When does the day come when your youngster can buckle up with an adult seat belt? The law in most states requires kids to be in a car seat until they reach a height of at least 4 feet 9 inches.
Today parents are very aware of safety issues relating to their children. Children’s car seats have made a big difference in kid’s safety but auto accidents are still the number one cause of death for those under the age of 6.
Children should be in a safe car seat from newborn to 100 pounds
A child is put into an infant or convertible car seat from the day they’re born until probably when they reach a weight of around 100 pounds. They start with a rear facing seat which ensures top level safety as they sit in a seat that has to meet federal safety minimum standards.
They then graduate to a front facing seat but still are secured by a 5 point harness and the seat is normally latched to the car itself rather than just a seat belt.
The last seat is a booster seat
Then finally, kids go to a booster seat which is secured by regular seat belts. The booster raises your child higher so that the seat belt works properly plus it gives an additional level of safety.
The 5 Step Test
So when does all of this end? There is a 5 step test that will let you know when your youngster is ready for an adult seat belt or not.
If the answer is no to any of these 5 statements then a regular seat belt is not safe.
1 – When your child sits in the back seat does he or she sit straight up and flat against the seat? Is it totally natural for them to be in this position?
2 – Watch your child as he sits in the back seat. Their knees should bend naturally over the front edge of the back seat. Do they?
3 – The lower part of the seat belt should not touch the stomach. Does it sit comfortably over the top part of their thighs?
4 – When they buckle up, does the upper part of the belt fit easily across the shoulder or the upper part of their chest?
5 – Can they stay comfortably in this position for a longer period of time and not just a 10 minute run to the store?
It’s the child’s size that matters, not age
It isn’t a matter of reaching a certain age that a young one grows out of a booster seat. It’s how their body fits in the seat belt. This will depend on their height combined with their weight.
A booster seat provides additional safety from frontal and side impact crashes so there should be no hurry to put the seat away unless your child is really of adult size. Many companies make booster seats that will fit youngsters up to 100 pounds and some even up to 120 pounds.
I really like the Graco Nautilus booster seat as it is rated highly and isn’t expensive. There are many seats to choose from but read reviews from owners. They are a great source of information.
When you give your child the 5 step test, if you’re unsure about the result, error on the side of caution. Keep your kids safe and comfortable in a reliable booster seat until they are truly ready for an adult seat belt.
About the author: Jerry Patterson is the parent of two children and five grandchildren. He’s a retired teacher, child safety advocate and creator of the Car Seats Reviews site at Carseats-Reviews.com. He researches and writes reviews on the best car seats. He recently has written a review on a top rated booster seat, the Graco Nautilus Car Seat.