Starting October 1, 2017, the state of Connecticut will have new car seat regulations.
- All children must remain rear facing until they are 2-years-old and weigh 30 pounds.
- All children must remain in a 5 point harness until they are 5 and weigh 40 pounds.
- And, all children must remain in a booster until they are 8 and weigh 60 pounds.
I’m sharing this information for my Connecticut friends and family, but also for my friends and family who drive through Connecticut from time to time.
My displeasure
I’m going to admit that I have an unpopular opinion of this new law.
As the mom of a 50-pound, 4 1/2 year old (tall and solid, not chunky at all), I find this law to be a major hassle. We knew he was a big boy from the beginning, so we got a Britax Boulevard that will hold him up to 65 pounds. He uses that seat in my car where he probably does 90% of his car time.
Sweet Boy is in a booster seat in my husband‘s car. He is strong enough and tall enough to sit comfortably with the seat belt in the proper position, and we wanted to get him used to the new style of seat in the car where he does a small percentage of travel. And according to the current law, it is safe for him to do so. But the Connecticut lawmakers seem to want me to buy a new car seat for the five months he will not meet the new regulations.
I’m sorry, but the 5-point harness car seats for a child over 50 pounds are expensive. Christmas is coming. Birthdays are coming. I have better things to do with my $250. And most importantly – I know my kid. He looks more like a first grader than a pre-schooler and he’s very strong. My pediatrician is also aware of our car seat choices and he seems to think it’s okay for our child.
So, for five months we’ll be switching the one car seat between our two cars. The booster seat goes away for a few months. I’m following the regulations because I don’t want to pay for a ticket just as much as I don’t want to pay for a new car seat.
Mother knows best?
But really, I think the whole new law is more about taking away a parent’s personal judgment. If my child were smaller, I wouldn’t have put him in a booster seat, but he’s not. And the state of Connecticut seems to know what’s best for my child more than I do – his mother.
Photo by yourbestdigs 