When do you switch to a booster seat

Sometimes parents get pressure to use a booster seat from friends, relatives or the child. 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. A child in a forward-facing seat with a harness and top tether is more protected than one in a booster seat with lap and shoulder belt or when using just a seat belt alone. Will your child stay in a seat without a harness?

If moved to a booster seat too soon, children sometimes climb out of the booster seat. When your child gets too big for her car seat, you can give the seat to someone you know. Make sure the seat has all the original parts, labels, and instructions. If the seat was in a crash or is missing parts, throw it away!

When you throw away an expired or unsafe car seat, take it apart and put the pieces in separate dark trash bags to prevent someone else from using it. Remember, car seats expire. Having the car seat set up correctly and ready to go ahead of time can reduce stress and help parents feel more confident about taking their little ones home for the first time. Choose: Rear-facing-only car seats with a five-point harness or rear-facing convertible car seats with a five-point harness.

Look at the height and weight limits on your infant car seat. Rear-facing-only seats typically range from 26 to 36 inches and 22 to 35 pounds. Convertible car seats tend to have higher limits. But keep them rear facing for as long as possible.

Legs bend. Your child can finally drive through life facing forward once they outgrow the height and weight limits of their rear-facing car seat.

You can often switch the rear-facing seat to forward mode. Or invest in a forward-facing car seat with a five-point harness. All infants and toddlers should ride in a rear-facing seat as long as possible until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car safety seat manufacturer. When infants outgrow their rear-facing—only seat, a convertible seat installed rear facing is needed.

Three types of rear-facing seats are available: rear-facing—only , convertible, and all-in-one. When children reach the highest weight or length allowed by the manufacturer of their rear-facing—only seat, they should continue to ride rear facing in a convertible or all-in-one seat.

Always read the vehicle owner's manual and the car safety seat manual before installing the seat. Very small babies who can sit safely in a semi-reclined position usually fit better in rear-facing—only seats.

Babies born preterm should be screened while still in the hospital to make sure they can sit safely in a semi-reclined position. Babies who need to lie flat during travel may be able to ride in a car bed that meets Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard They should be screened again while in the hospital to make sure they can lie safely in the car bed.

Any child who has outgrown the rear-facing weight or height limit for her convertible seat should use a forward- facing seat with a harness for as long as possible, up to the highest weight or height allowed by her car safety seat manufacturer.

It is best for children to ride in a seat with a harness as long as possible, at least to 4 years of age. If your child outgrows a seat before reaching 4 years of age, consider using a seat with a harness approved for higher weights and heights. It is important that the car safety seat is installed tightly in the vehicle and that the harness fits your child snugly.

Booster seats are for older children who have outgrown their forward-facing seats. Most children will not fit in most vehicle seat belts without a booster until 10 to 12 years of age. Instructions that come with your car safety seat will tell you the height and weight limits for the seat.

As a general guideline, a child has outgrown a forward-facing seat when any of the following situations is true:. High-back and backless are 2 standard types of booster seats.

They do not come with a harness but are used with lap and shoulder seat belts in your vehicle, the same way an adult rides.

Most booster seats are not secured to the vehicle seat with the seat belt or lower anchors and tether but simply rest on the vehicle seat and are held in place once the seat belt is fastened over a child. However, some models of booster seats can be secured to the vehicle seat and kept in place by using the lower anchors and tether along with lap and shoulder belts.

Currently, only a few vehicle manufacturers offer integrated booster seats. Booster seats often have a plastic clip or guide to correctly position vehicle lap and shoulder belts. See the booster seat instruction manual for directions on how to use the clip or guide.

Booster seats must be used with lap and shoulder belts. When using a booster seat, make sure:. If your booster seat has lower anchors or tether attachments, check its manual for installation instructions. If your car has only lap belts, use a forward-facing seat that has a harness and higher weight limits. You could also. Seat belts are made for adults. Children should stay in a booster seat until adult seat belts fit correctly, typically when children reach about 4 feet 9 inches in height and are 8 to 12 years of age.

Most children will not fit in a seat belt alone until 10 to 12 years of age. When children are old enough and large enough to use the vehicle seat belt alone, they should always use lap and shoulder seat belts for the best protection. Front airbags are installed in all new cars.

When used with seat belts, airbags work well to protect teenagers and adults; however, airbags can be very dangerous to children, particularly to those riding in rear-facing seats and to preschoolers and young school-aged children who are not properly restrained.

If your vehicle has a front passenger airbag, infants in rear-facing seats must ride in the back seat. Even in a relatively low-speed crash, the airbag can inflate, strike the car safety seat, and cause serious brain injury and death.

Vehicles with no back seat or a back seat that is not made for passengers are not the best choice for traveling with small children; however, the airbag can be turned off in some of these vehicles if the front seat is needed for a child passenger. Side airbags are available in most new cars. Side airbags improve safety for adults in side-impact crashes. Child care programs and schools should have written guidelines for transporting children, including.

This will help keep them safe during takeoff and landing or in case of turbulence. Remember that your child will need an appropriate car safety seat to use at your destination. If you have questions or need help with installing your car safety seat, find a certified child passenger safety technician CPST or CPS technician. Lists of certified CPSTs and child seat—fitting stations are available on the following websites:.

Be a good role model. Make sure you always wear your seat belt. This will help your child form a lifelong habit of buckling up. Make sure that everyone who transports your child uses the correct car safety seat or seat belt on every trip, every time. Being consistent with car safety seat use is good parenting, reduces fussing and complaints, and is safest for your child. Never leave your child alone in or around cars, and lock your vehicle when it is not in use.

Any of the following situations can happen when a child is left alone in or around a vehicle. A child can. Always read and follow the manufacturer's instructions for your car safety seat. If you do not have those, write or call the company's customer service department. Staff will ask you for the model number, name of seat, and date of manufacture.

The manufacturer's address and phone number are on a label on the seat. Also, be sure to follow the instructions in your vehicle owner's manual about using car safety seats.

Some manufacturers' instructions may be available on their websites. Remember to fill out and mail in the registration card that comes with the car safety seat. You can also register your seat on the manufacturer's website.

It will be important in case the seat is recalled. Follow manufacturer directions for cleaning car seats. Cleaning but not disinfecting is usually permitted. That's because disinfectant products may decrease the protection provided by the seat and harness. Although the AAP is not a testing or standard-setting organization, this article sets forth the AAP recommendations based on the peer-reviewed literature available at the time of its publication and sets forth some of the factors that parents should consider before selecting and using a car seat.

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