Tara-

I have been reading up on the posts and I know you say not to put them in the belt booster until about 5. Our car seat is an Eddie Bauer one that my sister in law gave us as a shower present.

The instructions on that said use the harness up to about 40 pounds and I don't remember how tall. I used it a little past that and now I have been using it as belt booster.

DS is fairly tall for his age (4-1/2 years old, 50 lbs, about 4 feet tall). When I put him in the booster, I pull the seat belt all the way out and let it snap back in tight. He cannot stretch it out this way. Is that what I should be doing? I figure it holds him back in his seat and in place and he cannot move forward.

Also, my neighbor just got rid of her seat (same as mine) for one of the little booster seats (no back) and has her 3yr old in it. I don't think her daughter is ready, but I guess I assumed my son was. We have one of those for emergency times when Daddy has to pick up ds, but if they go to the store or running around they use my seat.

The height limits are more of a 'guideline' as each child carries their height differently. They may have a long torso, putting them above the 'limit' sooner. Or they may have long legs, showing them 'above' the limit, yet, still fitting the harness.

The rule for harnessing is the straps come up and over for rear facing. Then for forward facing, you want the straps at or ABOVE the shoulders. So, if your son's shoulders were above the highest shoulder strap setting, yes, he is too tall for it. However, regardless of his height, if his shoulders are still below that top strap setting, he's ok to use it. :)

It is fine to lock the seat belt when using it in booster mode. It is not necessary. Ideally, you wouldn't keep it in that locked state, but if the child is not quite mature enough to sit properly for the entire ride, then in that case, the locking is often used to 'train'.

And no, a 3 yr old is NOT ready for a booster...period..back or no back! The order of seats *should* be....rear facing seat to the max weight limit; then forward facing, harnessed, to approx. 5-6 yr and I would say 50#, personally; after that a high backed booster, for side impact protect as well as head/neck protection/support; then if they still do not fit properly in an adult seat belt, a low back booster is used..as long as there are head restraints in that position..and with a lap/shoulder belt, of course. (no lap only belts!)

Tell me again your car seat tech title please. I'm going to quote you on that last paragraph to my hubby!

:-D

I am a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician ... certified by SafeKids, in conjunction with NHSTA

Thanks! What's NHSTA??

oops I typed it wrong...NHTSA..national highway traffic safety administration: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/

and:http://www.safekids.org/

Thank you, Tara. I have been keeping the seat belt locked and even admonished my husband for not doing it right :) , but I thought I had too. I think DS will wiggle and move too much if its not locked in place.

Do I need to use the top tether when just used as a high back booster, or is that only used when used as a harness seat?

Only top tether when harnessed. But check your manual to be sure ;)

ALWAYS read your manuals :) Restraint AND vehicle.