How do you guys feel about the booster seat laws being put in place?

[Smartie_Pants]

I know that it is now a law in Kentucky that any child under the age of seven and shorter that 4'9 HAS to be in a booster seat or you will have to pay a fine. Even if you are from a different state and just driving through, you must have your child in one.

I'm only 17, so I may not see the big deal that everyone else seems too, but I think its stupid. When I was a kid, we NEVER had booster seats, and there was never a large rash of child deaths reported due to that fact. I do think that it should be a law to wear your seatbelt, but I think it should be YOUR choice whether or not you make YOUR kid ride in one.

All they do is make the child set up higher, which according to the policeman who spoke about it on the news, makes the seatbelt placement safer on the child. Is there really that much of a difference? I've never noticed one. The lap belt is still across their lap, and the chest belt still across their chest.

I'm only 5'2, and have been since 5th grade. If that would have been a law when I was young, I would have NEVER gotten out of that seat! What about children with dwarfism or kids who are just going to be naturally short?

How do you parents feel about it? Is their a bigger value that I just can't see?

 

[saddina]

In CA it's 6 years or 60 LBS, been that way for 10 years I think?
It's there because of the larger trucks/suvs with wider seats, the kids need to be better positioned incase of an accident. Without the booster shoulder belts are across thier necks not shoulders.

So under 7 and shorter than 4'9 means on your 7th birthday you don't need one.

 

[sangel4you]

here in PA, they have to be 8 or (I forget which but) it's either 80 or 100lbs.! My DS is 6 and a half (thank god only a year and a half more!) but he's only 43lb. If we had to wait until he was 80 lb he wouldnt be out of that seat until he's twelve at this rate! DH and I want to have three kids, and among other reasons, one of MY biggest reasons in wanting to wait until DS is almost 8 to start trying is because I want my next two kids back to back...and I don't want THREE car seats for the next 8 years! Two will be plenty!I cannot imagine what a PIA it would be to try and get three kids in their car seats all the time and keep them there, nor what it would be like to send them with someone else and have to move theri seats!
I get the safety issue...I do and I'm glad someone besides me wants to protect my kids but c'mon now... we all ended up fine didnt we? I was in a booster until about 5 I think...when I could see out over the window. But I too am only 5'2" and I would never have gotten out of a car seat either with thtat height restriction!

 

[saddina]

You would have when you turned 7.

"any child under the age of seven and shorter that 4'9 HAS to be in a booster seat "

It's a sentice with "and" which means both conditions must be met, so once 7, the rest is moot.

 

[mamaKate]

I'm opposed to all seat belt laws. I feel its an invasion of privacy and a violation of our constitutional rights. I pay the tickets as necessary.
When my 4th child was born prematurely and the hospital refused to let us bring him out without a car seat even though he was so tiny the space and belts didn't even begin to fit, we reluctantly placed him in. Then my husband said, "This is insane," pulled around the block and put him in my arms.
Enough government.
EDTA:
I just revisited this thread and realized that I should probably clarify that I am not anti-carseat. I had my two oldest in them before they were mandated or common. I took considerable inlaw flack because of it. I am, however, intensely opposed to seat belt laws. MY judgement call, not theirs. Persuade me, don't order me.

 

[LA~Poulet]

It isn't law here, but I've kept my boys in boosters voluntarily. If it will save their life in a crash, I'm all for them. My oldest is 8, average size for his age, and just now getting to the upper limit for the booster.

Seatbelts are designed to protect adult size bodies-little bodies catapult through them because they don't cover the right areas. My uncle is a surgeon and he says that he can't tell you the number of tragically injured kids he's worked on due to a belt worn improperly.

 

[saddina]

Quote:
In this state, that ticket can get a visit by CPS, not saying it's right, just saying it's the rules.

 

[LA~Poulet]

Quote:
I have three in seats, we initially were driving a Sportage and now are in an Acadia with a bench in the middle-three fit in both. I had my infant seat in the middle and boosters on the sides-my oldest two strap themselves in and either I or they strap in my littlest one. It really isn't a problem at all.

When the older two go in someone else's vehicle we don't normally move the boosters now that they are older/bigger (6.5 & 8)-but they prefer that we do b/c they are more comfortable and can see out better. When they were 4 & 5 the boosters moved with them, but it was no problem b/c they are light & easy to move, not being permanently strapped in like an infant carseat.

 

[Smartie_Pants]

I do appreciate that they're trying to help keep kids safe, but I just think they are overlooking so many facts that are important. What about Jon and Kate, The Octomom, or anyone else who happens to have multiples, even if its only triplets? What if you only had a car? You can fit three kids in the backseat, but not with booster seats. That mean's you are going to have to buy another car on top of the booster seats.

For decades cars have been popular, and there are never any news stories about a high casulty rate in children because of how they sit. Why now when people really can't afford it? I can't even find a car I can see over the dashboard of now! Why not make cars more adaptable for shorter people and children?

 

[sangel4you]

exactly smartie...that's what I'm saying. Not saying 3 seats is SOOOO difficult...just that I'm not selling my car bc the state decided it's best for my 7 yr old to be in a booster for another year!