When does my child need to use a booster seat?

Booster seats are recommended for children between the ages of 4 and 8, who weigh more than 40 pounds and are under 4'9".

The next time you put your child in the car, try this simple test:

• Does your child sit all the way back against the back seat?
• Do your child's knees bend comfortably over the edge of the back seat?
• Does the shoulder belt cross your child's shoulder between the neck and arm?
• Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs? Can your child stay seated like this for an entire trip?

If you answer "no" to any of these questions, your child needs a booster seat to ride safely in the car.

There are different types of booster seats.

The type of seat you need depends on your car and where the seat belts are attached to the seat, as well as the height and weight of your child. All booster seats must be used with a lap and shoulder belt in the backseat of your car. The back seat of any car is the safest place for children to ride.

A high back booster seat looks like a front bucket seat. This seat is used when the back seat is lower than the child's ears. The high back of the booster seat helps protect the child's neck and head. Side head supports can also provide additional comfort for a sleeping child.

Another type of booster seat is one with a shield. Once the shield is removed, the seat can be used with the lap and shoulder belt for children over 40 pounds. The shield is designed to be used for children who weigh between 30 and 40 pounds when only lap belts are in a vehicle. However, traditional child safely seats, which can also be used with only a lap belt, offer better protection for children under 40 pounds.

How do you choose a booster seat?

• Find out whether the seat belts in your car can best support a high back, backless or shield booster seat.
  
• Read the booster seat instructions and your car owner's manual before installing the booster seat.
• Try the booster seat out in your car with your child as soon as you purchase it.
• Make sure that the booster seat label states that the child restraint system conforms to all applicable u.s. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
• Never use a booster seat that has been in a crash or purchase a used booster seat. The seat  may have defects that are not visible.

FACT: Most motor vehicle crashes occur within 25 miles of home and at speeds of less than 30 mph. It is important to everyone to buckle up every time they ride in a vehicle.

FACT: Traffic crashes are the leading cause of unintentional injury deaths for children 4 to 8 years of age. Many of these deaths can be prevented with the proper use of child safely and booster seats.

FACT: At 40 mph, a child who is not restrained in a child safely seat or booster seat can hit the windshield or dashboard with the same force he or she would experience when hitting the ground after a fall from a 5th floor building. Severe injury can happen even at low speeds. Properly installed child safely seats and booster seats help save a child's life.

FACT: New York State law does not require children over age four to use booster seats. However, children between the ages of 4 and 8 are still too short (usually under 4'9") to use seat belts. So, a booster seat must be used to properly position the seat belt on the child. The shoulder belt should be over the middle of the shoulder and the lap belt low and snug across the hips.

FACT: Children aged 2 to 5 who use adult seat belts are more likely to be severely injured and suffer head injury than children the same age who use child safely seats or booster seats. Children under the age of 4 should use child safely seats until they reach the seat's maximum weight or height limit. At that time, children should use booster seats.

State of New York
George E. Pataki, Governor
Department of Health Antonia C. Novello, M.D., M.P.H., Dr. P.H., Commissioner

This publication was supported by grant/cooperative agreement U17.CCU21859
from the Centers far Disease Control and Prevention
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