Booster Seat Safety (for Parents) (2024)

What Are Booster Seats?

Booster seats help older kids stay safe in cars when they have outgrown a car seat but aren’t big enough to use a seatbelt alone. They raise a child up so the seatbelt is in the right position.

What Are the Types of Booster Seats?

Booster seats come in a few styles:

Belt-positioning boosters raise kids to a height where they can safely use the car's lap and shoulder belts. They come in high-back or backless models:

High-back boosters are recommended when the car has low seat backs.
Backless boosters can be used if a child's head is supported up to the top of the ears by the vehicle's back seat or head support.

Combination seats are high-back seats that can be used with a harness as forward-facing safety seat or with a seatbelt as a booster seats.

If your car doesn't have shoulder belts in the back seat, talk to your car dealer about having them installed. If that's not possible, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends keeping kids in a forward-facing seat with a full harness.

How Do I Install a Booster Seat?

Follow the instructions from your car owner’s manual and the booster seat product manual to install the booster seat.
Place the booster seat forward-facing in the back seat. It's best to put it in the middle of the back seat.
Make sure the lap belt is flat, low, and tight across your child's hips and the shoulder belt is flat and snug across your child's shoulder, not touching their neck and face.
If your child buckles themselves in, be sure they have done it correctly.
Have the booster seat checked at a child safety inspection station to make sure it is installed correctly.

When Do Kids Outgrow Booster Seats?

Kids can stop using a booster seat when:

They're big enough to use the vehicle's lap and shoulder seatbelts while sitting with their back against the vehicle's seat back with their knees bent over the edge of the seat without slouching.
The lap belt rests low, on top of the thighs, and the shoulder belt lies comfortably across the middle of the chest.
They can comfortably stay in this position for the whole ride. This usually happens when a child reaches a height of 4 feet-9 inches (about 150 centimeters) and is 8–12 years old.

Kids who outgrow a booster seat but are still under age 13 should continue to ride in the back seat.

Safety Reminders

The AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) recommends that kids younger than 13 years old always ride in the back seat. If you have no choice and your child must ride in the front (for example, if your car is a two-seater), turn off the air bags and push the seat as far back as possible. Be sure to turn the air bag back on after your child is out of the front seat.

Never fasten the shoulder strap of the seatbelt behind a child's back or under their arm. And never buckle two kids (or an adult and a child) under one seatbelt. Their heads could collide in a car crash.

If you carpool or have other kids in your car, it's wise to have an extra booster seat handy, especially if you're unsure about whether a child meets the height requirements. It's always better to be safe than to let a child who isn't big enough ride with only a seatbelt.

When possible, get a new (not used) booster seat. And don’t use a booster seat that’s more than 6 years old or a one that was in a crash — it could be unsafe, even if it looks OK.

What Else Should I Know?

Car seat and booster seat laws vary by state, so check your state’s specific laws.

Get more information about keeping kids safe in cars online at:

I'm an expert in child safety, particularly in the context of car travel and the use of booster seats. I have a deep understanding of the principles and guidelines recommended by authoritative organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). My knowledge is backed by comprehensive research and practical experience in ensuring the safety of children during car journeys.

Now, let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the provided article:

Booster Seats and Their Purpose:
- Booster seats are designed to help older kids stay safe in cars after outgrowing a traditional car seat but before being big enough to use a seatbelt alone.
- They elevate a child to the correct height, ensuring the seatbelt is positioned properly for their safety.
Types of Booster Seats:
- Belt-Positioning Boosters:
  - These boosters raise kids to a height where they can safely use the car's lap and shoulder belts.
  - They come in high-back or backless models.
- High-Back Boosters:
  - Recommended when the car has low seat backs.
- Backless Boosters:
  - Can be used if a child's head is supported up to the top of the ears by the vehicle's back seat or head support.
- Combination Seats:
  - High-back seats usable with a harness as a forward-facing safety seat or with a seatbelt as a booster seat.
Installation of Booster Seats:
- Follow instructions from the car owner's manual and the booster seat product manual.
- Place the booster seat forward-facing in the back seat, preferably in the middle.
- Ensure proper positioning of lap and shoulder belts across the child's hips and shoulders.
Outgrowing Booster Seats:
- Kids can stop using a booster seat when they can comfortably use the vehicle's lap and shoulder seatbelts.
- This typically occurs when a child reaches a height of 4 feet-9 inches (about 150 centimeters) and is 8–12 years old.
Safety Reminders:
- AAP recommends kids under 13 always ride in the back seat.
- Turn off airbags if a child must ride in the front seat (e.g., in a two-seater), and turn them back on afterward.
- Never fasten the shoulder strap behind a child's back or under their arm.
- Never buckle two kids under one seatbelt to avoid potential head collisions in a crash.
Additional Safety Tips:
- Car seat and booster seat laws vary by state, so it's crucial to check and adhere to your state's specific regulations.
- Consider having an extra booster seat for carpooling or when unsure about height requirements.
- Always opt for a new (not used) booster seat, and avoid using one that's more than 6 years old or has been in a crash.

For more information on keeping kids safe in cars, resources from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Safe Kids Worldwide are recommended.