Seasonal Safety
The Truth about Booster Seats

Tips from the Consumer Product Safety Commission

Confused about using a booster seat? Don’t be!

Real children are not like crash test dummies, so every seat can fit differently. Booster kids come in all shapes and sizes, so take your child to pick out the booster that fits him or her best.

Don’t panic if your booster seat shows up on a “not recommended” list. The seat that does not fit the crash dummy may fit your child perfectly and all boosters on the market meet federal crash test standards.

The most important factor is how a booster fits your child: Does the shoulder belt rest on the shoulder bone? You may have to raise the booster seat’s head rest to adjust the fit for your child. Does the lap belt lay across the upper legs or thighs? Be sure the lap belt is under both armrests. If both lap and shoulder belt fit as directed, you have a “recommended” seat because it is a good fit for your child.

The numbers tell the truth: booster seats save lives.

The latest research from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia shows that children who use a belt positioning booster seat in a back seat are 45 percent less likely to be injured in a crash than those who use just a seat belt.

Most kids under 4 feet 9 inches, who weigh between 80 and 100 pounds are likely to need a booster seat to get a good fit of the adult seat belt. That means that many kids will start riding in a booster seat between the ages of 4 to 8 and remain in it until they are between 8 and 12 years old. Don't guess. Use your correctly fitted booster seat to keep your child safe in the vehicle.