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Original poster

Car/booster seat - what age did your DC stop using it?

49 replies

Nikee20 · 31/08/2023 19:03

What age did your DC stop using a car seat/booster seat all together?

and

Sat in front of the car without a car seat/booster seat?

Gov website seems to say 135cm for the first one, but my child is 8 and over this. It seems so young.

OP posts:
craigth162 · 31/08/2023 19:06

Yeah about 8. Tall child here too. He was very sensible though. Other son is 3 and hes nuts....he'll need a car seat forever! Or a straitjacket

Viewfrommyhouse · 31/08/2023 19:09

Most children won't get a good fit with seatbelt until approx 150cm. This pic is a good guide. My son is 7yo and 140cm tall but still doesn't get the best fit without at least a booster seat - the seatbelt is too high on his neck.

Car/booster seat - what age did your DC stop using it?
ZonedIn · 31/08/2023 19:10

About 11 or 12, once the seatbelt sat right on their hips and shoulders. @bertiebotts has a fantastic diagram she often shares on these threads to show what it should look like.

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Families
BlackLambAndGreyFalcon · 31/08/2023 19:11

My dd is nearly 11 and still in a booster seat. She's under 135cm though so it's not legal for her to be in a car without one.

MinnieMountain · 31/08/2023 19:12

My average height 9yo isn’t comfortable without a booster seat yet. We only don’t use one if taking a taxi for up to 10 minutes (no car).

Original poster
Nikee20 · 31/08/2023 19:12

Thanks for the replies, would you use a booster in the front?

The diagram is great and I couldn’t find it despite looking it up!

OP posts:
Sirzy · 31/08/2023 19:12

12 when he hit 150cm.

stargirl1701 · 31/08/2023 19:16

My 11 year old is on a booster cushion. She is 140cm.

My 9 year old is in a high backed booster. She is 125cm.

newcarwoes1 · 31/08/2023 19:18

Erm...8?! Both of them!

They're 9 and 10 now. There's no way they'd sit on a booster. I don't know any of their friends who do either, except for one set who are tiny (and more the size of 6 yr olds) They're nearly the same height as me, and I"m not sitting on a booster!

Original poster
Nikee20 · 31/08/2023 19:18

8 year old 138cm currently on a booster cushion in the back.

Desperate to get in the front - do you have to disable the air bags?

OP posts:
42coats · 31/08/2023 19:20

I'm 152cm and I think I still need a booster seat

Viewfrommyhouse · 31/08/2023 19:24

Nikee20 · 31/08/2023 19:18

8 year old 138cm currently on a booster cushion in the back.

Desperate to get in the front - do you have to disable the air bags?

Read your car manual, it will tell you what seats can go in the front and whether you need to deactivate airbags/push the seat all the way back etc.

Original poster
Nikee20 · 31/08/2023 19:25

Viewfrommyhouse · 31/08/2023 19:24

Read your car manual, it will tell you what seats can go in the front and whether you need to deactivate airbags/push the seat all the way back etc.

Show quote history

Ah great thanks, didn’t actually know that!

OP posts:
sassylassie · 31/08/2023 19:26

Eldest was around 10 when we stopped. Youngest is 9 and still using it. Will probably be longer as he’s on the small side.

bumbledeedum · 31/08/2023 19:32

Nikee20 · 31/08/2023 19:18

8 year old 138cm currently on a booster cushion in the back.

Desperate to get in the front - do you have to disable the air bags?

I think (but please double check) disabling airbags is only applicable for rear facing car seats.

fartfacenotfatface · 31/08/2023 19:47

Age 11 or thereabouts. One child reached 135cm aged 10 and the others a little younger but I kept them in a booster until they were closer to 145cm I think so that the seatbelts fitted better.

Neither child sat in the front until age 10.

caringcarer · 31/08/2023 19:47

I think 12. DH and I had them in both our cars.

PuttingDownRoots · 31/08/2023 19:52

9/10ish when the seatbelt fitted orderly without it. It was earlier on one of ours than the other.

Front seat... Younger DD was in the front seat in her car seat on long journeys as it helped with her car sickness. Not ideal obviously but it was necessity.

fartfacenotfatface · 31/08/2023 19:52

@Nikee20 Regarding sitting in the front: bear in mind that car safety features are designed to protect adults (and in most cases average sized males). Airbags etc are not positioned to provide optimum protection to a child and in some cases can actually do more harm than good.
In real life, the risk is small that you're going to have an accident and you will manage this however best you decide. For us, that meant allowing children in boosters to sit in the front for very short local journeys where the risk of collision was small and would be almost certainly low speed / low impact. They are 11+ now and out of boosters but still sit in the back for long / motorway journeys because it's so much safer until they reach adult size.

AvengedQuince · 31/08/2023 19:54

10 and 138cm, straight from booster in the back to front passenger seat pushed back as far as it would go.

The booster theorectically went to 150cm but it was on the second highest setting and wouldn’t fit in my car on the highest. The front seat was a better fit with the five point check and DS was carsick in the back anyway.

HerMammy · 31/08/2023 19:55

I have never seen a 12 yr old/high school child use a booster seat, another MN fact supposedly.

BugsyDrakeTableScape · 31/08/2023 20:01

It's not about age it's about fit. My 7 year old no longer uses the booster as she is well past the required height and the rear seatbelts fit fine.

Would not let them in the front though - but that's my choice as there is no need - no car sickness etc. and the horror stories of child injuries

bumbledeedum · 31/08/2023 20:46

@BugsyDrakeTableScape you have a 7 year old that's well over 135cm?

Viewfrommyhouse · 31/08/2023 20:49

bumbledeedum · 31/08/2023 20:46

@BugsyDrakeTableScape you have a 7 year old that's well over 135cm?

My 7yo is 140cm.. tall kids are a thing!

Sirzy · 31/08/2023 20:51

I think there often seems to be an odd race to move up sizes and out of car seats which I don’t get. We know so much more now about the important role they play in keeping children safe I don’t get why people would stop using them, or move up to the next size, until they had no choice.

DS is 13 now and car seat knowledge has come so far even in his life but still people seem so keen to get to the next stage.

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