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When to Put Your Child in
a Booster Seat
Booster seats raise the child up and help to position the
vehicle lap and shoulder belt correctly. When the child is
properly restrained in a booster seat, their risk of injury
in all types of crashes is reduced, as the lap and shoulder
belt provides excellent restraint of both the upper and lower
torsos.
It is important for the child to sit properly within the vehicle
seat belts. When the vehicle seat belt is buckled, the lap belt
should be low on the hips, just touching the thighs, and the
shoulder belt should lie across the middle of the shoulder.
If the child leans out or moves the belt behind the back or
places it under the arm, it will not provide the intended
restraint.
There are a number of things to consider when deciding
whether the child is ready to sit in a booster seat, including:
the weight and height rating on their current child seat, the
child’s own weight and height, their maturity, and the seating
positions available in your vehicle.
How is a booster seat used?
Using a booster seat is very similar to buckling yourself into
the vehicle:
• Read the instruction manuals for both the booster seat and
the vehicle before you start.
• Put the booster in the back seat in a location with
a lap and shoulder belt. Never use a booster
with only a lap belt, as this could cause serious
injuries.
• After the child is in the booster, pull the lap and shoulder
belt across him/her and buckle it.
• Check that the shoulder belt lies across the middle of the
shoulder and that the lap belt is low on the hips, just
touching the thighs.
How can you tell if your child is ready to transition to
a booster seat?
You should consider using a booster seat if the following
conditions apply:
• The child is mature enough to sit in the booster seat and
not put the belts under their arm or behind their back.
• The child is approaching the weight or height limit of the
child restraint they are currently using. (Even children who
have not outgrown their toddler seat can benefit from the
use of a booster seat, if it is used properly.)
• If you have a vehicle that does not have a tether
anchorage but has lap/shoulder belts available in the back
seat, a booster seat may provide better protection than an
internal harness seat without the tether.
Shoulder Belt: Must cross
midway between child’s
shoulder and neck.
Lap Belt: Stretched
low and snug across the
child’s hips, beneath the
armrests, and fastened
into the buckle.
