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

I had Britax HBBs for my DDs and they went up to 150cm. I kept them in the HBBs until they outgrew them (DD1 at just over 12 and DD2 at 13 and 3/4. I was in a serious crash many years ago; I walked away but my physicist DF reckoned that the only reason was that I was at the centre of rotation of the car. DD2 has always fallen asleep in the car (she still does at 20) so the head wings on the HBB kept her from slumping over.
I bought a Skoda Karoq last autumn and DM complains that she feels very low down in the back of it.

All of mine were in HBB or Booster seats till they were in year 6.
My youngest moaned endlessly about it, but the seatbelts in my car sat too high on the neck for my liking so I didn’t care. It’s not my job to be cool or popular, I wanted them to be safe.

I know which one I'd choose for my child.

But going by the logic of a PP I may as well let my preteen go to clubs and stay out all night as they will be doing that in a few years anyway...

Edited for typo.

My 13 year old was in one till just before 11 she’s tiny though and isn’t much bigger than 135cm now!
to be honest she’s September born so a lot of her friends were younger and I’d say 50% still used them

Yeah, your friends attitude surprises me for these days, hopefully she will learn something from you!

I have a year 5 child - she is 9 and I feel like I haven't seen a child her age in a car seat for years! Now I feel bad about this.

I've told ds he will be staying in one until he is 35 😁. I am pretty sure he is 135cm or over now, but as he isn't asking to move, he is staying. I prefer the side and head impact protection. Realistically, it probably won't be long, but stopping at the bare minute doesn't feel right.

It's about height. Not age..

It depends how the seat belt fits. My very tall (over 155cm) nearly 10
year old is abnormally leggy, so although very tall has a short torso that means belts in my car don't fit safely without a booster. In my mums car the seat belt sits correctly so no booster needed. She is more than happy to continue using the booster when necessary and will continue to do so until safe to go without. Among her friends I'd say around 50% are still using HBB.

Could means possibility? Show me when I stated it was illegal? Why do you feel the need to call me names? Are you generally this nasty in real life? I believe what you called me is more a reflection of yourself.

I've only just taken my 12 year old out of a high backed booster (he's short and just on the legal height limit). I've replaced with a normal booster as the seatbelt sits much better. He's never felt embarrassed and understand the safety aspects. It's a no brainer for me. His brother, 10 has also just finished with his - they're a similar height.

I think you are right!

I was ready to say you were being unreasonable but actually, reading through this has been an education, so thanks everyone!

What law states it’s illegal to use a car seat beyond the age of 12? You are being ridiculous.

But they could be 12 years old and 130 cm!

My kids stayed in their car seats until they reached the required height, and the seats actually then became uncomfortable. Plenty of their friends didn’t bother though. It was non negotiable for me. Those rules have been made after extensive safety studies. Only an idiot would disregard them in order to look cool.

Using a child car seat or booster seat
Children must normally use a child car seat until they’re 12 years old or 135 centimetres tall, whichever comes first.

Children over 12 or more than 135cm tall must wear a seat belt.

Above from gov website. So they could be in a booster seat. It's so the seatbelt is in the right place on their body to give more protection.

I understand why you have him in a high back car seat.

I think this is pretty key actually.

I don't even remember sitting in a car seat. I did have one as a toddler, there is a photo of me in it, but I can't remember using it, I was too little. Actually I did have a booster seat to use in my grandad's car but I remember thinking this was a bit OTT - my mum and dad didn't make me use one. (I probably should have as I was awfully travel sick).

I think there is a current generation of parents (grew up in the 90s) who have memories of themselves or younger siblings using car seats up to maybe early primary school and after that it seems too old. Throughout the 90s up to 2003 you only had to use car seats up to the age of 3, booster seats weren't required at all. Only very safety-conscious parents used them.

Contrast to the generation of parents (kids born late 90s/early 2000s) who were very aware of the longer booster seat laws (12 years/135cm) because they were publicised a lot around the time that they changed, but that was 21 years ago.

Once those children from 21 years ago start having children in the later primary school years, they will probably use car seats up to the legal guidelines because it will seem obvious for them to do it.

Why does that mean they don't have a car seat?
My two were in high back boosters at that age and could do the seat belt themselves. They just hopped in.

Taller one was 135cm by 8yrs and start of Y3
Shorter one was 135cm by 9yrs and midway Y4....she was one of smallest in her class and I don't think many were still under height limit or in car seats by Y5.

Tell me when I said that?

I said OP should follow the law when she said her DS was 132 cm. I’m just highlighting as soon as he is 12 he could no longer use a car seat regardless of his height.

My 10yo still uses a high-backed booster - he likes having the built-in cup holders! I'm glad as I think it's safer for him, even though he's tall enough to not need it.

So why are you saying that the OP shouldn't use a car seat with a child under the legal and safe limit?

Yes he was as safe as he could be. However, when I learnt how to snowboard no helmets in the 80’s!

Seatbelts are a worn 100% too.

Always wears a helmet too when he did quad biking even though most of his mates didn’t (private land).

Are you going to feel differently about that in 3cms time though? When will you allow him out of a car seat?

@Beddgelert I'm guessing you didn't just chuck him out the plane though... you used proper safety equipment, qualified instructors etc?
I also presume that you yourself use a seat belt in the car?

Why is it a stealth boast? I am not rich. I worked in PS. This is just how we prioritise spending our money. We don’t have flashy cars or an expensive house.