbs) in a booster. He's not in one full-time yet, just because I have a nautilus available, but he's in a booster 3-5 times a week.