Booster Car Seat?

OutNumberedByBoys

At what age did you transfer your child from a 5 point harness carseat to a booster carseat?

My son is 3 1/2 and 35 pounds. I feel that he is safer in a 5 point harness carseat rather than a booster seat, but his father thinks he is ready for a booster seat and refuses to care about my concerns for the safety of our son. We have a court order for when he has visitation, but do I have to let him leave with him if I feel that he is not safe in his car? I live in Nevada and the state law according to a highway patrol officer that I have talked to is that my child has to be 4 years old AND 40 pounds. Opinions please.

camommy

Go with what you are being told the law is. Just tell the dad its the law live with it.

EHILL11009

Go with the law! I plan to keep my son in his 5 pt harness as long as I can!

hurstk28

My son is 3 and we were told by local sheriffs department he has to stay in it til he's 5.

hurstk28

Also was told Parker has to be rearfacing til he's 2.

OutNumberedByBoys

I have told him that and sent him a youtube video that really upset me about a 3 year old being killed in a booster seat. The NHP officer that I talked to is a family friend and gave me a link off the DMV website that states this.

He was complaining that the car seat that he has for him does not fit anymore (it is a infant/toddler convertible car seat) so I offered that he could take mine when he takes him, but he said he would get him a different car seat. I am just worried that if I tell him that he can not leave with our son due to the car seat issue that I can get in trouble for not following the visitation court order.

Karla_with_a_K

Why does he want to swap?? Its safer in his carseat

Mommyof4girls

@outnumberedbyboys
If hes still short enough in his body to fit in a 5 pt go for it but you do have to let him go w his father. My children are very very tall and wouldn't fit past 2 and a half in a 5 pt w out crying from pain. It's mainly a suggestion not a law that you can get in trouble for, if you put them in the next level carseat a little early. It's subject to your discretion as a parent. Trying to force his father to keep him in a 5 pt harness and not let him have his visit is a fast way to get yourself in big trouble. I know a ton of police officers and as long as the child is in a restraint that seems approppriate they will not hassle you.

OutNumberedByBoys

As of Sunday when he got dropped off he was still riding in the booster seat. My other problem with the booster seat is that it is used and I have no idea where he got it from. Does anyone know if I can file a police report about it... or should I try to get back to the court since there are other issues going on against our court order...?

OutNumberedByBoys

@mommyof4girls He is tall for his age, but I have bought a new carseat to fit him better. I am just more uncomfortable with the fact that I feel it is not safe and he is not even willing to barrow my carseat while he has him. I have even offered to buy a car seat that has a 5 point harness that can eventually be used as a booster, but he has declined that also.

Mommyof4girls

A new booster w a grow w you adjustable back is $40-50 bucks, if he insists on the booster I would make him buy a new one. Used is no bueno in my book. Going to court or filing a report won't make much happen at this point being he's so close to the next stage. If you feel uncomfortable take your son and let him pick out a new booster as a compromise and hype him up over it going in Daddys car. This way you know its new and your ex sees you're willing to compromise and when other disagreements arise he'll remember that. I hate my ex but I gotta deal w him so Ive learned how to get my way but seem like hes getting his. Oh and you can get a pillow that goes on the seatbelt that adds extra cushion and some safety.

countrymommaof2stb3

Go with the law and talk to his pediatrician. They know too. My daughter was two when I switched her, and my son will be two in July, but I don't think my son will stay in his seatbelt and booster at two. He is a trouble maker. So I'm gonna wait and find out the law in Utah for car seats and talk to the pediatrician

OutNumberedByBoys

@Mommyof4girls Thank you so much for your advice! His dad does not want to listen to me at all and always wants to go against my opinion. I will go out with them to buy a new car seat or he can have the spare that I purchased for my son when we had two cars.

babynum2andproud

My daughter is 3.5 and 42 lbs her and her dad were in a car accident a few months back and the only reason she got hurt was because of the booster seat arm rests when they were hit her ribs cracked from the plastic rest i was so mad at myself for not leaving her in the 5 point. It was a stupid decision on my part so she is def back in the 5 point. Stand ur ground

OutNumberedByBoys

@babynum2andproud Thank you so much for sharing your advice! I have heard stories about booster seats hurting younger children in car accidents and that is what scares me. I am scared that he will not be protected enough in the booster seat.

babynum2andproud

Im with u im just glad my hubby agrees with me it sounds like ur bd is just being difficult

lae3

the law in cali is 6 and 60 lbs.. you go with a booster convertable.. starts with the 5 point harness for liler ones and gets bigger.. its about the hight to if he is not tall enough the seatbelt wont fit.. just be addamit to ur husband ur not puttin him in a booster for a few mor month.. sounds lil

laura536

My 5 yo is still in a 5 pt harness seat, it's the next stage up from the infant/toddler seat. She is 42 inches and 40 lbs and she's tall for her age, so I have a hard time believing younger kids wouldn't fit in one. You can use it with a regular seatbelt as well, and it keeps the belt positioned correctly, which a regular booster doesn't do.

if it's really against the law, and you're really concerned, I would call your local police dept and see if they'd be willing to ticket him the next time he picks your son up. Maybe a big fine will change his mind.

camommy

There is a safety 1st high back belt positioning booster that's for 22 to 100 lbs sold at target it has a 5 point harness to start with the converts to just a seat belt later

OutNumberedByBoys

@Laura536 I know my son still fits in a 5 point harness car seat because it is the only thing that I will put him in. I just wished he would quit being lazy and be concerned about our son's safety also.

@camommy Thank you for the info. The car seat I have in my car is a Safety 1st 5point harness/booster and my spare is the Alpha Omega. They are similar, I call them my son's lazy boy car seats.