Can someone give me a link to info re: laws and child restraints?

[randomkid]

Looking specifically for laws pertaining to children ages 5-7yo.

Thanks!

ETA: found this by reading a blog linked in another thread here - http://www.iihs.org/laws/childrestraint.aspx AAACCCKKK!!! Florida sucks! Child restraints are only required for children 3 years and under. DD is starting K on Monday and they have parents drive 5 and 6 year olds on field trips. I'm guessing they just seat belt them in. NO WAY am I allowing DD to ride in just a seat belt in someone else's car to go on a field trip! I will definitely be addressing this with her teacher next week. I can volunteer for every single field trip and drive her myself if I have to, but then they will want me to drive other kids in my car. NO WAY am I driving other kids in just a seat belt. HELP!!! I need some suggestions and ammunition for this.

[o_mom]

What state?

Most of the lists I have seen are out of date for one or more states. I think the best thing is to google "child restraint law <your state>" and look for a .gov page that has the actual law.

In general, most states require a booster until sometime between age 4 and 8. This is a quick glance chart, but again, I would double check against the actual state website: http://www.elitecarseats.com/custser...=car_seat_laws

[randomkid]

What state?

Most of the lists I have seen are out of date for one or more states. I think the best thing is to google "child restraint law <your state>" and look for a .gov page that has the actual law.

In general, most states require a booster until sometime between age 4 and 8. This is a quick glance chart, but again, I would double check against the actual state website: http://www.elitecarseats.com/custser...=car_seat_laws

Yep - did that. Here it is, in all it's glory:

What Florida Law says about...
Child Restraint Requirements


All children under the age of 18 must be buckled up while riding in any car, pickup truck, or van on Florida's roads, no matter where they are sitting in the vehicle.
Children through the age of 3 must be secured in a federally approved child-restraint seat.
Children ages 4 through 5 must be secured by either a federally approved child-restraint seat or a safety belt.
Drivers are responsible for buckling up the child.

[Joolsplus2]

Find a way to get your hands on a cheap backless booster or two for other kids in your car. Tell them that the seatbelts don't fit kids in your car till they are four foot nine. That way if anyone goes home to tattle on you being the crazy booster mom, at least the parents will be able to find tons and tons of information that makes you look sane, like the booster videos on youtube (PSA's on TV sometimes, by the ad council and Graco), and the top height limits of boosters on store shelves.

Good luck, I wish Florida would get with it, I wonder why they are dragging their feet so bad upping their booster laws????

[randomkid]

Find a way to get your hands on a cheap backless booster or two for other kids in your car. Tell them that the seatbelts don't fit kids in your car till they are four foot nine. That way if anyone goes home to tattle on you being the crazy booster mom, at least the parents will be able to find tons and tons of information that makes you look sane, like the booster videos on youtube (PSA's on TV sometimes, by the ad council and Graco), and the top height limits of boosters on store shelves.

Good luck, I wish Florida would get with it, I wonder why they are dragging their feet so bad upping their booster laws????

I don't know why FL is so behind. I noticed some other states require child restraints up until age 7. I'm guessing that there hasn't been some sort of tragedy where someone has lobbied to increase the age. Sad, but likely true. Well, my kid is not going to be that tragedy. All I can do is talk to the teacher and if I can't go on the field trip, then I will just keep her home (unless they have some plan that I don't know about). Who knows? Maybe parents bring their own boosters or something.

Do you have links to the YouTube videos?

Ugh - I am utterly freaked out about this. I don't want to go on every field trip, but I absolutely refuse to let DD ride restrained only in an adult seatbelt, esp since she is a little thing - only 37 lbs and 40 inches.

Think I'll e-mail another parent I know whose daughter was in K last year at this school. She's a safety freak, too, so I know she'll have some answers.

Thanks for your input. Thing is, I have a minivan and could easily take 4 kids in addition to DD, who is still in a BLVD, btw. Not buying 4 boosters!

[Tanya]

Well, you could let the teacher know how you feel and that you are more than willing to drive other kids on the field trips if they have boosters (BYOB). Maybe there are other parents like you...maybe.

[o_mom]

The Harmony LiteRider is $13.50 at Walmart. It might be worth your sanity to buy a couple and just tell them that you can take up to two extra kids, or three if one brings a booster.

[randomkid]

The Harmony LiteRider is $13.50 at Walmart. It might be worth your sanity to buy a couple and just tell them that you can take up to two extra kids, or three if one brings a booster.

That's a thought. I have an e-mail out to a mom I know whose DD was in K last year. It's her work e-mail, so I probably won't hear from her until tomorrow.

Thanks for the info. If there is no plan in place, I may be making a run to Wal-Mart before the first field trip!