To ask if you're still using high back booster for 8yo?

[mscherry]

Dd is nearly 8 and tall - weighs 5stone and is 138cm tall. She is looking a bit uncomfortable in her high back booster seat. Can you get high back boosters for taller children?
I feel loathed to take her out of a car seat as it’s obviously safer, but also would it be a bit daft to buy a new one at this stage?
Just wondered what other people do, I don’t really want her in the car with no protection. She currently sits on one side of the car, should I move her to the middle so she has a bit more distance in case there was a side impact?

DD2 is still in hers at almost 10. We followed the European guidelines of 150cm (she was probably even well over that) with DD1 as I felt the seatbelt wasn't a good fit at 135cm, we did switch to a backless booster near the end though.

A bit off topic but I find car safety attitudes in UK still require a lot of work. I had a comment this week about "spoiling DD3's fun" as I have her in an ERF seat! Lots of people tell me I can turn her round now, didn't I know! Have also had comments about the isofix fitting taking up too much room!

My DD is almost 11 and 141cm tall, and still in a HBB. We have a Britax Kidfix in one car and a Recarro in the other.

She has just in this last week starting moaning about sitting in it, because nobody at school does. Lots of even really tiny kids at her school are sitting on the front passenger seat without even a standard booster.

Why do so many people find it offensive that other people's children are still using HBB?

Yep, my 10 and 7 year olds (same height) are both above 135cm and both in their HBBs. Last time we had to remove the seats from the car, I got them to sit on the actual car seat and see where the seatbelt sat and even on the lowest setting it was still miles off sitting on their shoulders. Until it does, they'll be in their HBB. Why wouldn't they be?

other countries it’s 150cm so would rather keep her in one til then
My Gran is 150cm.

I honestly don't think you get a true picture regarding car seats when you ask on MN. I don't know anyone who still used a high backed booster seat or a booster in general after their kids were 8. Maybe if they were smaller than average but definitely not when they got into Year 5 or 6.

Not finding it 'offensive BTW, just surprised at all these older kids that are still in car seats as I just don't know of any.

my 10 year old is still in one (140 cm tall). As long as she is sitting comfortably, I will leave her there. it gives added safety esp side impact protection for the head. Why would you not want that?

Yep. HBB for 8 and 6 yr olds here too.
Tho both will be in travel booster cushions for the taxi to/from the airport next week.

Not finding it 'offensive BTW, just surprised at all these older kids that are still in car seats as I just don't know of any.

And I don't know of many of my DCs friends (10 and 7, both above 135cm) who aren't still in their HBBs. Neither have ever complained, both understand why they use them and that the seatbelt needs to sit correctly (safely) before they're removed.

Once they get to 12 years or 135cm (whichever comes first) they should not use a car seat.

It doesn't say that. It only says that children must use a car seat until they get to 12 years of 135cm.

OP My children will be in HBBs (or booster cushions if I can't find a HBB that's big enough) until they are 150 cm tall (the required height in many other European countries).

If I use DDs from age 4-12, it works out it has cost me £1.20 a month, so I dont think car seat companies make that much money out of us.

Dd is 11 and 133.5 cms so still in hers. Which she is embarrassed about as none of her friends are in seats.

DS is 9yo & small for age... out of highback maybe 2 years ago. Just couldn't get comfy in it. Neither could his siblings beyond about age 7. Uses a simple booster.

It just looks more comfy to me than the seat on its own as well.

DD is 8yo (Y4) and still has a HBB in our main car. She's 135cm but still fits in the HBB so we continue to use it. We have a backless booster in my little car as she no longer fits in the second HBB we had. She sometimes sits with just the seatbelt depending on circumstances and has travelled in other cars with a backless booster provided by that parent. This is fine with me and I wouldn't insist on her using a HBB at her age and height when with another parent.

Because DS needs to transition into a HBB we will need to buy another one, either a bigger one for DD or a new one for DS.

We will keep DD in her HBB for as long as possible. She understands that it's safer for her to be in it if we're in an accident so doesn't seem to mind. I'd like to keep her in it until 150cm, just because we do so much across country travelling to see friends and family.

Cybex go up to 150cm. Most European countries have the 150cm rule.

There is a poster that describes when it REALLY is safe (not the 135cm rule) to come out if the HBB. I think your child's back needs to be flat against the actual car seat back and knees comfortably over the edge plus some other stuff. Try googling it.

DD1 is 7 & in a harness still (the car seats we have are 5 point harness until 125cm / 65lb - she’s almost at the height limit now). She’ll move into a HBB then (we’ve got a graco one for her).

I always get worried with a 5 point harness in that if something happens to me, my DD couldn't get out of the car (crash) unaided. Plus she can't get in and buckled up herself, making it awkward.

She is in a HBB, but just with the usual car seat belt.

I must admit I am not a fan of this recent extended harness trend. Rear facing I see the point of, but don't panic if you can't afford one of the expensive seats. Do use the baby one aside long as possible and look into the possibility of RF for longer.

HBBs are great though. Lightweight, easy to use, fit the child well with some flexibility too.

Ds 12 has a 5 point harness but he wouldn't know to get himself out of the car anyway. The harness is designed so he doesn't undo it and roam around the car mid journey. There is a cutter attached to the side of it for other people to use in an emergency.

I’ve borrowed a Britax kidfix to see if that’s better and then will get one.

On another point I was talking to someone the other day who didn’t realise that the airbag in passenger seat should be turned off for children 😳
I think there are a lot of people not considering the dangers. I like to keep my dd as safe as possible, don’t see why anyone wouldn’t? I might drive safely but accidents happen. I’ve lost a relative in a car crash and it’s heartbreaking so maybe I’m a bit more conscious of it.

@mscherry - the actual evidence, as in tests done by ppl who don't manufacture car seats shows no safety increase for booster seats once children can fit into a seat belt.

So I'd take your DC out of a seat. But my data driven perspective is rarely popular.

You only turn the front air bag off with a rear facing seat. Otherwise you just push the seat as far back as you can and should leave the airbag on. www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/caradvice/honestjohn/6936341/Honest-John-Child-car-seat-rules-and-front-airbag-usage.html

My 7 year old weighs about 6.5 stone and is 145cm. He is in a booster but not a high backed seat.

I had heard it's still better to disable the airbag if you can with a forward facing seat, it's just not as dangerous as it is with a rear facing one. Airbags can be really hazardous to children because they tend to go off at child's head height rather than chest, and unfortunately children have been killed by them, most often in rearfacing baby seats (which is why this combination is now banned) or when the child happened to be bending forwards e.g. to retrieve something from the glove compartment, at the time of impact causing them to be struck in the head by the airbag.

I'm not sure "Honest John" from the Telegraph is necessarily an expert on car seat safety. Here's the official line from RoSPA:

www.childcarseats.org.uk/choosing-using/airbags-and-child-seats/