The Truth about Booster Seats

Are you confused about using a booster seat?

Real children are not like crash test dummies, so every seat can fit differently. Booster kids come in all shapes and sizes, so take your child to pick out the booster that fits him or her best.

Don’t panic if your booster seat shows up on a “not recommended” list. The seat that does not fit the crash dummy may fit your child perfectly and all boosters on the market meet federal crash test standards.

The most important factor is how a booster fits your child:

• Does the shoulder belt rest on the shoulder bone? You may have to raise the booster seat’s head rest to adjust the fit for your child.
• Does the lap belt lay across the upper legs or thighs? Be sure the lap belt is under both armrests.
• If both lap and shoulder belt fit as directed, you have a “recommended” seat because it is a good fit for your child.

The numbers tell the truth: booster seats save lives.

The latest research shows that children who use a belt positioning booster seat in a back seat are 45 percent less likely to be injured in a crash than those who use just a seat belt.

In Tennessee, children must ride in a belt-positioning booster seat until they are either 4 feet 9 inches tall or 9 years old.

January 21, 2010

From Safe Kids Mid-South, led by Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center and part of a global campaign to prevent accidental injury to children.