thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Aug 2, 2012 13:39:54 GMT -5
Our state just put in a new law that says kids have to be in car seats (booster seats) until they are 8 years old. The old law was 5 years old, and sometime between my son's 6th and 7th birthday he decided the booster was uncomfortable. The new law started on August 1st and his 8th birthday was in July. So, not only did we miss forcing him back into a car seat - we also missed having to run out and buy a booster for another few months (or whatever.)
Have you had something or some deadline that you have just missed and you are so happy to save the money or hassle?
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movingforward
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Post by movingforward on Aug 2, 2012 13:45:28 GMT -5
I am not a parent but I have to say - seriously? Until they are 8 yrs old. That just seems a bit extreme to me. I am hoping there really is a good reason for this. ETA: I know I would want my child to be safe so I would do whatever was deemed necessary but pretty soon 13 yr old kids are going to be riding around in a booster seat
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Aug 2, 2012 13:48:20 GMT -5
Wow hootie - I always pictured you younger than that. I didn't know you were that "mature."
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raeoflyte
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Post by raeoflyte on Aug 2, 2012 13:49:55 GMT -5
I'm pretty sure that by the time ds learns to drive, even the driver will be strapped into a 5 point harness and rear facing.
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Wisconsin Beth
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Post by Wisconsin Beth on Aug 2, 2012 13:50:53 GMT -5
I am not a parent but I have to say - seriously? Until they are 8 yrs old. That just seems a bit extreme to me. I am hoping there really is a good reason for this. ETA: I know I would want my child to be safe so I would do whatever was deemed necessary but pretty soon 13 yr old kids are going to be riding around in a booster seat It's something to do with seatbelts being designed for adults and kids sliding under then in accidents. Or something along those lines. one of my neices was in hers until she hit 80lbs, but she's both short and slim.
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frep
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Post by frep on Aug 2, 2012 13:51:12 GMT -5
I think the law here is that children must be in a booster seat until they are 8 or over 4'9".
I also think that's pretty ridiculous. I know it's safer......maybe all people in a car under 18 should have to wear a federally approved helmet too. I bet that's safer too....
All that being said I've never seen an 7 year old in a booster seat, and I've never talked to anyone that got a ticket for not having their kid in a booster seat so whatever I guess.
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michelyn8
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Post by michelyn8 on Aug 2, 2012 13:52:24 GMT -5
In VA it used to be until aged 8 or a certain weight but I just looked up the law and they apparently did away with the weight portion of it.
Its considered a primary offense now just like failure to wear a seatbelt but at least they don't slam you with a hefty fine the first time.
ETA: I think there's an age/weight limit to riding in the front seat of cars with airbags too, but I don't see it here so maybe I've heard wrong. I had the BF's youngest in my front seat once and my passenger airbags turned off because the sensor didn't detect enough weight in the passenger seat. Never knew my car would do that until then.
VIRGINIA'S CHILD RESTRAINT DEVICE LAW (Code of Virginia Article 13 - Section 46.2)
The major requirements of Virginia's Child Safety Seat Law:
•Child restraint devices are required for children through the age of seven (until 8th birthday). Safety seats must be properly used and approved by Department of Transportation standards. There is no height or weight requirement associated with this law. The Virginia law is based solely on age. •Rear-facing child restraint devices must be placed in the back seat of a vehicle. In the event the vehicle does not have a back seat, the child restraint device may be placed in the front passenger seat only if the vehicle is either not equipped with a passenger side airbag or the passenger side airbag has been deactivated. •Children can no longer ride unrestrained in the rear cargo area of vehicles. •The law applies to anyone (i.e. parents, grandparents, babysitters, friends) who provides transportation for a child in any vehicle manufactured after January 1, 1968. Public transportation (taxis, buses), regulation school buses, and farm vehicles are exempted. •The child restraint law is primary enforcement -- no other violation need be committed prior to ticketing for failure to have a child in an approved seat. •A $50 civil penalty fine is imposed for failure to have a child in a child restraint device. Any person found guilty a second or subsequent time, on different dates, will be fined up to $500. An additional $20 civil penalty fine is assessed when persons transporting a child exempted from this law due to medical reasons do not carry a written statement of the exemption. All fines collected go into a special fund to purchase safety seats for low-income families. •There are assistance programs for low-income residents who cannot afford a safety seat. Contact Virginia Department of Health, Division of Injury and Violence Prevention at 1-800-732-8333 for more information. VIRGINIA'S PASSENGER SAFETY BELT LAW (Code of Virginia Article 12 - Section 46-2)
The major requirements of Virginia's Child Safety Belt Law:
•Children age 8 through age 17 (until age 18) must be belted correctly in vehicle safety belts, in vehicles manufactured after January 1, 1968. Exemptions are taxicabs, school buses, executive sedans and limousines. •This safety belt law is primary enforcement -- no other violation need be committed prior to ticketing for failure to have a child correctly buckled up. VIRGINIA'S PICKUP TRUCK LAW (Code of Virginia Section 46.2 - 1156.1)
•No person under age 16 shall be transported in the rear cargo area of a pickup truck. •There are exemptions for certain parades and farming operations.
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giramomma
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Post by giramomma on Aug 2, 2012 13:52:24 GMT -5
Our state has had the 8 yo law for quite some time now. In my state, it's years old, plus either meeting a height or weight requirement (80 lbs)
I don't think it's all that extreme, depending on the size of a child. If you have a boy built like the hulk, yeah, I can see how it could seem foolish to have an 8 yo in a car seat. If I had a short/petite kid (let's say a 55 lb 8 yo), I'd probably keep them in a booster beyond age 8.
I think we'll miss the must keep your child rear facing until age 2 law. Right now, it's only a recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics. My ped is "strongly suggesting" the recommendation for this LO.
Interestingly, though, my ped didn't remind me that drop-side cribs are a big no-no now. We'll be keeping ours, rather than buying a kit that makes it a non-drop side. If I can't put the side down on our crib, I can't get our children out when the mattress is at the lowest setting.
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Sam_2.0
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Post by Sam_2.0 on Aug 2, 2012 13:52:39 GMT -5
Would be nice if they would just make rear seat belts adjustable to accommodate shorter persons (which is why kids need a booster - so the belt fits right). Guess its more profitable to keep selling car seats...
Anyone remember the cars that used to come with integrated booster seats in the back? What ever happened to those? I thought that was an AWESOME idea!
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Aug 2, 2012 13:53:40 GMT -5
DH said if they keep changing the rules eventually I am going to be back in a car seat. They already make boosters that fit someone my size.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Aug 2, 2012 13:53:43 GMT -5
8 years old has be the recomendation for years. Other states have this as a law - so we are actually late to the party. Being in a booster wouldn't be a big deal - if they made boosters more like seats, with some springs and some padding. Instead it is just hard plastic with a piece of fabric over it. My kids don't have a lot of butt-fat, so their boney little butts just did not care for the experience.
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movingforward
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Post by movingforward on Aug 2, 2012 13:57:04 GMT -5
I am not a parent but I have to say - seriously? Until they are 8 yrs old. That just seems a bit extreme to me. I am hoping there really is a good reason for this. ETA: I know I would want my child to be safe so I would do whatever was deemed necessary but pretty soon 13 yr old kids are going to be riding around in a booster seat It's something to do with seatbelts being designed for adults and kids sliding under then in accidents. Or something along those lines. one of my neices was in hers until she hit 80lbs, but she's both short and slim. I weighed 68 pounds in the 6th grade. I think I was about 85 pounds at the end of the 7th grade. I guess I would have been in a car seat until I was almost a teenager
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formerroomate99
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Post by formerroomate99 on Aug 2, 2012 13:57:43 GMT -5
The booster seats are used to get the kid high enough so that the shoulder belt isn't going across their necks. But you can get a backless booster seat for under $15 and many cars allow you to adjust the height of a shoulder belt.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Aug 2, 2012 14:00:30 GMT -5
My son is less than 60 pounds, and he isn't short - he is in the 95th percentile for height. He is average weight, last time I checked (55th percentile, maybe.) Granted he just turned 8 - but I don't expect him to put on 20+ pounds in the next 11 months and 2 weeks.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Aug 2, 2012 14:01:48 GMT -5
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Formerly SK
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Post by Formerly SK on Aug 2, 2012 14:02:46 GMT -5
My 7.5yo weighs 44 lbs. My 6yo weighs 33 lbs. Without a booster the lapbelt hits my 7.5yo right across the neck. Ummm...no thank you. He'll use the booster until I don't have to worry about him being decapitated.
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raeoflyte
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Post by raeoflyte on Aug 2, 2012 14:06:51 GMT -5
SK--your user name doesn't lie! My 3 year old is 34 pounds... 95% height and weight, so he isn't heavy for his size.
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Formerly SK
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Post by Formerly SK on Aug 2, 2012 14:13:14 GMT -5
SK--your user name doesn't lie! My 3 year old is 34 pounds... 95% height and weight, so he isn't heavy for his size. I know....and poor DD (the 6yo) is already quite sensitive to it. EVERYONE comments on her size.
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Waffle
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Post by Waffle on Aug 2, 2012 14:14:53 GMT -5
How on earth do parents keep up with the laws? How would a family go on a cross country trip - it seems like you would be bound to be breaking the law at some point.
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formerroomate99
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Post by formerroomate99 on Aug 2, 2012 14:15:49 GMT -5
Would be nice if they would just make rear seat belts adjustable to accommodate shorter persons (which is why kids need a booster - so the belt fits right). Guess its more profitable to keep selling car seats... Anyone remember the cars that used to come with integrated booster seats in the back? What ever happened to those? I thought that was an AWESOME idea! I was thinking the same thing. There are plenty of adults that are under 4'9" which is the height requirement for leaving boosters in my state. My boys will meet the height requirement for getting out of boosters by the time they're 6 or so, but probably won't hit 80 lbs until they're around 10. Honestly, once they hit the height requirement, I'm not sure I'm going to bother with boosters.
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Wisconsin Beth
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Post by Wisconsin Beth on Aug 2, 2012 14:17:04 GMT -5
SK--your user name doesn't lie! My 3 year old is 34 pounds... 95% height and weight, so he isn't heavy for his size. Mine won't be 3 until the end of Oct and he's about 40 inches tall and last weigh in was 37lbs or so.
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formerroomate99
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Post by formerroomate99 on Aug 2, 2012 14:17:17 GMT -5
How on earth do parents keep up with the laws? How would a family go on a cross country trip - it seems like you would be bound to be breaking the law at some point. Once you have that third kid, the minivan become required equipment. And don't even get me started on the double strollers.
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giramomma
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Post by giramomma on Aug 2, 2012 14:17:33 GMT -5
SK--your user name doesn't lie! My 3 year old is 34 pounds... 95% height and weight, so he isn't heavy for his size. Yeah, my two of my kids are in the 95% for height and weight. That's the only reason why I was OK with giving up a booster age 8. If my kids were like SK's, they would be in boosters past age 8.
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raeoflyte
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Post by raeoflyte on Aug 2, 2012 14:18:25 GMT -5
SK--your user name doesn't lie! My 3 year old is 34 pounds... 95% height and weight, so he isn't heavy for his size. I know....and poor DD (the 6yo) is already quite sensitive to it. EVERYONE comments on her size. Awww--she'll be cute and petite as a grown up though! My sister is 9 years older than me and everyone thought we were twins growing up because she was so short and I was so tall. Of course, now she still looks like she is in her 20's (she's 41).
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muttleynfelix
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Post by muttleynfelix on Aug 2, 2012 14:20:07 GMT -5
My boss had to go out and get his son a booster when they changed the law here. His son had been out of a booster for a year and then had to go back in for a year. He's now 12.
All my nieces and nephew were in booster seats until at least 8. My nephew asked to still be in a booster at 10 because he could see better. He would also say "it's safer". (He's a little nerd). But he's in high school now and not in a booster.
Really it has become such the norm that it isn't as big of a deal as people make it. Although it would suck to be out of the booster and the law change and have to get your kid back in one.
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Sum Dum Gai
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Post by Sum Dum Gai on Aug 2, 2012 14:23:31 GMT -5
Fixed for you. Everyone knows that it's just impossible to get a car seat in and out of anything other than a minivan or SUV.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Aug 2, 2012 14:44:13 GMT -5
Sucks because I can't take a 6 year old and an 8 year old school clothes shopping. I also can't pick them up from school in an emergency. Thank GOD my kids were out of car seats before this BS law came into play. Someone's getting rich off this boondoggle.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Aug 2, 2012 14:51:07 GMT -5
Why not?
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alabamagal
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Post by alabamagal on Aug 2, 2012 14:53:47 GMT -5
I would just tell my kids to lie about their age! They were always big for their age.
On the 4'9" thing, we always laugh at that. Of course we are very tall people, but my sons GF is 4'9" and she is 20! But he did joke that she does qualify for a Handicap permit.
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muttleynfelix
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Post by muttleynfelix on Aug 2, 2012 14:54:04 GMT -5
It sucks that they have found a way to reduce the number of deaths by the #1 killer of children?
Booster seats for elementary school kids are cheap. If you were an emergancy pick up for our kids, we would buy you are a booster seat to keep in the car. My parents have babysat all their grandkids at one point or another, swapping out booster seats is so easy (especially compared to car seats). We bought a "back up" carseat for anyone who is watching DS. He's spending the night Saturday night with his "church Grandparents" and of course we will give them a car seat so they can bring him to church on Sunday morning.
Yes it is a big deal if the kid isn't use to being in a booster, but overall, not as big of a deal as people are making it.
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