Boosters!

You know that your child must be AT LEAST 4 years and 40 lbs before using a booster, but did you know how long a child should sit in a booster?

Between 8 to 10 years is the age most children are able to fit properly in an adult seat belt and be able to sit that way for the entire trip!

There is a 5 step test to ask yourself to determine if your child is ready to sit in the adult belt alone.

The 5-Step Test.
1. Does the child sit all the way back against the auto seat?

2. Do the child's knees bend comfortably at the edge of the auto seat?

3. Does the belt cross the shoulder between the neck and arm?

4. Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs?

5. Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip?

If you answered "no" to any of those questions, your child still needs a booster seat to make both the shoulder belt and the lap belt fit right for the best crash protection. Your child will be more comfortable, too!

Here are some links:

http://www.chop.edu/traumalink/pcps/flash/booster_shell.html

http://www.paaap.org/pdf/teleconf/020503/kim.pdf

http://www.freewebs.com/sacredjourneys/albumbooster.htm

http://www.macombcountymi.gov/publichealth/HPDC/PDF/car%20seat%20pdf/B3-Booster%2005.pdf

http://www.carseat.org/Boosters/630.htm