- 14 -
the dedicated compartment under the seat,
as the protection of the child is offered by
the vehicle belt directly. LATCH connectors
should be used in booster mode in order
to keep the car seat firm and stable on the
vehicle seat.
Booster seats are for kids who are too big for
their car seat and too small to fit properly
in a seat belt. Booster seats help the child’s
body fit properly on the vehicle seat. Booster
seats make the seat belt start and stay on the
correct bony parts of the child's body.
It isn't a coincidence that boosters make kids
taller. By raising the child up, boosters help
the shoulder belt fit properly between the
shoulder and the neck. By raising the child up
and giving the child a shorter seat pan, the
child's knees can now bend at the edge of
the booster. This makes kids much less likely
to slouch. Slouching is dangerous as it puts
the lap belt on the soft belly which injures the
abdominal organs and spinal cord.
Before transiting from a car seat to a
booster seat, a child must meet ALL of these
requirements:
• at least 4 years old
• at least 40 pounds
• at least 39 inches tall
• able to sit properly in this booster seat
during the entire car ride - no slouching, no
playing with the seat belt, no putting the
seat belt under the arm or behind the back,
no leaning over, etc.
Most children can not sit properly in a
booster seat until at least age 5. Sitting
properly is what makes sure the seat belt fits
snugly and rests on the proper bony parts of
the body. If the child is not mature enough
for a booster, they need to ride in a car seat.
The car seat's 5-point-harness will keep them
safe and won’t let them slouch or lean over.
Does your child meet all of the requirements
above to use this booster, but also still fits
in their old car seat? Many parents can be
unsure about which seat to use. If you use
their forward-facing car seat, make sure you
always use the tether strap on that forward-
facing car seat. If you have a vehicle that
does not have a tether anchor, a booster
seat may provide better head and neck
protection than a forward-facing car seat
that isn’t tethered.
A Car Seat That Grows With The Child