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Home › Articles › Toddler Safety › Car Seat Conundrum

Car Seat Conundrum

Keeping Toddlers Safe on the Road

By Teri Brown

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Time to Give up the Booster?
The following questions from SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A. can help you figure out if your child is ready to sit in the back seat without the aid of a booster seat. Have your child sit in the back seat of your vehicle and ask yourself the following questions:

  • Is the child sitting tall so his/her whole back is touching the seat back? (Do not allow child to slouch.)
  • Do the child's knees bend comfortably at the edge of the seat?
  • Does the shoulder belt cross the shoulder between the neck and arm?
  • Is the lap belt touching the tips of the legs? (Make sure lap portion of the belt is not on the child's abdomen.)
  • Can the child sit like this for the whole trip?

If the answer to any of these questions is "no" the child needs a booster seat to ride safely/properly in the car.

"Keep in mind that seatbelts typically do not fit children until they are at least 4 foot, 9 inches tall," Frias says. "Seat belts are designed for adults. Seat belts don't typically fit most women comfortably, let alone children. A properly fitted seat belt is extremely important. Booster seats just help seat belts fit better. What I explain to most parents is that kids are going to be in some kind of car seat for a very long time."

Car Seat Safety Resources

The following sites offer more information to help you solve your own car seat conundrums:

SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A. is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to child passenger safety. The entire site is dedicated to the proper use of child safety seats.
Safe Kids Worldwide is a global network of organizations whose mission is to prevent accidental childhood injury, a leading killer of children 14 and under. They offer pages of information on the proper use of child safety seats.
The American Academy of Pediatrics offers information on the safe and proper use of safety seats. They also include frequently asked questions.


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