Booster seat requirements are enough to make any parent’s head spin, but it’s an essential part in keeping children safe when traveling in cars. Make sure you know what to look for in a booster seat and when it’s time for your child to make the leap.
Booster Seat Basics
Start with understanding the basics of what the seat does. “Most parents do not actually understand what a booster seat is for,” says Grainne Kelly, child passenger safety technician and founder of the booster seat company BubbleBum. “A booster seat positions the vehicle seat belt on the child. This is necessary as a vehicle seat belt is designed for adults and a child is not proportioned like a small adult. Their body is very different proportionately, and the seat belt causes severe and even fatal injuries when it is in the wrong place.”
Your booster seat ensures the seat belt is positioned over the strongest parts of the body, which for a child is on the lower pelvis and shoulder. Improperly positioned seat belts often cause abdominal injuries for children who are not using a booster seat at the time of a crash.
“The height of the seat is irrelevant. The positioning of the belt is what is important,” says Kelly. She notes that you need to find the right booster seat for the car it will be used in. “Also if the booster seat does not sit properly into the vehicle seat, perhaps if you have bucket seats, for example, the seat is not correct for your vehicle. It is important that it fits well in the vehicle otherwise it could slip out from under the child in a crash.”
Booster Seat Requirements
Parents may feel their child is ready for a booster seat at an early age, which is likely not the case. Allana Pinkerton, a certified child passenger safety instructor and the global safety advocate for Diono, advises parents to keep kids in a traditional seat with a five-point harness for as long as possible. “A five-point harness provides the optimal protection for younger children as it spreads the crash forces over a large portion of the body, reducing the chance of serious or permanent injuries,” she says.
So when is your child ready for a booster seat? In general, he needs to meet both the minimum recommended age and weight requirements for advancement. He also should be close to the maximum weight for his current car seat. Moving to the next stage shouldn’t be viewed like a life milestone — be sure not to progress too early or you will be compromising your child’s safety.
In addition to being the right age and weight, there are a few other signs children may need a booster seat. These include the following:
- They cannot sit with their back against the vehicle seat.
- Their knees do not bend at the edge of the current car seat.
- The lap belt hits too high on the lap or thighs.
- The shoulder belt does not sit correctly between the neck and shoulder.
- The child slouches or leans out of the seat belt.
Choosing a Booster Seat
When selecting your booster seat, make sure that it is one that can be easily moved between cars and fits the seats in all relevant vehicles. The seat should follow your child from car to car, so search for an option that’s transferable and easy to install. It’s also a good idea to discuss how to use the seat with anyone who will be driving your little one, as something as simple as a misplaced strap could render the seat inefficient.
You’ll have to choose between two types of booster seats when shopping: backless and high-backed seats. The style of your car will likely dictate which one of these options is best for you, but your child’s preference and travel requirements will also play a role. Checking the annual Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Best Bet Booster Awards is also helpful and can alert you to the best boosters on the market. But regardless of what product you buy, make sure you’re complying with all state laws on child passenger safety, which you can find at the Governor’s Highway Safety Association.
And check out these Booster Seat Age and Weight Guidelines.
Christina Montoya Fiedler is a Los Angeles-based parenting writer. Read more of her work at Red Tricycle. She currently has one kid in a rear-facing car seat and another in a booster seat. She’s right there with you in making these tough decisions.
