Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Are your 9 year olds still in high back boosters?

112 replies

ADJ1151 · 12/02/2020 19:51

As above ^^ DS is nearly 9 and still in a high back booster. He’s happy in it, still fits in and it’s safe so planning to carry on.

I’ve realised a lot of his friends are now just in booster cushions or nothing at all.

Aibu for keeping him in the seat for as long as possible?

OP posts:
DelurkingAJ · 12/02/2020 19:52

Doesn’t it depend how tall he is? DS1 (7) is on a booster as his head was sticking out the top of the HBB and the strap no longer fitted properly but he’s 130cm (ish).

WreckTangled · 12/02/2020 19:53

Mine is too. Despite being legally tall enough to not use a seat. She's nowhere near the weight limit of the seat and she still fits in it so until she's outgrown it she will continue to use it.

pollyputthepastaon · 12/02/2020 19:53

Yanbu

WreckTangled · 12/02/2020 19:54

My ds is also 7 and in a hbb at 130cm. The one we have has an adjustable head rest though so maybe get one of those?

WreckTangled · 12/02/2020 19:57

I think this video shows the import of a hbb rather than just a booster seat.

GlomOfNit · 12/02/2020 19:57

DS1 was in one until he was 10! He's average height and TBH it was more habit (plus he said it was really comfy). I stopped when we realised he was sitting far too high up in the car, though his belt seemed to fit ok. DS2 is a skinny little streak of nothing, below average height for his age and is 9 and uses a HBB. He will until he's too tall for them. I don't see the issue.

eavers · 12/02/2020 19:59

My 8 1/2 year is but he is small and skinny.

CuriousCapricorn · 12/02/2020 19:59

My dd is 9 on Friday and just uses a booster seat mainly. She is tall and chunky though so won’t be in it for much longer.

When I look at her classmates there is a huge difference between the biggest and smallest so I would say this is a very individual issue, she’s in year 4.

CantstandmLMs · 12/02/2020 19:59

My 10 year old is still in one

Didiplanthis · 12/02/2020 19:59

Dd is 10 and still in hers as are DTs who are 8.. and other children who fit also go in them if in my car 🤣. Many complain... I don't care

Whatsnewpussyhat · 12/02/2020 19:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HavelockVetinari · 12/02/2020 20:00

Ours goes up to 12 and I can't see us ditching it till it's too small. It's rear-facing till 5 too, in the Swedish style, which is the safest. I don't care what other parents do, DS will be as safe as I can keep him without smothering him.

Booboostwo · 12/02/2020 20:00

My DD is nearly 9yo, 138cm and still in her high back booster which is adjustable and should fit for a while to come. We do compromise with boosters when we are abroad though as carrying the HBB through airports etc is quite a hassle.

BertieBotts · 12/02/2020 20:00

DS1 was not, because he didn't fit under the headrest any more. If we'd kept the model I bought for him when he was 3 or 4 he would have been in it longer, because it was a taller one. I wish I'd known that at the time, but I just assumed they were all the same height! In hindsight, I would have bought him another one because he's 11 now and only just reached 150cm.

They are much safer, it's better to stay in one until it can't fit any more.

SillyBub · 12/02/2020 20:00

My 9yo has just come out of her HBB in the last week. She is 149cm tall and now on a booster seat. She stayed in it whilst she fitted in it. She's now on a booster seat as the seat belt doesn't sit on her shoulders yet. DS is 12 and the same height as DD and on a booster seat cushion for the same reasons. I couldn't care less that they are too old/too tall as per the laws; their safety is what's important.

Quartz2208 · 12/02/2020 20:01

It depends on the child. DD is a petite so only just out at 11 next month at 140 and 75lbs. Some of her friends were out earlier but then one of then is 10 and the same height as me (5ft4!)

DS on the other hand came out at 7 as he is 137cm and 90lbs and just wasnt comfortable in it.

CheshireDing · 12/02/2020 20:01

YANBU

My 8.5 year old is still in full car seat (is that a high back booster)? It’s wear we use the normal seat belt but it’s a full seat with adjustable head part. She will be in it for as long as possible.

A lot of her friends just have booster seats though and some sit in the front too, I don’t understand why 🤷‍♀️

Original poster
ADJ1151 · 12/02/2020 20:01

He is around 130cn and the head rest is adjustable so his head isn’t above the head rest.. so think he’ll be okay for a while longer! Thanks all!

OP posts:
LowcaAndroidow · 12/02/2020 20:02

My 9 year old is 136cm but still fits comfortably in his, it’s a Joie one. Though we only use it for long/motorway drives now really, otherwise he’s on a booster cushion.

MissDollyMix · 12/02/2020 20:02

Ds is 9.5 (yr 5) and still in one. He’s 130cm tall so it’s a non-negotiable. Fortunately he really likes his seat and finds it very comfortable so there’s no argument about it on his behalf.

Lovelydovey · 12/02/2020 20:02

I’ve got a very petite 10 year old (4 stone) who is still in a high backed booster and not coming out anytime soon. To be fair we only tend to use the car on long journeys so it’s not as if his friends really see him using this.

suitcaseofdreams · 12/02/2020 20:03

My nearly 9 yr old twins are are still in their original Kiddy Guardian Pro 2 car seats which they’ve had since 3 yrs approx and are marketed as being suitable up to 12 yrs.
The taller of the two is over 1.4m and would prob be fine without the sear but as long as he’s happy in it, I’m leaving him in it....

PickleSarnie · 12/02/2020 20:05

My 9 year old hasn't been one in a while. He managed to crack one of the side bits and he was getting too big for it.

He's 146cm, 98th centile though. Still make him sit on a booster seat despite legally not having too at 135cm. Most of the rest of the world set the limit to 145cm (sometimes 4foot 9 which is about 147cm I think)

Fink · 12/02/2020 20:09

No, but only because she doesn't fit. We got rid of it sometime last year. She's hit puberty and it was much too narrow as well as too short.

DaveGrohlsMuse · 12/02/2020 20:09

My 10yo is still in a HBB. He's quite tall, but he still fits into it ok. He gets cross about it but accepts it as I've made it clear it's the way he will travel in my car as it's the safest way of doing it.

Quite a lot of his friends travel with no seat at all (not even a standard booster seat) and have done for a while. There seems to be a trend her that as soon as kids meet the minimum height the seats are gone. But the evidence is clear that a HBB is safest as long as it fits.