The authorized reply to this query comes from the state through which you reside. For Ohio, the legislation states {that a} baby ought to stay in a booster seat till they attain 8 years outdated or 4’9” tall, whichever comes first. This web site is a good refence for automotive seat legal guidelines by state.
As a result of the authorized age to experience and not using a booster is 8, we see plenty of youngsters transitioning out of their booster seat proper at their eighth birthday. However most baby passenger security consultants – us included – advise households to maintain youngsters in a booster till they attain 4’9” tall.
WHY THIS HEIGHT?
This top could appear tall, however 4’9” is the peak at which the car seat belt suits correctly. Seat belts have been designed to suit adults’ our bodies. Due to this fact, utilizing a booster seat helps to raise youngsters to the peak the place a seat belt suits correctly for the very best crash safety.
IMPORTANT TO KNOW: Utilizing a booster seat reduces the chance of significant harm by 45% for youngsters 4-8 years outdated when in comparison with seat belt use alone.
Failure to make use of a booster seat or improperly utilizing the adult-sized seat belt can lead to the next accidents:
Accidents to their stomach, pelvis, backbone, and head.
Bleeding from the spleen, liver, kidneys and pancreas.
Bruising or tearing of the intestines.
Spinal fractures or torn ligaments.
WHAT DOES A PROPER SEAT BELT FIT LOOK LIKE?
The lap belt sitting proper on the bend of their hip, touching the highest of their thighs.
The lap belt must also sit throughout the pelvis and hip bones.
The shoulder belt is angled throughout the chest, hitting between the sting of their collarbone and shoulder.
The shoulder belt mustn’t contact their necks.
A COMMON ISSUE: We see youngsters who’re too brief to be out of a booster seat placing the shoulder belt behind them. They do that as a result of the shoulder belt hits their necks and it’s uncomfortable. Nonetheless, placing the shoulder belt behind them is just not protected and might trigger important harm in a crash.
DO THEY NEED A HIGH-BACK BOOSTER?
A few of the advantages of a high-back booster embody:
Neck help when there is no such thing as a car headrest.
A built-in shoulder belt information, which might be useful for correct shoulder placement.
A lot of them can transition right into a no-back booster when youngsters want much less help.
IMPORTANT TO KNOW: In case your car has a headrest, your youngsters can use a no-back booster. Remember the fact that all passengers, together with adults, ought to have a headrest to the tops of their ears for optimum crash safety.
IS IT TIME TO SAY GOODBYE TO THE BOOSTER?
Your youngsters could also be as outdated as 12 earlier than the seat belt suits them with out the booster. But it surely’s necessary to attend till that time for every baby. In the event you suppose your 8- to 12-year-old is getting shut, you are able to do this five-step take a look at to find out in the event that they’re able to experience with out the booster. In the event you reply “NO” to any of those questions, we advise you proceed to make use of the booster seat and take a look at once more in a couple of months.
The 5 step take a look at:
Does the kid sit all the best way again in opposition to the car seat?
Do the kid’s knees bend comfortably on the fringe of the car seat?
Does the shoulder belt lay between the collar bone and shoulder?
Is the lap belt as little as potential, touching the thighs?
Can the kid keep seated like this for the entire journey?
Pay shut consideration to step #5. Some youngsters might display a correct seated place for a brief time period, however they should keep correctly seated for the entire journey to get the very best crash safety.
ARE THERE BOOSTER SEAT ALTERNATIVES?
Some households use a seat belt positioning system, since they’re smaller and simpler for journey. As an alternative of lifting the kid as much as match the belt, these units convey the belt down to suit the kid. There are some belt positioning units available on the market that meet federal crash testing requirements, together with the Experience Safer Journey Vest and MiFold. Sadly, there are plenty of unsafe merchandise that don’t meet crash testing requirements available on the market. So your greatest guess is to achieve out to a toddler passenger security technician for assist!
For extra data on baby passenger security, together with various kinds of automotive seat restraints, go to our automotive seat security web page or name 513-636-7865, possibility 1.
