To not use car a seat for 8yo

[Sprogonthetyne]

DS is very tall for his age, currently 146cm and in age 11 cloths. He has been on just a booster cushion (not high back), but has been complaining about being uncomfortable and his back hurting on longer car journeys. The back seat of my car is quite small (toyota aygo), and I think the head rest is digging into his shoulders.

WIBU to stop using the car seat? It feels very young but his is over the legal hight, and the size of a much older child.

I would as long as the height of the seat belt is correct when he isn't in the booster. If the headrest is digging into his shoulders I would take that as a sign it is the right time to remove the booster.

Our seat is outgrown at 150cms looking online so at 145cms it is possible the booster you have is no longer right for him.

Can you not adjust the head rest?

But yes legally you're fine if he's over 135 cm

You can use a booster seat til child is 12 or 135cm, whatever comes first.

Look at the five point test. If you have a small car, its likely that he can safely sit without one.

Age is largely irrelevant now, its how he fits the seat.

EtA... sorry... Five STEP test, not 5 point test.

Does the head rest move up, they’re usually movable. But they don’t need a car seat at that height

Stop using it, the seat belt will be fine alone

If the headrest is digging into his shoulders it needs to be raised as it won't stop his head being thrown backwards in the event of an accident. He's tall enough to not need a booster seat but it will be positioning the seat belt to better protect him.

Does the back come off?
Ours is similar to this, and with the back off he's much more comfortable.
The booster seat put him in a good position for the seatbelt.

He's only 8 so yes you are being unreasonable. Most EU counties are to 150cm tall, our high backed booster went to this hight so I used it until both where 150cm tall. Not just a booster cushion either, it's much safer for when they fall asleep especially on long journeys.

My DS8 is also very tall wears 11-12 clothing however like me alot of his height is his legs and so without his booster the seat belt doesn't sit right. I'd put the headrest up if u can and keep him on the booster as long as possible. I work for the police and have unfortunately seen the horrific results of a seat belt that sits too high on a child.

https://saferide4kids.com/blog/take-the-5-step-seat-belt-test/

that shows the 5 steps that are needed for it to be safe without a car seat.

My daughter was about 7 or 8 when she stopped using hers due to her height and my middle child who is not even 6 yet is going to have to stop using his probably by his 6th birthday in august his head almost touches the roof when in any of his. We have three carseats that all say upto age 12/14 and even with the backrests up as high as they can go on all three (all different brands) his head is above them. I actually took him to halfords with me and the guy looked at me like i was crazy when i told them his age.

12-14?! Dd1 was 5 foot 8 at 14!

Ds was of the legal height not to use a car seat at 8 so we stopped.
He was almost as tall as me and I wasn't using a booster

Our very tall for age DD stopped at 8.

Your child doesn’t need a car seat or booster anymore because they are tall enough

My nephew is 7/year 2 and is wearing 10-11/11-12 clothes, he's taller than some year 6's I look after.

He can sit fully back on the seat with the bend of his knees naturally resting on/over the edge of the seat and feet on the floor.

He 100% would be fine (legally and otherwise) without a booster due to his height but something won't let me sit without it until he's in year 3/he's a junior haha.

There's a great car seat group on fb called Bump to Booster, the admins in there will be able to advise you what is safest for your situation.