10 yr old and car boosters.

[BegoniaBampot]

more to pick your thoughts. I still want to use the booster seat for our average sized 10 yr old. Husband says it's not needed.

It depends on the height of your child. Its to make sure the seat belt isn't anywhere near his/her neck.

Why not use the Direct.Gov guidelines?

My DS is 9 (although the size of a 11 yr old) and hasn't used a booster seat for a quite a while. No idea of the Guidelines for these things though.

Crikey I sound like a bad mother

Sorry - no help whatsoever

Depends on his height. They have to be 135cm tall without shoes.

I don't have a booster for my 11yo and haven't since he was 10, but is very tall for his age taller than me in fact

...that's if you're in the UK.

My 11yo DS still uses one, as he's teeny and nowhere near the 135cm legal height. I'm minded to keep him in it until either the shame is too much or he grows a lot a bit, or until he goes to secondary school (he'll be nearly 12 then).
I figure he's safer with a booster than without, all else being equal.

My Dd is 9 but very tall, easily over the 135cm required height. She still has a booster seat, as do all of her friends (some as tall as she is) - just seems safer that way.

If she is over 135cm you can do as you like. If she is under 135cm she needs to use a booster seat

It's not just guidelines, it's the law.

(assuming you are in the UK)

My Ds1 was 160cm and 51kgs at age 10. He was out of a booster at age six.

Ds2 is now 8 he is 145 cms and 37kgs and has been out of a booster since age 6 too.

Both of my boys were 30kgs and 130cms or thereabouts when they went booster free.

You can tell him its needed when you get points on your license for not having your child properly restrained.

If the kid is under 12 and under 135cm you are breaking the law by not using a booster seat. Not to mention putting them at risk in the event of an accident.

DS is still a long way from 30kg too! He's just cracked 4st

How is the law enforced - practically speaking? Ds1 isnow 11 - so legally needing a booster. He is 177cms and weighs 60kgs. He doesn't need a booster. Could I be prosecuted for this?

At over 135cm he does not need one legally even though he is under 12.

My 8yo is 137cm and so no longer needs a booster but I still keep it in the car for him, I just don't panic if he is getting a lift somewhere and the driver doesn't have a booster or if I need to squish three in the back of the car I take his booster out for the journey.

my 10 yr old still has a booster, he is just tall enough to do without but the seatbelt fits better with one so he still uses it, until recently he had a booster with a back on it.

MrRected - so from the stats you've given, in both cases it was against the law when your DC stopped using booster seats. Why was there a rush anyway?

i'm the same as SmallPrint tall 8 year old...booster is around but we don't worry if not.

Iirc in some countries the height is 150 cm, and my dd who is 140 still chooses to use her booster as its more comfy with it. I don't stress about it though fir lifts etc.

According to the growth charts, an 10 year old on the 50th centile (so bang on average) would be 137cm, so above the requirement for car seats.

my 10 yearold is over 5ft (5ft at last check but hes grown) so taller than some adults, he stopped using a booster 2 years ago

My understanding is that while the legal height for under 12's is 135 cm, the recommendation is 150 cm.

I'm barely over 150cm myself! DS has no chance.

it says 150cm in my car manual too.