What age did you take your child out of there car seat legally?

At what age or size should a child use a booster seat instead of a car seat?

• At what age or size should a child use a booster seat instead of a car seat?

• Answer:

  The minimum age and size is 4 years old AND 40 pounds. However, this is just a bare minimum and few children are actually ready at this point. Sitting in a booster seat has just as much to do with the maturity level of the child as physical fit. At age 4, only 1% of children are mature enough, at age 5, 50% and at age 6, 99%. So waiting until around 6 years old (and at least 40 lbs) is safest. To be ready for a booster seat a child must meet ALL of the following: *At least 4 years old *At least 40 lbs *Lap belt must lay across thighs and over the pelvic bone, not resting on the abdomen *Shoulder belt must cross the chest and lay flat on the shoulder, not down on the arm or cutting into the neck *Child's knees must bend at the edge of the booster seat *Child must know to never, ever place the shoulder belt behind their back or under their arm. (very dangerous, search 'seatbelt syndrome') *Child must sit upright the entire ride, every single time. This means no leaning over to torment siblings, no twisting around to look at the cool firetruck that just went by, no leaning down to pick up a toy....Every single moment that the child is not sitting upright and proper in the booster is a moment they are not safe. *Child must not slouch or lean sideways if they fall asleep. (some older kids do fall asleep on occasion in a booster seat and this can be okay as long as they remain in the proper position while sleeping. But if a child still regularly falls asleep in the car, a 5 point harness would be best, no matter the child's age or if they meet the other requirements) Once a child meets all of the above, they may safely ride in a booster seat. A 5 point harness is not necessarily any safER than a properly used booster seat. However, a 5 point harness is still safe if you want to continue harnessing your child for any reason. And if even one of the above is not fully meet, 100% of the time, a harness is safer. Go to YouTube and search "Belle's Gift" for a real life story of why not to booster too soon.