OK, honestly, would you allow a big 2.8 year old to go in a booster seat for a short trip

[Twiglett]

because I wouldn't

and people always look at me askance like I'm over-reacting and I'd like to know if I am

5-point harness or no car journey

I also won't allow 6 year old in a car without a booster seat

[Cappuccino]

I often have to pick dd's playdates (5-6 yrs) up from school which is about 5 mins walk but we have to drive and I borrow my mum's car seat

but often the parents say 'oh it doesn't matter for that distance'

I do anyway

[Marina]

Right there with you. We see cars heading home from school with a jumble of semi-secured large and small children in the back and it always really upsets me.
These are the same people who turn up their noses at public transport because it is dirty and full of weirdos, IME

[HuwEdwards]

Honestly? If my choices were limited? Yes, I probably would.

[edam]

Yer six year old is the law so anyone not using a booster runs the risk of a stiff talking to or worse if they are caught.

No, I wouldn't, although car seats depend on weight I really don't think even a big 2.8 yr old would qualify for a booster. Big 3.5 yr old might, though.

[mankyscotslass]

NO WAY! Kids in car seats or boosters as appropriate. We either have car seats or we dont go or we walk. DS 4 1/2 is in high back booster with a 5 point harness he is just growing out of, dd 3 is in car seat, ds 15mths in car seat. Grandparents have a spare car seat in each of their cars....i could not think straight for worrying if this was not the case

[TheEmeraldCityTourGuide]

No I wouldn't.
The fact that is is a short trip is no excuse, as an accident could occur anywhere.

[fennel]

yes, if we're giving a lift to a smaller toddler who's using our toddler seat.

and yes we also like public transport

[SoupDragon]

Yes I would provided the seatbelt was correctly positioned across the chest and pelvis.

[SoupDragon]

Not for regular journeys, just as a one off.

[Blu]

yes, for a very short trip in streets where no-one can go fast, in unusual circumstanmces.

[choosyfloosy]

I'm afraid I would. No justification, just looking for the easy way out.

[Twiglett]

I also got the askance look when I pointed out to a lovely Dad that actually if he's going to take his 6 year old in the car without a booster he should sit on the seat and NOT on his lap with one belt round the 2 of them

when I pointed out that it was more likely the child would die like that .. he looked shocked

although I think he looked shocked at me pointing it out rather than the fact

(and no I wasn't interfering it was a hypothetical conversation starting from my over-obsessive .. in other people's minds .. attitude to car safety

[SoupDragon]

There are booster seats (high backed) which are suitable from 15-36 kg (approx 3-12 yrs) so if the child is 15kg then they are heavy enough for a booster. You can't judge unless you know the seat and the weight of the child.

[SoupDragon]

That situation's hardly the same as the thread title or original post though!

[Twiglett]

ok, I'm off to way the moo

[foxtrot]

It's illegal isn't it? Unless exceptional circumstances.

[Twiglett]

weigh

[SoupDragon]

DS1 was 14kg at 2y4m so he would probably have been weight-appropriate for a high backed booster by 2.8.

[Twiglett]

its the straps though .. I suppose if it had a 5-point harness she'd be ok .. but she's a bit of a monkey

[ComeOVeneer]

DS is 2 years 2 months. He has been in a hogh back booster seat for the last couple of months. He weighs over 15kgs and had to change as the straps on his previous car seat (at their highest setting) came from below his shoulders, up and over, which is apparently very dangerous for the shoulders and back in an accident. We have one of those devices which ensures the seat belt is positioned correctly. So I think you need all the facts before you can say it should or shoudn't be done.

[mankyscotslass]

DS 4 1/2 is in a high back booster that is designed from about age three, but has a 5 point harness that is used until the child out grows it, then you take the harness off and it should do up til he is 11 or 12.
I'm lucky, most of my friends are the same about car safety, the issue never comes up, and if we are going in someones car, we usually have the seats al worked out.
My concenr with just a booster seat at 2.8 is that it is unlkey that the seat belt routing would be safe for them...(i think)unless it was a highback booster!!

[Twiglett]

CoV .. that was a bit snippy

actually I think a standard seat belt is dangerous for a 2 year old as they don't hold them back

[HuwEdwards]

You know, we've had these types of threads before....and it's all about assessing the risk at the time.

There are a few times as a parent where I've righteously said I would never do something (usually while shaking my head in disbelief at another parent), only to find myself in a situation that I could never have imagined..... and doing exactly what I'd previously been so critical of.

[ComeOVeneer]

Sorry didn't mean to come across like thatbut I have had several people comment on it. The 15kg thing is about being heavy enough to activate the locking mechanism of the seatbelt, so a standard seat belt is fine. I just have an extremely large 2 year old .