How to Test a Car Seat Booster

Video Transcript

"Hi this is Judy and Dan and on behalf of Expert Village we're going to talk to you about a booster sit 5 step test. The first step of a 5 step test is how they sit all the way back in the sit. Number two can there knees bend with them sitting all the way back can there knees bend over the edge of the sit this is very important because what happens in this case you can see to get the knees over the edge they would slouch forward like this. What this does it puts the vehicle belt in a very bad position. What happens is the belt ends up instead of them being lower cross on the waist and on the hips the belt ends up right sitting up here into the abdomen as we refer technically as soft squishy parts. What happens in a crash now there is nothing to stop this belt from working its way way back. There has been case once known as seat belt syndrome or the seatbelt works itself all the way back to the spine cause a lot of damage. Again it is very important if there sitting properly they are sitting up and that belt is low across the hips that is actually step 3 is does the belt goes across the hips. Step 4 is the shoulder belt in the proper position it is between the neck and the shoulder and step 5 probably one of the most overlooked is the child mature enough to stay in this position for the whole time they are in the car. If they reach over to touch there baby sister or they are not trying to reach down and touch there feet or pick up a toy because that way you could see they are already sliding out of the belt and they are not in position. Maturity is a huge importance and another thing a lot of them do is they like to have that shoulder belt under the arm or behind the back. Very very dangerous what happens in a crash it would pancake over the belt like this and forces throws them forward, the spine would get dislocated and may end up paralyzed so. And you never want them to put it under there arm like this again that won't support them in the seat so they are going to be more comfortable in there booster seat, they are going to be able to see out better and the most important is that they are riding safe. "