Booster Seats
Unlike a car seat, which actually straps your child in with harness straps, a booster seat simply raises or “boosts” your child up so that the car’s regular seat belts fit better. New car seat laws, some which require kids to be in a booster seat until they are 8 years old, have been a good reminder for many parents that a booster seat is the safest way for kids ride in the car until they are ready for seat belts.
Booster Seat Recommendations
Some state laws—like South Dakota’s—only require car seats for kids who are less than 5 years old. This is well below most expert recommendations, including that children should ride in a booster after they have outgrown their forward-facing car seat and until:
They are 4 feet 9 inches in height, which is usually between ages 8 and 12 (American Academy of Pediatrics car seat guideline) Ages 8 to 12, when they are big enough to fit in seat belts (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommendation)
Booster Seat vs Seat Belts
Most importantly, after they outgrow a car seat with harness straps, your child should sit in a booster seat until your car’s regular seat belts fit correctly with:
The shoulder harness fitting across your child’s chest and resting on their shoulder.The lap belt resting low across the hip or pelvis area and upper thighs.
There is no need to put the shoulder harness under your child’s arm or behind his back because it is crossing his neck. Keep your kids in a booster seat until they are ready for regular seat belts.
