What is advice for using car booster seats?

Car Booster Seats

Here are some use and installation tips from the U.S. Department of Transportation:

Select a seating position with a lap and shoulder belt. Never use with lap belt only. The back is the safest place for all children to sit. A booster seat without a back may be used if child's head is supported (up to the top of the ears) by vehicle seat back. A high-back booster is recommended if vehicle has low seat back; some models have removable back. Always read your child safety seat instructions and vehicle's owner's manual for proper use and installation information. Position the lap belt across child's upper thighs, not across the stomach. Place the shoulder belt across center of the child's shoulder. Then thread the vehicle shoulder belt through shoulder belt adjuster on booster seat. High-back boosters are recommended when vehicle seat does not have a head restraint. Once the child is seated in the booster, place the lap and shoulder belt over the child and buckle. Adjust so that the lap belt lies across the child's upper thighs, not across the stomach. Adjust the shoulder belt and thread it through the shoulder belt adjuster (if available) so that seat belt lies across the center of the child's shoulder. NHTSA recommends children be placed in a belt-positioning booster seat once they have outgrown their child safety seat at 40 pounds.

Here are other answers from FAQ Farmers:

• Look up carseat.org and their 5 point Booster test. The basics for determining booster seat: 1. Child is too heavy and/or too tall for 5 pt harness (usually 40 lbs., and ears at or above top of seat). [There are some seats -primarily BRITAX & Nania Airway - that are approved for harness use over 40 pounds.] 2. Child does not need booster if: Sit with back and rear end against back of seat. AND Bend knees, AND shoulder belt rests across shoulder, AND REMAIN THIS WAY FOR ENTIRE TRIP (no tucking shoulder belt, no slouching forward). This is not normally the case for a child under 4' 9" tall and less than 80 pounds - usually around age 8-10 depending on the height and weight of the child. This also can depend on the vehicle. A child may correctly fit on the bench seat of a mini van or truck w/o a booster but not in the van's bucket seat or the back of a sedan. 3. A lap/shoulder belt is required for booster use. Seating positions with lap belt only should NEVER be used with a booster. Boosters are also not approved for airline use, as airline seats are lap belt only.

First answer by anonymous. Last edit by NE.CPS.TECH. Contributor trust: 69 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 287 [recommend question]