If you want to ensure that your child is securely fastened in the car, a booster seat elevates them to the proper height so that the car’s seat belts fit correctly. It is recommended to switch to a booster seat once your child exceeds the height or weight limit for their current car seat. However, it’s best not to rush the transition, as a car seat with a harness provides greater safety for your child.
What is a booster seat?
A booster seat elevates your child so that your car’s lap and shoulder belts can properly secure them, with the belts positioned over their chest and hips, which are their strongest areas.
Once your child has outgrown their car seat with a harness, it’s time to consider a booster seat. Since your child will be using this seat for several years, it’s essential to choose a high-quality one. Depending on your situation, you may even need to invest in multiple boosters for different vehicles your child regularly rides in. If you need a reliable one, you can find here booster car seat for your child.
Two types of boosters
A high back booster is a good option for vehicles without headrests and low seat backs. This type of booster provides support for your child’s head and can be more comfortable, especially if your child falls asleep in the car. The high back booster creates a cradle for their head.
On the other hand, if your vehicle has a high enough seat back to support your child’s head, you can use a backless booster. Just make sure your child’s ears are below the top of the seat back or headrest. Backless boosters are more affordable than high-back boosters and easier to move between cars.
Why does your child need a booster seat?
It’s important to usе a boostеr sеat for childrеn in thе car to avoid injury in casе of a crash. Without it, an adult sеat bеlt can actually cause harm instead of prеvеnting it. For instance, thе lap bеlt could bе position on thе child’s tummy, lеading to potеntial damagе to thе stomach, livеr, or splееn during an accidеnt.
If thе shouldеr bеlt rеsts on your child’s nеck instеad of thеir chеst, it can cause injury to thеir nеck. Additionally, if your child triеs to movе thе bеlt undеr thеir arm, it could lеad to crackеd ribs and intеrnal organ damagе. Similarly, placing thе bеlt bеhind thеir back offеrs no protеction against hеad, nеck, and spinal injuriеs. It’s important to еnsurе that thе shouldеr bеlt is propеrly positionеd for thеir safety.
It has been found that children between the ages of 4 and 8 who use a booster seat are 45% less likely to be injured in a crash compared to those who solely rely on seat belts.
What are the booster seat requirements?
It is recommended by both the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that children who have outgrown their harness car seat should ride in a booster seat until they are large enough to properly fit in a seat belt.
When your child can comfortably keep their back against the car seat, their knees bend over the edge of the car seat, and their feet remain flat on the car floor, they are ready to use a regular seat belt. Ensure that the lap belt sits naturally below their belly, touching the tops of their thighs, while the shoulder belt is centered between their shoulder and neck.
Booster seat age
Children who are 3, 4, 5, and 6 years old may not be large enough to use a booster seat. An average 5-year-old child is approximately 3 feet 7 inches tall and weighs around 40-41 pounds, which is below the weight and height requirements for forward-facing car seats. Similarly, an average 6-year-old child weighs about 44-45 pounds and is approximately 3 feet 9 inches tall.
It is safer for children to remain in their car seat instead of transitioning to a booster seat too early. Even 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds may still be small enough to ride in a rear-facing car seat, which is the safest option. Convertible seats are typically safe for children to ride in while facing the rear until they reach at least 40 pounds. It is recommended to consult the car seat manual for specific guidelines.
In order to ensure your child’s safety, it’s important to check the maximum weight and height limits of their car seat for the rear-facing position. Keep them in this position until they outgrow the specified weight or height. Once they are too big for rear-facing, you can then turn the car seat around to face forward.
Are backless booster seats safe?
It is safe to use backless booster seats for your child. These seats help position your child in a way that allows them to be protected by a seat belt. While there is limited research comparing the safety of backless booster seats to high-back boosters, they are considered equally safe.
A study found that booster seatbelt fit varies greatly, but backless boosters generally provide better lap belt fit than high-back boosters. However, high-back boosters have belt routing guides near the shoulder, resulting in a more consistent shoulder belt fit.
Make sure your child’s ready for a booster
Many parents mistakenly use a booster seat for their child before they are actually big enough to use it safely. It is important to note that while some all-in-one car seats may claim they can be used without the harness starting at 30 pounds, this is only suitable for a very specific type of child – one who is both very tall and thin and who has outgrown the harness but still weighs less than 40 pounds.
Make sure the booster is in the right spot
For maximum protection in the event of a side-impact collision, it is recommended to place booster seats in the center of the rear seat. However, some vehicles only have a lap belt in the center back, which is not sufficient to anchor a booster seat on its own. It is essential to ensure the presence of both lap and shoulder belts for optimal safety.
If you want to ensure your child’s safety while riding in your vehicle, it is recommended to position their booster seat on either side of the backseat. Placing the booster on the right side of the car allows for better visibility of the child and makes it easier and safer for them to exit the car on a busy street. If you have two children in the car, the placement of the booster seats will depend on the type of seat belts in your car and the shape of your backseat.
For optimal safety and comfort, it is recommended to place one child in the center and the other on the right side of the back seat, closest to the curb. However, if your children tend to bother each other when seated closely, which can be distracting while driving, it may be necessary to create a buffer zone by placing one child in the center.
