Children may begin using a booster seat as early as the age of 3 but the car seat lady asserts that as many as 50 percent of 10 year old children still require booster seats for optimum lap belt placement. If she has a long torso look for a booster seat thats designed to redirect the lap portion of the belt from the tummy to the tops of the thighs.
New Child Safety Seat Law To Take Effect August 1 In Louisiana
Height and weight to move out of a booster seat. If you need help installing your car seat trust a professional and find a car seat inspection station near you. Kids can use a high back booster seat whenever they outgrow their car seat usually when they reach 40 to 65 pounds until they weigh 120 pounds. Some booster seats accommodate up to 120 pounds. They raise the child and help keep the vehicles adult seat belt where it needs to be to help protect your child. Thats usually 30 to 60 pounds 136 to. The american academy of pediatrics aap recommends babies be in rear facing seats until age 2 or until they reach the car seats height or weight limit.
When most kids turn 4 that is when parents need to move them from their forward facing car seat to a booster seat. From when kids surpass their car seat limits until they are at least four feet nine inches tall. High back booster seat height requirements. And even as much as 80 lbs. High back booster seat weight requirements. If your child outgrows her current booster seat replace it with one that has higher weight and height limits.
Sometimes parents get pressure to use a booster seat from friends relatives or the child. Parents must also check their car seat manufacturers height and weight limits and follow recommendations from health and safety organizations. While some high back booster seats have a minimum weight of 30 pounds kids should weigh at least 40 pounds before riding in any booster seat. However some models made by britax can accommodate children up to 65 lbs. We understand that pressure and concern but it is safer to move from a forward facing car seat to a booster seat only after your child reaches the weight or height limit of the seat you are using. Dont transition to this important stage unless you are sure.
Booster seats are meant for children who have outgrown their forward facing child seats and who weigh at least 18 kg 40 lb. There may not be a perfect size to determine booster seat usage but the childs height will ultimately help determine how the lap belt fits. Most forward facing car seats accommodate children between 20 and 40 lbs. The 5 point harness spreads crash forces over more points on a childs body lessening the potential force any one part of the body must take in a crash. Children aged from seven years old but under 16 years old who are too small to be restrained by a seatbelt properly adjusted and fastened are strongly recommended to use an approved booster seat. Visit our main car seat safety page for additional age weight and height guidelines.