[antigone_]

My son turns 8 next month but is tiny and light for his age.

Having just bought the new car, it's ideal for him to be out of a booster seat by the time the baby comes, but I would never do anything to jeopardise his safety. He fits beautifully in the small middle seat of the middle row without a restraint and the seatbelt is well-placed on his torso. He does not fit well in the outer seats of the row (Honda Odyssey).

What's the latest advice on stature/weight etc? I'd like to replace my frustrating Infa Vario Kid seats but want to make sure I'm not buying two if I could safely buy just one for my 5 year old.

My gut feeling is that he still needs to be in the booster. He is 120.5cm tall and 23.8kg. What do the people in the know (Isolabella?) think?

Many many thanks - just trying so hard to get this right. This never gets any easier.

This post has been edited by antigone_: 19/01/2013, 05:44 PM

[lsolaBella]

5 step for each car.

http://childrestraints.co.nz/seatbelts.php


The 5 step test will tell if your child is big enough for the adult belt.
1. Does the child sit all the way back against the auto seat?

2. Do the child's knees bend comfortably at the edge of the auto seat?

3. Does the belt cross the shoulder between the neck and arm?

4. Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs?

5. Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip?
If you answered "no" to any of these questions, your child needs a booster seat to make both the shoulder belt and the lap belt fit right for the best crash protection.Your child will be more comfortable, too!
5 Step Test

[antigone_]

5 step for each car.

http://childrestraints.co.nz/seatbelts.php


The 5 step test will tell if your child is big enough for the adult belt.
1. Does the child sit all the way back against the auto seat?

2. Do the child's knees bend comfortably at the edge of the auto seat?

3. Does the belt cross the shoulder between the neck and arm?

4. Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs?

5. Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip?
If you answered "no" to any of these questions, your child needs a booster seat to make both the shoulder belt and the lap belt fit right for the best crash protection.Your child will be more comfortable, too!
5 Step Test

Thank you I am so out of date with all this stuff I didn't even know that there was a 5 step test. Brill

[Megs25]

It depends on what state. I know in Victoria a child has to be 140cm to sit on a normal car seat.

[antigone_]

Ok, so am back with photos - he appears to fit all of the criteria but one - #2. Slight question mark about #4.

http://imageshack.us/a/img163/8827/photo1znn.jpg

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/208/photo2ozq.jpg/

1. Yes

2. No?

3. Yes

4. Yes?

5. Yes


Would you agree with this Isolabella?

Or are the legs ok? DH has convinced himself that DS is mostly fine without a restraint because he fits most of the criteria.

Argh, I didn't think we'd be having this problem by now - sick to death of car seat issues

[fifi-trixibelle]

I can't imagine a child with their legs looking that uncomfortable could stay sitting like that for an entire trip unless it was reasonably short.

Is it just me or is your middle seating position deeper than the side positions?

[antigone_]

I can't imagine a child with their legs looking that uncomfortable could stay sitting like that for an entire trip unless it was reasonably short.

Is it just me or is your middle seating position deeper than the side positions?

We only do short trips for the forseeable future. rarely venture 10 mins away at the moment and with a new baby, won't for a long time yet.

The side seat is set back more because it slides to let rear passengers into the back row. It must just be set slightly differently.

All of that said, I don't think he's even close to coming out of the booster. He'll be in it until he's ten!

[mumto3princesses]

I can't imagine a child with their legs looking that uncomfortable could stay sitting like that for an entire trip unless it was reasonably short.

Is it just me or is your middle seating position deeper than the side positions?

I agree. I don't think his legs look right or comfortable.

The Honda Odyssey's seats seem different to other cars that we have been in. We used to have an older Odyssey until we got a new car in June last year and one of our 9yr old twins still needed the booster as she just didn't sit right. She would still need it even now if we still had the Odyssey but she is perfectly ok in our new car and her Aunties car.

[cheekymonkey]

Looking at the pics, I'd say he isn't ready yet. There's no way he'd stay sitting like that for long. The temptation to slouch in order to make his legs more comfortable would be too great. I also don't agree that the sash part of the belt is sitting properly on his shoulder. It still looks too high.

FWIW, my nearly 8 year old only moved INTO a booster recently (and is only just going into size 6 clothes, weighing 21kg). We also have our 145cm nearly 10 year old still in a booster as our car has deep, high seats and he doesn't quite meet the criteria yet. I, at 168cm, feel like I only just make the criteria for some of our rear seats. It just isn't worth the risk, IMO.

[antigone_]

Ok, agreed, thanks all.