What Determines When a Child Can Use a Car Booster Seat?

Sept. 21, 2011 - PRLog -- When a child becomes too big to safely fit into a child’s car seat, yet is not big enough to be strapped in using an adult seat belt, the child is ready for a booster seat. A booster seat introduces the child to his first taste of independence, enabling him to buckle up all by himself, freeing the parent from this routine but time consuming task.

Selecting the right booster seat is fairly straightforward. All booster seats should have a sticker or tag attached that clearly states the recommended height and weight requirements that a child should meet in order to safely use the seat. And many customers speak highly of the Britax booster car seat for its safe and comfortable. A booster seat is transitional, needed only until the child can be comfortably secured using the car’s seat belts. This time of transition is usually of such short duration that only one booster seat will be needed.

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As with the infant car seat that you formerly used, it’s important that the booster seat be located and secured properly to ensure the safety of the child. Never place the booster seat in the front passenger seat if the car is equipped with an air bag in that position. Air bags deploy at high speed and have considerable impact that can cause serious injury or death to a child. The best position is the middle of a rear seat or in the middle seat of a small van.

With the booster seat in position, secure the seat and the child with the car’s seat belt. A booster seat can be used safely only when the car’s seat belts include a shoulder strap. Never use a booster seat with only a lap strap. The failure to have the child’s neck and head adequately supported can lead to serious injury in the event of a crash.

Moving into a booster seat requires training for the child. When properly trained, the child should be able to safely buckle up. The child should be taught never to unbuckle the seat belt unless the car is parked. Unfortunately, children are impatient and may unbuckle in anticipation of a stop, or to retrieve a dropped toy. Let the child know that if he unbuckles the seat belt without your express permission, he will be put back into the child’s car seat. The threat of the loss of status implied by transitioning to a booster seat is usually enough to make the child follow the “buckle up” rules.

Keep in mind that even if you child meets all of the size and weight requirements specified by the manufacturer for safe use of the booster seat, the laws of your state may indicate otherwise, especially if the state has age restrictions in place for booster seat use. Always check with the local police department before using a booster seat to ensure that you are working within the limits of the law.

Moving into a booster seat is a step up to “big boy” or “big girl” status, offering a big boost to the child’s self esteem. Usually, at least initially, the child will be eager and willing to conform to whatever rules you set in place to ensure that the seat is used properly. Take advantage of that characteristic to properly train your child. The same desire that the child had to move from the child’s car seat to the booster seat will again arise when the child wants to move from the booster seat to an adult seat belt. It’s inevitable and can be dealt with when the situation arises. Until then, however, the properly trained child, seated in a properly mounted booster seat, will be safe and secure.

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