I remember being in kindergarten (age 4) and sitting in the car with just the normal seatbelt. Meanwhile, my friends with older children (ages 7-9) have their kids still sitting in boosters in the car.
When do kids starts sitting in the car without anything else?
watermelon / 14206 posts
Legally, here in SC, at 6 years they can be without a seat/booster.
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts
Birth - 12 months
Your child under age 1 should always ride in a rear-facing car seat.
There are different types of rear-facing car seats: Infant-only seats can only be used rear-facing. Convertible and 3-in-1 car seats typically have higher height and weight limits for the rear-facing position, allowing you to keep your child rear-facing for a longer period of time.
1 - 3 years
Keep your child rear-facing as long as possible. It’s the best way to keep him or her safe. Your child should remain in a rear-facing car seat until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the rear-facing car seat, your child is ready to travel in a forward-facing car seat with a harness.
4 - 7 years
Keep your child in a forward-facing car seat with a harness until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the forward-facing car seat with a harness, it’s time to travel in a booster seat, but still in the back seat.
8 - 12 years
Keep your child in a booster seat until he or she is big enough to fit in a seat belt properly. For a seat belt to fit properly the lap belt must lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach. The shoulder belt should lie snug across the shoulder and chest and not cross the neck or face. Remember: your child should still ride in the back seat because it’s safer there.
blogger / coconut / 8306 posts
My neighbor just called her pedi about this! Her first grader is still in a seat.
I *think* her pedi said when the child is at a certain height and/or weight -- maybe 60lbs and 55"?
I remember thinking the height was ridiculously close to mine!! I'm 60" tall!
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts
Generally, kids need to use a booster until they are about 4 feet 9 inches (57") tall and weigh between 80 and 100 pounds.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
I prefer not to think of age, but height and weight. As an example, my SIL has her 10 year old in a harnessesd seat because he's no where close to 80 pounds!
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts
@Mrs. Jump Rope: I know! I know a few people who are close to 5 ft and only 100lbs!
But I think it also probably has to do with spine development and sitting properly with the seat belt. I know my nieces and nephews NEVER sit correctly and it drives me nuts.
coconut / 8305 posts
It really depends on your state laws. Many (20 states) require the child be atleast 4'9" & 80lb before they can ride without a booster, some (just 2) just require to a certain age.
Generally, just like moving from a harness to a regular belt (once the requirements of the state have been met) it is about meeting the physical & maturity milestons needed to sit with just a belt & w/o a booster.
Here's a copy of the "5 step test" from the carseatblog
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?
G will be 9 in August & he is still in a backless booster.
ETA: Here is a link with all the state laws/requirements for child passengers: http://www.iihs.org/laws/SafetyBeltUse.aspx
hostess / wonderful honeydew / 32460 posts
I never sat in a booster.. but I think we'll keep our kids in one until they're 7-9? I have big kids so we'll see.
I can't imagine having to sit in a booster as a 4th grader.. (9 yo).
My niece is turning 7 this October and she's small so I can see her sitting in one for at least another year or two.
squash / 13199 posts
I never had to sit in a booster but these days its by height and weight so I know some 7 and 8 year olds who are still in a booster
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts
@looch: Wow, a harnessed seat like a 5 pt harness? Is the child ok with that?
I hope more and more this becomes the "norm" but I don't want to be "that mom" or cause my kid to get bullied because I treat them like a baby. But safety comes first.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
@T.H.O.U.: Yup, he's totally fine with it. I was surprised too, but it's Europe, their attitudes are different.
coconut / 8305 posts
@T.H.O.U.: @looch: The only reason G isn't harnessed is really b/c I just didn't know about that stuff until recently. We went through what was required of him to stay in the seat setup he currently has & he follows it...... he also knows that if he doesn't (can't sit in the seat correctly) that we will get him a seat with a harness b/c him being alive is more important than looking cool. (none of his friends are even in backless boosters even though many of them easily fit within the height/weight requirements of needing one).
He's been totally fine with it since then & has really jumped in his maturity to ride appropriately. 
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
@runsyellowlites: I think the maturity of the child is key. I also think that the daily run to school is different than a long car trip, so if I need to, I might have different seats for my son, depending upon where we're driving.
I hope he's okay with that, lol.
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts
@looch: I have thought about this too. I've read that for long trips where the child might fall asleep and slump to the side, it would be better putting them in a harness.
coconut / 8305 posts
@looch: That makes sense! Especially since on alot of longer trips a child would fall asleep & often end up leaning out of the seat belt! O_o.
I hate to admit that G has been in his backless booster since he was around 3-4 (I can't even remember, it's been so long). Like I read on one of my favorite car seat posts... "We know better so we can do better" and boy do I know better now!
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts
Florida Child Restraint Requirements
Children 3 and younger must be secured in a federally approved child-restraint seat.
Children 4 through 5 must be secured by either a federally approved child restraint seat or safety belt.
The Driver is responsible for buckling up the child.
eggplant / 11408 posts
In NY, I am pretty sure it is 5 point harness until 4 and booster until 8.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
Hey, I used to ride in the "way back" of my family's sation wagon while in elementary school, so I get it about knowing better to do better.
We can all learn something at all stages in being parents!
hostess / eggplant / 11068 posts
This is very interesting to me. I should check what the laws are. I wonder if these laws existed when I was a kid!
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