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Original poster

To still use a car seat for my 10 year old?

307 replies

ExcitedButNervous0424 · 03/05/2024 15:46

My son has recently turned 10 and still uses a high backed booster.

When I mentioned this to my friend the other day, whose son is a few months younger than mine, she practically laughed and said she can’t believes I still put my 10 year old in a car seat.

My son is always asking why he still has to use one as apparently, to quote him: “none of my friends do” but it’s always been non-negotiable for me. I always thought he was exaggerating when he said that none of his friends use car seats anymore (not even backless boosters) but judging from my friend’s reaction its made me wonder whether my son is actually right.

My friend said to think about how much I must be embarrassing my son when he has to use a HBB when his friends don’t use anything, but surely car safety isn’t about just letting him do what his friends do?

What’s the norm? Because her reaction really surprised me.

OP posts:
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Penguinfeet24 · 03/05/2024 16:14

This surprises me, my eldest is 8.5 and 131.5cm tall and still in a high backed booster until he's 135cm tall. Youngest is only 126cm and a LOT lighter so will definitely be in his car seat (Joie Every Stage that he's had since he was born) until he's 135cm. I don't actually care what anyone things, their safety is paramount and the seats are far more protective in the event of an accident.

Petiteplease · 03/05/2024 16:13

LuckysDadsHat · 03/05/2024 16:05

Mine will be in a car seat till they are 150cm like the rest of Europe. She is already 131cm at age 7 so the longer I can keep her in it the safer she will be. Why people think it's babyish astounds me, it's a safety item, like a seat belt is.

150cm?? I'm only a few cm taller than this... A backless booster seat can be used for children 125cm and taller.

reluctantbrit · 03/05/2024 16:11

In lots of countries the rule is either 150cm or over 12 years old.

DD - tall for her age - found the booster comfortable and especially on longer journeys felt that the seatbelt wouldn't cut into her neck.

I think we got finally rid of it in Y6, she was just shy of 11.

Luckily she didn't care less what others thought of it.

Icanseethebeach · 03/05/2024 16:09

ExcitedButNervous0424 · 03/05/2024 16:05

I didn’t realise they could stay in them until 150cm? Is that like an upper limit?

I assumed that once a child hits 135cm the HBB isn’t considered safe anymore?

Show quote history

It’s the minimum height in some European countries. They can stay in them until they no longer fit safely.

Original poster
ExcitedButNervous0424 · 03/05/2024 16:09

LuckysDadsHat · 03/05/2024 16:05

Mine will be in a car seat till they are 150cm like the rest of Europe. She is already 131cm at age 7 so the longer I can keep her in it the safer she will be. Why people think it's babyish astounds me, it's a safety item, like a seat belt is.

That’s how I feel. Completely baffled.

It’s like public image, or public norms are more important than safety and the Law?

OP posts:
PuttingDownRoots · 03/05/2024 16:06

He's under the height limit.
The seat belt won't fit properly without it.

LuckysDadsHat · 03/05/2024 16:05

Mine will be in a car seat till they are 150cm like the rest of Europe. She is already 131cm at age 7 so the longer I can keep her in it the safer she will be. Why people think it's babyish astounds me, it's a safety item, like a seat belt is.

Original poster
ExcitedButNervous0424 · 03/05/2024 16:05

Icanseethebeach · 03/05/2024 16:03

I’m surprised by the number of people who disregard these rule considering the UK rules are some of the least safe in Europe. My child is around 137 cm and will stay in her high back booster until she doesn’t fit or reaches 150 cm.

I didn’t realise they could stay in them until 150cm? Is that like an upper limit?

I assumed that once a child hits 135cm the HBB isn’t considered safe anymore?

OP posts:
TakeOnFlea · 03/05/2024 16:05

No I don't know any 10 year olds in them. Including all of the paramedics kids I know or have known at that age.

Rummikub · 03/05/2024 16:05

Rummikub · 03/05/2024 16:04

Kept my dc in the yes roll they reached the height. Especially as they were both short and slight. Safety first!

“High back“ Until they reached the height

Rummikub · 03/05/2024 16:04

Kept my dc in the yes roll they reached the height. Especially as they were both short and slight. Safety first!

nemosorel · 03/05/2024 16:03

I work for a charity which deals with in car safety. UK Law says you don’t need a car seat after you are 135cm tall and we stress to the children that this is because safety is not to do with your age and how grown up you are as a person. Rather it is because car seat belts are designed for adults and if you are not tall enough they come across your body in the wrong place so can injure you in the event of an accident.
At age 10 a normal booster seat should be fine if your DC still hasn’t reached 135cm. But if they are worried about it or that their friends don’t think it’s cool, you could explain it to them that way.

K0OLA1D · 03/05/2024 16:03

Theunamedcat · 03/05/2024 16:02

My 11 year old is still in one he is about 130cm I'm pretty sure my (now adult) dd aged out before she grew out of her carseat

In year 6 or 7?

Icanseethebeach · 03/05/2024 16:03

I’m surprised by the number of people who disregard these rule considering the UK rules are some of the least safe in Europe. My child is around 137 cm and will stay in her high back booster until she doesn’t fit or reaches 150 cm.

Theunamedcat · 03/05/2024 16:02

My 11 year old is still in one he is about 130cm I'm pretty sure my (now adult) dd aged out before she grew out of her carseat

Robotcustard · 03/05/2024 16:01

ExcitedButNervous0424 · 03/05/2024 15:54

He’s just under 132cm which is why I use one, but the son of my friend who found it amusing is smaller than my son. As are some of my son’s other friends who don’t use a car seat.

My friend was giving the impression that even if the child is still within the requirements of needing a car seat, that factor should be ignored at this age as it’s not “cool” for a child to use one (I.e her comment about me embarrassing my son).

Show quote history

I hadn’t realised the 135cm rule until I realised all of my DS’s friends weren’t using a car seat any more, then I looked up the rules and realised he didn’t need to use it anymore! He was 9 and tbh he did look like he’d outgrown it. My nearly 8 year old is 132cm and in a booster seat, I am sticking by the rules.

Chillilounger · 03/05/2024 15:59

I always check with parents too when picking up his mates as it's a tricky in-between age. Not yet 12 and some not tall enough.

Original poster
ExcitedButNervous0424 · 03/05/2024 15:59

JacquesHarlow · 03/05/2024 15:55

Of course safety is more important that perception of “being cool”.

but 132 cm.. I mean.. the lad is 3 cm below the threshold for not having to use a car seat at all, and you’ve got him in a high-back ..

I think sometimes as parents we need to be allowed to just manage risk effectively. Like, it’s ok if we choose to make a judgement and say “3cms to go.. I think we are ok for a normal booster” etc

My friend’s son died in a car crash due to obtaining a catastrophic head injury when his head hit the inside of the car due to the impact (I.e his head hit the window and surrounding area with force) which is why the head protection aspect of a HBB is very important to me.

OP posts:
RandomUsernameHere · 03/05/2024 15:59

You're right to still use one, because it's safer and it would be against the law not to. I think your son is probably correct that none of his friends still use one though. I have two DC in year 5, so age 10 or nearly 10, and I can't think of a single child that age still using one.

K0OLA1D · 03/05/2024 15:58

ExcitedButNervous0424 · 03/05/2024 15:54

He’s just under 132cm which is why I use one, but the son of my friend who found it amusing is smaller than my son. As are some of my son’s other friends who don’t use a car seat.

My friend was giving the impression that even if the child is still within the requirements of needing a car seat, that factor should be ignored at this age as it’s not “cool” for a child to use one (I.e her comment about me embarrassing my son).

Show quote history

Your friend sounds like a bit of a knob!

AFreshCleanStart · 03/05/2024 15:58

Most of my 5 year old's friends aren't in them anymore. They hop into the car at home time and I'm stunned.

It's your child's safety. Not something to be messed with. If they were in an accident and severely hurt or worse you'd be so hard on yourself for not doing all you could to protect them surely

Chillilounger · 03/05/2024 15:58

My 10 year old is still in a car seat. He isn't tall enough not to be yet.

JacquesHarlow · 03/05/2024 15:55

Of course safety is more important that perception of “being cool”.

but 132 cm.. I mean.. the lad is 3 cm below the threshold for not having to use a car seat at all, and you’ve got him in a high-back ..

I think sometimes as parents we need to be allowed to just manage risk effectively. Like, it’s ok if we choose to make a judgement and say “3cms to go.. I think we are ok for a normal booster” etc

TipsyKoala · 03/05/2024 15:55

My 10 YO goes in a high back car seat but she's small and below the 135cm. A high back is safer than a booster so until she's tall enough to not use a booster at all she'll stay in it. I don't think that's unusual, I haven't heard of kids not using them but I suspect a lot of your DS's friends are over 135cm and don't need to anymore.