Maine Height & Weight Requirements for Child Booster Seats

Has your child outgrown her car seat?

Once children have outgrown their infant and toddler car seat, federal and Maine state laws require them to remain in a child booster seat until they can safely use the vehicle's safety belt.

The Numbers

Children in the state of Maine can move from a car seat to a booster when they have reached 40 pounds, explains The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. All children under the age of eight who weigh between 40 and 80 pounds are required to use a booster seat. When your child is eight years old and has reached a height of 4 feet and 9 inches, he may begin using the vehicle safety belt alone.

Function

A booster seat elevates your child so that the vehicle's safety belt fits properly. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) advises that a correctly fitted seat belt will have a lap belt that lies across the upper thighs and a shoulder belt that lies across the chest.

Significance

The NHTSA reports that 2006 mortality rates show that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children three to fourteen years of age. With the use of a properly installed booster seat, the death rate for children can be reduced by fifty-four percent, according to The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

References

• Insurance Institute for Highway Safety: Child Restraint Laws: Maine
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: 4 Steps For Kids: Booster Seats
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: Traffic Safety Facts 2008, Children
• The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: Motor Vehicle Safety- Injury and Incident Statistics