Question How big until they're out of a booster?

[butterflymama7]

To what height/weight should older kids be before they're out of the high back booster and a regular booster? I've been reading around some and I think I should still have my 8 year old in a high back maybe. I know what the law says but what's the recommendation?

 

[Patriot201]

I would feel perfectly fine with a neurotypical eight-year-old using a backless booster as long as he/she:

~ Meets the minimum height and weight requirements
~ Has head support
~ Doesn't fall asleep in the car and thus fall out of position
~ Has a good lapbelt fit
~ Has a good shoulder belt fit

 

[Brigala]

There are no official guidelines for highback vs. backless booster. A booster is a booster. Use the type that fits your child best and works best with your vehicle. As a general rule, smaller children often get a better shoulder belt fit with a highback booster, and younger children can benefit from having the extra support to keep them in place when they are tired or asleep. Highback boosters often advertise side impact protection, too, but since there are no federal safety standards that apply to side impact protection we have no idea how much of that is "real" and how much of it is simply marketing.

If possible, I prefer not to use a backless booster if the child needs the little belt positioning clip on a strap in order to get a proper belt fit. And if you don't have head rests in your vehicle, you may need a booster that offers head support. Not all highback boosters offer structural head support, but obviously none of the backless boosters do.

 

[mommyfrog]

The adult seat belt usually fits when they reach about 4'9". Kids are usually older than eight when they reach that height and will still need some kind of booster to help the seat belt fit right. Like the others said, a backless booster is fine at that age if you have head support behind her.

 

[vtbecca]

My boys were around 10, 10.5 before I felt they were old enough to go without, and fit. My middle absolutely didn't mind staying in that long, but he became too tall in it in certain situations. He just stopped using his about a month ago, and is about 4'8"

Becca

 

[mommyfrog]

That's the same height as my 10.5 year old boy. He fits in some cars without a booster now. The third row of minivans mostly. He still uses a booster in my van since the belt fit is horrible in there. Both him and my eight year old use high backs in my van (lack of head support) and backless when they go somewhere with someone else.