Booster Seats

Booster Basics

A “belt-positioning booster, or simply a booster seat, helps to give children the extra height they need to make a vehicle’s seat belt fit properly. Boosters work by propping the child’s seating surface up to match the profile of an adult’s. This allows the vehicle’s seat belt to properly interact with the child’s strong pelvis and shoulder/upper torso. Boosters help to route the lap-portion of the seat belt low over the child’s thighs and pelvis, and keeps it away from the child’s fragile abdomen. Boosters also give the child extra height so that the shoulder-portion of the belt interacts properly with the center of the shoulder, and does not cross the child’s neck.

CHILDREN ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO SURVIVE A COLLISION WHEN USING A BOOSTER SEAT VS. A SEAT BELT ALONE.

When to Switch from a Booster Seat to a Belt

Your child should use a booster seat until he reaches the upper height or weight limit of the booster, and should transition to a seat belt alone only when the belt fits properly. In general, a child needs to be 4’9” tall to ensure a good fit in the seat belt. The seat belt fits properly when the following are ALL true:

The Five Step Test

STEP 1
Back against the
vehicle seat
STEP 2
Knees bend at
edge of seat
STEP 3
Lap belt low on
tops of thighs
STEP 4
Shoulder belt between
shoulder and neck
STEP 5
Sit properly for
the entire ride
Whether or not a child fits in a seat belt can depend on the size of the vehicle and the design of the seat belt. A child may fit in a seat belt in one vehicle, but still need a booster to help position the seat belt properly in another vehicle. A good rule of thumb is that a child should be 4’9” to ride in a seat belt without a booster, but careful observation must be done to ensure that the child meets all of the above requirements in each vehicle he rides in.
Set a good example for your children and wear your seat belt on every trip, no matter how short it may be.

Installing a Booster Seat

CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 13 SHOULD RIDE IN THE BACK SEAT
A booster seat typically doesn’t require any physical installation; it is just placed on the seat and your child sits on it with his seat belt buckled. However, some manufacturers allow or require booster seats to be installed using the lower anchors. Read the instruction manual to determine if your booster should be installed using lower anchors. Also, be aware that an unoccupied, unrestrained booster can become a projectile during a crash and injure other passengers. If your child is not riding in the booster, be sure to secure the unoccupied booster in the seat using either the seat belt or lower anchors.

Buckling in Your Little Buckeye

Your child’s lap belt should sit low on his hips – not across his stomach. The shoulder belt should lie between his shoulder and neck, across the center of the collarbone. A high-back booster will typically have a seat belt guide to route the shoulder belt over your child’s shoulder properly. The back of the booster may be adjustable to accommodate different heights; be sure to adjust yours to fit your child. If your booster seat has arm rests, the shoulder belt will most likely need to be routed under the armrest on the side nearest to the seat belt buckle, but be sure to check your instruction manual to determine the correct routing. The seat belt should lie flat, straight, and not twisted.

If you’re using a backless booster be sure that your child is in a seat that has a head rest, or a high seat back to support his head. Adjust the head rest so that the tops of your child’s ears are below the top. If there is no head rest move him to another seating position or use a high-back booster so he will have the proper head, neck, and back support. Occasionally a high-back booster can only be in a seating position that has a head rest, so be sure to check your instruction manual to see what the manufacturer allows.

Boosters can only be used with a lap and shoulder belt – DO NOT USE A BOOSTER WITH A LAP BELT ONLY.