My 3 year old is ready to move up to a booster so we decided to try it out in my husband's vehicle. My ds really likes it however we've encountered a problem: when he falls asleep there's nowhere to rest his head. In my carseat at least there are sides that he can rest his head against. But with the booster there's nothing to rest his head against. My ds does not like the neck pillows so that is out. Any suggestions? EDIT: Yes my child weighs 46 lbs. In SC over 40 lbs is allowed to be in a booster seat. I made sure I was following the law before I bought a booster seat.
I would consider a highback booster w 5 point restraints personally. That is what my almost 4 year old is in....her goes up to 100 lbs.
I don't even use one of those for my giant six year old yet! It's not just about weight but the maturity to sit still properly in the seatbelt. We too have the britax frontier85 for her, five point harness to 85 lbs then booster to 120lbs. Our very tall three year old is still in the britax marathon to 65lbs (the old model, newer ones go to 70lbs). Five point harness is the safest!
double check, in most states the law is age 4 and 40 lbs before it is legal to have a child in a booster.
hmm, just looked it up and SC law is any child > 40 lbs. So if would be legal if your child weighs that.
Consider keeping your child in a harnessed seat a little longer though- they are proven to be safer until children are a little more mature and able to sit up/stay in teh proper position consistently.
This is TX state law that also corresponds with the new AAP guidelines newly re-done and released April 2011. Notice that your child still needs to stay rear-faced until at least 35 pounds before even turning around, here's the link....
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/director_staff/public_inform...
a 3yo should still be in a 5pt harness. and for those that say "my 3yo was just too big for a carseat" - my 8.5yo could still fit in his britax regent(he doesn't sit in it anymore, but he COULD, and he's tall).
3 years old is too young to be in a belted booster. He should still be in a 5pt harness, like the Britax Frontier 85.
Sorry but a 3 year old should not be in a booster seat! Go purchase a seat with a 5 pt harness and keep him safe!
Law or not it still isn't safe. The aap recommends the minimum of 4 AND 40 lbs why would you do the minimum when it comes to safety? They do make seats that allow larger children to remain harnessed.
get a high back booster. They aren't just he bottom part they have a head rest part
They actually sell the boosters with a back that can be detached whenever you desired. Check Walmart & other similar department stores they have them.
They do make boosters w/ backs and sides - but they are more expensive (of course).
I lean the seat back slightly when ours falls asleep. He is still sitting up but his head naturally goes to the center and back instead of falling forward so much.
I had the exact same problem. We're campers who are always packed and ready to head off into wild on a whim, so I pulled one of the sleeping bags from the back. When rolled up and placed upright next to the booster, it gave my son a soft place to lay his head.
I would also suggest the Britax Frontier 85. It has all the comfort plus the safety of the 5 point harness. We just moved my almost 4 year old to one from a Britax Marathon and she loves it.
I agree with Courtney. Does your 3 yo weigh over 40 lbs?
Here are the SC specific child seat laws:
* Children from birth to 1 year old, or who weigh less than 20 pounds, must be secured in a rear-facing child safety seat.
*Children 1 through 5 years old weighing 20 to 40 pounds must be restrained in a forward-facing child seat.
*Children 1 through 5 years old weighing 40 to 80 pounds must be secured in a belt-positioning booster seat.
*Children under the age of 6 are not required to be in booster seats if they weigh more than 80 pounds or if they can sit with their backs against the car's seat and bend their legs over the seat edge without slouching.
* Children under 6 may not sit in the front passenger seat. However, this restriction does not apply if the vehicle has no rear passenger seats or if all other rear passenger seats are occupied by children less than 6 years old.
*Violators are subject to a $150 fine. This law does not apply to taxis, church, school and day care buses, or commercial vehicles.
I have my son, whi just turned 3 in March in a booster seat. He was too big for the car seats. I have the booster seat with the back on it, and when he falls asleep, i will pull over strecth the belt out and recline it a little bit so his neck wont droop forward. Good Luck!!
Does it bother your son that he can't rest his head if he falls asleep, or does it just bother you? I know it looks uncomfortable, but it may not cause him any pain.
