12 year old in a booster seat?

Question

I saw this answer and it really surprised me. It said that 0-6 years is a car seat and up to 12 years old is a booster seat. I was really surprised. Is this what people in cities are doing now? If I put my 8 year old in a booster seat, I think she would never forgive me. I have had her riding in the front seat beside me since she was out of a car seat at 3 or so. Nowdays with the new laws, I think my son will be in a booster seat until 4 or 5.

I have never heard of keeping kids in until 12 years old! Is this based on height? If so, than why don't small women and grandma's use booster seats? My daughter is almost as big as alot smaller women.

Answer 1

It varies from state to state, but the general one that seems to be the most common is 6 years and 60 pounds for a booster seat. Some states it's 8 and 80. But you're not supposed to have a child ride in the front passenger seat because the air bag can hurt a child if it goes off.



But I agree with you. There are too many laws regulating things like this. Honestly, I thought we were supposed to be a free country. It's amazing we lived through childhood, huh, with riding in the car without seatbelts on a cross country road trip (no carseats, period!). I'm a small woman, maybe I should ride in a booster seat in the passenger seat when my husband drives!



EDIT: Even though I think there are too many laws governing such things, I still put all my children in the appropriate car seat.

Answer 2

In my state the law is 8 years old or 80 lbs. The label on the visors in all cars clearly state that a child under 12 should not be in the front seat if there is an air bag. My kids are in booster seats at ages 6 and 4 and my other two are in car seats at 2 years and 16 months. They just know that absolutely can not sit in the front or even be in a car with out their seats. better safe than sorry!

Answer 3

As is obvious from the answers, the laws on this vary by state. Most states do have a weight or height but also have some age where you can waive out of the restrictions. The laws of physics don't let you waive out of the restrictions, though. Yes, very short adults would technically be safer in booster seats, too.



I've got really small, light kids. My 7-year-old is still so short that he can't even sit in a backless booster without the seatbelt going across his neck. He still sits in a booster with a back. My 9-year-old just recently got tall enough so that she can technically sit without a booster, but it's right on the edge, and she actually prefers the booster because she can see better. My younger daughter is so very tiny for her age that I can't even begin to imagine when she'll be big enough to ride without a booster seat.



I couldn't care less if my kids wouldn't forgive me for putting them in a booster. Seatbelts are designed for adult males. My car was once totaled by a hit-and-run driver and the seatbelts saved my child's life. What's embarrassing about sitting on something that makes the seatbelt fit you properly? Until car manufacturers start making seatbelts designed for shorter people, I'll take an embarrassed kid over a dead one any day.

Answer 4

Where I live it is 8 years or 80 lbs or over 4'9.



My neice has a friend who at 13 was still in a booster seat because she was really small and short. She wasn't embarassed about it.



The laws don't only pertain to the big cities, they pertain to the whole state that you live in. Having a three year old in the front seat has probably been against the law for at least 15 years that I know of.



It has to do with their safety not whether or not it would make your child mad. My 10 year old is only 60 lbs and she gets in the booster seat on her own free will, you can't really see that she is in one because it is smaller and it just makes her sit up a little higher.



Your kids' safety should always be your top priority and you should educate yourself on what the laws are, and use common sense. Having a three year old in the front seat is not using common sense.





EDIT: It doesn't matter if you have airbags or not.If you have a backseat you should use it. Children have been thrown through windows you know.

Answer 5

The Law in NJ is 8 OR 80lbs. My son is 6 and only weighs 42 lbs, so he will definitely be in the seat until he turns 8. Let me tell you, he is counting the days. A child has to be 80lbs for the seat belt to fit properly. So, even if they are small at 8, like my son will be, the seat belt still isn't going to fit right. I guess I could keep him in the booster, but he is counting the days until he can get out. My daughter was out of her seat at 4, because that was the law then, then it changed and I couldn't get her back in, but she was bigger so it didn't bother me. Also, no one under age 12 is supposed to be in the front seat. That law was made to protect kids from air bags. It doesn't matter if you have them or not, that is the law.

Answer 6

I am 23 and use a booster cushion of sorts to drive my car!!!!! Im about 5 foot 3 inches....not tiny but I am quite small in the driver seat! Could be seen as embarrassing but I think its more funny than anything and besides, its important to be able to see!



I was watching "The Afternoon Show" when these new laws came out [i guess it was almost 2 years ago?] and they were talking about children up to the age of 12 having booster seats - when the varying sizes of 12 year olds was mentioned, the informer said that what was important was that the seatbelt was going across the child's chest, as opposed to his/her neck...

Answer 7

Umm, I'm in Canada too, and it is illegal to have your child out of a car seat or booster seat if they are 8 and under, and it is illegal to have your child in the front seat if they are under the age of 12.



It doesn't matter if your 8 year old would forgive you or not, it is the law. The law states 0-8 years of age and up to 80lbs must be in a car seat or booster seat, So, according to the new laws, your daughter still needs a booster seat if she is under 80lbs and your son still needs his car seat or booster seat until 8 years or 80lbs.



It is based on weight, mostly, because in a 50km/h collision, a 12lbs child becomes a 260lbs child. They do not contain enough fat on their bodies that a seat belt alone would protect them. There are incidences where seat belts have completely cut children under 8 and under 80lbs right in half because they didn't have enough fat on them to protect them.



I will be disregarding age when it comes to car seats, I will be keeping my child in car seats and booster seats until they reach the recommended weight, even if they are 12 years old when they finally reach it.



And by the way, in about 2-4 years, a new law will be coming into place where all kids 10 and under and under 100lbs will be requiring car seats and booster seats.



You better hope that with the way you have your kids in the car, you don't get pulled over and fined, or worse, have your kids taken away.



Edit: There are so many "darn laws" these days because these "darn laws" are meant to protect our children. We know more now about car safety and children than we did back in the 70's and 80's. We had car seats as I grew up, and I grew up in the 80's and 90's.



I'll take these "darn laws" that protect my children any day over an embarassed child.

Answer 8

How much does your daughter weigh? You should look at weight and height requirements for the seats. They will tell you if she is too big for the seat or not. Oh and for you Old School... and other people who agree with him, my state has just changed the requirements to the booster seat law. You have to be 47 inches and over 55 lbs in order not to have to be in a booster seat.

Answer 9

well I live in Nova Scotia, Canada and here a child has to be either 9 years old, or 4'9". Which ever comes first before they are allowed to be in a car without a booster seat. If you get pulled over and your not following the rules about booster seats you get a pretty hefty fine. I kind of think it's ridiculous that children have to be in a seat until age 9 nowadays. When I was 9 I was begging to sit in the front seat whenever I could.

Answer 10

The law in NC is until 8 years or 80 pounds they have to be in a booster seat. I understand the issue - I am exactly 5 feet tall - and the seat beat seems to fit perfectly right across my neck. I think often about what would happened if i got into a car accident. My mother is about an inch shorter and she sits on a pillow when in the car.

FYI - i have 3 children 2,8,12 and none of them are allowed in the front seat - it is way to dangerous. Air bags save adults lives but kill children. I would reconsider putting your child in the backseat - just for safety. You may never get into an accident but if you did and your air bags deployed - you would feel horrible.

Answer 11

It's not just about age and all states have different laws. I see people states the law is 8 or 80lbs but that is not the law everywhere. Where I live in Connecticut, the law says 6 years AND 60lbs that means by law your child needs to be in a booster until both of those are reached. If your child is over 6 but not yet 60lbs they should be in a booster and if your child is over 60lbs but notyet 6 they should be in one. Once both 6 yrs and 60lbs are reached they can sit in the regular seat belt. I do know some states have even stricter laws that say 80lbs.



My youngest son is 8 and he does sit in a booster seat. He is small for his age and only weighs 50lbs. None of his friends sit in them but he does. He doesn't even mind because it's all he's ever known and he can see better. One time his friend came over and when we picked him up he said to my son "is that a car seat!?" and My son said "no it's a booster so I can see out the window better" and his friend said "oh cool". I am sure by the end of this school year my son will reach 60lbs and I will allow him to come out of his booster as long as the shoulder belt fits him properly and does not come accross his neck.



To me their safety has to come first. There are laws for a reason. I think the law in our state is perfect. I do think some states go overboard. I think 12 is a little old to be in a booster.



Also while most laws are based on weight, height does make a difference. If someone is not tall enough then the belt will come across the neck rather than the shoulder where it should.



EDIT: I can't believe how many people complain about laws that are meant to keep our kids safe. They have done extensive research and testing that shows these are the weights, ages and so forth that are safe.



and for the record your 8 yr old might not ever forgive you for using a booster for her. but will you be able to forgive yourself when she is killed in a car accident?



watch this, it might change your mind



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoIHaWrvvCg



and here is a link to car seat laws by state. You can look up the law for your state.



http://www.elitecarseats.com/custserv/custserv.jsp?pageName=car_seat_laws

Answer 12

no. 12 years old is not the law. at least no where that i have heard of. it is 80 lbs/8 years old.

as far as the front seat-i wouldn't recommend that. my kids couldn't ride up front until they were at least 11, no matter how much they begged. it isn't the fact that you are very careful with driving, it is other people that you need to worry about. if your car gets hit, and your 8 year old is up front with an airbag that deploys, it could break his neck. my state (illinois) we get ticketed for having a child under a certain weight up in the front, it lists that on you airbag instructions.

Answer 13

This is from the source.



"Booster seats are ideal for most children between the ages of 4 and 8 years old, 40 to 80 pounds, and until they are 4'9" tall and regular for seat belts."

Answer 14

In my state the law says they have to be in a flipping car seat until they are 7- Some states are more ridiculous than that. They run ads here that suggest you put your kid in a car seat until they are 4 foot 9- that in my mind is over the top. Olympic gymnast- Shawn Johnson is 4 foot 9 and she is 16- So she has Olympic medals, can drive and would still have to ride in a car seat under that reasoning.



As for the front seat. Kids in the front don't bother me, except that the air bags are dangerous to young children. They recommend that if your car has dual airbags or more, than they should ride in the back until they are 12.



I think the car seat laws are out of control really. I think that by the time my kid is 16 he will still have to be in car seat.



Edit**

my nephews just informed me that the law is 8 years not 7

Answer 15

The current booster chair law is 8 years old/ 80 pounds that I know of. My little sister just stopped using a car seat because she was 88 pounds. She is 13 years old. I doesnt go by height, it goes by weight.

Answer 16

As far as I know, a child should be taller than 4'8" tall to ride without a booster seat. The reason is because of the recline of seats and the positioning of airbags and seatbelts. But hey, if you think letting your children ride up front as young as three is ok, why even bother asking the question?

Answer 17

In America, the law varies, by state... Here in Oklahoma, the age is 6, before they can be out of a booster.



My 10-year-old son, is almost as tall as I am (I'm 5'2"), so, needless to say, he's not in a booster! Neither is my 9-year-old daughter, but they *just* stopped using them.

Answer 18

It may be based on height and/or weight. Laws differ from state to state. Many states require it if a child is under 4 feet 9 inches and or 60 lbs

Answer 19

Here in Massachusettes it's based on their weight....not height. If a child is under 80 pounds they must be in a booster seat. I have a daughter who is only 11 and weighs 58lbs and is very tiny 4 her age...So there for I would feel safer with her in a booster seat. SAFTEY OF CHILDREN SHOULD ALWAYS COME 1ST!!! But it is your choice on how your children ride in your car!

Answer 20

I was in a car seat until age 11! I didn't really mind though, my best friend actually had to ride in one two!

Answer 21

In my state (MD) you must be in a booster seat if you are shorter then 4'9 or younger than 8.

Answer 22

yeah that answer was kind of surprsing as well as completely unheard of. no kid 8 or older should be sitting in a booster seat. that is freaking child abuse. not quite sure where that mom gets her info. probably from a website called, "only4stupidmoms.com"

Answer 23

I totally agree with you.Shoot my favorite seat in the day was in the back window. Now wouldn't people have a heart attack on that these days LOL