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

[ExcitedButNervous0424]

My son has recently turned 10 and still uses a high backed booster.

When I mentioned this to my friend the other day, whose son is a few months younger than mine, she practically laughed and said she can’t believes I still put my 10 year old in a car seat.

My son is always asking why he still has to use one as apparently, to quote him: “none of my friends do” but it’s always been non-negotiable for me. I always thought he was exaggerating when he said that none of his friends use car seats anymore (not even backless boosters) but judging from my friend’s reaction its made me wonder whether my son is actually right.

My friend said to think about how much I must be embarrassing my son when he has to use a HBB when his friends don’t use anything, but surely car safety isn’t about just letting him do what his friends do?

What’s the norm? Because her reaction really surprised me.

That's extreme. My son is half your son's age and just has a backless booster

Unfortunately some people seem to be proud that their children no longer use them. My dc's cousins sat on garden cushions and ex mil said they were more grown up, so odd (my dc were older)) my dc we're both past 11 and over 140cm when I let them no use them in the U.K. around town but we used them until 150cm on motorways as per German guidelines (seats were German brand)

Then they're breaking the law. Better an embarrassed child than a dead or seriously injured one. Age 7 or 8 is far far too young not to be using a car seat.

YANBU, I think it's considered babyish because the current generation of parents (including me) weren't in car seats beyond maybe 6ish so it's quite a bit older than what we remember. But there are reasons why the laws have been updated!

Mine was in a seat at that age. Europe goes up to 150cm in car seats so most HBB will comfortable fit a 10 year old.

Also at that age my child was in a car accident. The car was a write off. Another car ploughed right in to the rear passenger door of where my cold was sitting. In his HBB with good side impact protection he didn't have a scratch on him.

Car seat laws exist for a reason. They save lives. You are quite right to keep yours in a seat as long as possible.

Apologies. I only read your first post and you didn’t state the height of your son in the first post.

If it’s required by law then so be it. However, the irony is that if he remains 132cm and turns 12 years old legally it’s no longer needed which imo doesn’t make any sense at all. What are you going to do then! How is the risk any more less in this scenario? Obviously you could say to him you’re 12 now your height doesn’t matter but how do you explain that? We follow the letter of the law? Is height or age the prevailing factor in the need to use a car seat?

My child is 10 and 137cm tall so we don’t use one anymore.

YANBU - car seat quality and safety has always been a priority for me.
DD is 7.5 , small and very slim, she is still harnessed in a joie bold (she still has a way to go before she is 25kg) and once she is 25kg will use the HBB for a while as she is so teeny.

I've done some research on this, and for high backed boosters that use a seatbelt and not a harness, it is only the height that is important. Basically they are safe to use over the weight limit they advertise if still under 150cm.

I don't know what the norm is but this is what I will be following for my child-

Extended rear facing until 125cm or 36kg whatever comes first, then a high back booster until outgrown and they pass the 5 step test.

Snap!

My DS's had a HBB until they started high school. They were both 12y 9m as both have November birthdays and were deferred. No-one ever commented or teased them about it - it was a total non issue!

Also, we did a lot of long day trips and those head rests were nice and comfy for naps! Even now as older teens they’ll still nap on long journeys but now have to stuff their rolled up hoody against the window and it’s just not the same.

edited for typo

My son is 11 and still uses a booster as he is short.

A quick google will explain why the requirements are related to children and not shorter adults.

All these people with pre-teens still in car seats ... in a few short years your kids will be old enough to be DRIVING the car!

I kept DC in their HBB until it was outgrown a few months prior to turning twelve. Then DC used a backless booster until they passed the five step test at twelve. All their friends stopped at around 8-9, though one was six! We did a lot of long distance driving so it was non-negotiable, plus DC used to fall asleep in the car often (additional needs). The adult seatbelt is designed for above 150cm, other countries i.e. Ireland require car seats up to 150cm

What are you cladding as a pre-teen?

Every child is a pre-teen until they’re 13, so are you talking about 4 year olds? 6 year olds? 10 year olds?

None of which will be driving in “a few short years” 🙄

My child did young driver experience at 10 years old too!

He passed his driving test at 17 too.

On the road? Around your local streets?

Or in a venue designed for such a purpose and with vehicles purposefully intended to be driven by children?

I have no idea what you’re trying to achieve on this thread with the
smug level of superiority you seem to think you have?

I promise you that none of us care what sports/hobbies your child does as it is not relevant to this thread in any way.

I wanted to do a skid awareness course and they said I couldn’t as I was too short.
Which now annoys me more as I see there are ten year olds having a go at driving!

That’s awful!

I am not being smug.

I acknowledged the law is the law.

I am just giving you an insight into how different parenting styles and their approach to risk is different from your own.

Yes! It was.

Cars are not designed with short people in mind. So any safety measures for children I would adhere to. And did.

My reply was to this.

Exactly! You do realise that agreeing with this post has nullified your reasons and the law 😅😂