How to Use Booster Seats

Booster seats are used for children who have grown out of traditional car seats. A booster seat boosts the child up so that lap and shoulder belts that are designed to fit an adult will adequately fit the child and keep him safe in a car accident. It is recommended that children who have grown out of regular car seats ride in booster seats until they are at least 8 years old and 4 feet 9 inches tall.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Test the fit of the booster seat in your car before you buy it. The seat should sit flat against the back seat in your car. It should not tip over easily, and it should fit with the contour of the back seat in your vehicle.

2. Place the booster seat in the middle of the back seat, where your child will be safest if you are in a car accident.

3. Use positioning clips on the booster seat if available. Thread the shoulder belt through the positioning clip located on the booster seat. Adjust the shoulder and lap belts to be in the proper position.

4. Place the shoulder belt directly over one shoulder, diagonal across the chest, so it does not rub the child's neck. The lap belt should sit high on the lap just above the thighs, not over the stomach.

5. Buckle your child into the booster seat the first couple of times he uses the seat. This will ensure that the child is secured correctly. Eventually, he can learn how to use the seat and buckle himself in the right way.

Tips & Warnings

• Never let any child under 13 years old ride in the front seat. Booster seats are important, because an adult seat belt could actually cause injury to a small child instead of prevent it. Two types of booster seats are available: high-back and chair-style. The kind of seat that is best depends on the style of the seats in your car. If you have more than one car seat, place one car seat on each side in the back seat of your vehicle, or put the youngest child in the middle and the older child on the right side of the back seat.
• If the seat in your car does not have a neck rest, and the child's head is higher than the top of the seat, buy a high-back booster to support his neck; otherwise, he could suffer a neck injury during an accident. Ensure your child is ready for a booster seat. He should stay in a harness-style seat until he is 30 to 40 pounds and is too tall for a regular car seat. If the lap belt is buckled over the stomach, it can cause spleen or liver damage if you get into a car accident.

References

• Booster Seat Safety: How to Choose and Use a Booster Seat