Booster Seats

Once a child turns 4 years old, should he or she be in a booster seat?
Not necessarily. Choose the restraint system that will fit your child's weight and size. Read the manufacturer's instructions and recommendations for that particular seat. For maximum protection, keep a child in a forward-facing child safety seat with full internal harness until they reach the manufacturer's recommendations for upper size limits. The harness provides upper body, head, and neck protection.

Who should use a booster seat?
The next step of children who have outgrown a forward-facing child safety seat is a booster seat, usually when a child weighs more than 40 pounds or grows more than 40 inches in height.

What type of booster seat should you use?
There are two major types of belt-positioning booster seats:

• Backless or low-back booster seats are used in vehicles with a high seat back in which the child's head can be supported by the vehicle seat back or head restraint.
• High-back booster seats are used in vehicles with a low seat back where there is no vehicle seat back or head restraint to support the child's head and neck.
• Booster seats must be used with both the lap and shoulder belt. A booster seat should never be used with a lap belt only.

When should you move your child from a booster seat to an adult seat belt?
Your child should stay in a booster seat until the adult seat belt fits him or her properly. This is usually when your child reaches 4'9" in height and is about 8 years old. Please make sure that your child meets all of the following requirements for a proper seat belt fit:

• The lap belt should be low across the upper thighs or hips, not across the abdomen.
• The shoulder belt should lie across the chest and shoulder, not touching the neck or face.
• Your child should be able to sit with his or her back straight against the vehicle seat back with knees bent at the seat's edge without slouching.
• Your child should be able to ride this way for the entire trip.

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