Yuma, Arizona - When your child is close to age 5, or they have reached the maximum height or weight limit for their forward facing sea with a harness, your child is now ready for a booster seat. Keep your child in a booster seat until the child is big enough to fit in a seat belt properly. For a seat belt to fit properly the lap belt must lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach. The shoulder belt should lie snug across the shoulder and chest and not cross the neck or face. It is also very important to make sure the child’s knees are bending at the edge of the seat, and the feet are touching the ground. If not, the child tends to slouch forward and the lap belt will not be in the correct position.
There are two types of booster seats. There are high-back boosters and backless boosters. Although either booster seat can be used for your child, there are times when one may work better than the other. For children just going into a booster seat, the shoulder portion of the lap and shoulder belt may not fit properly. High-back boosters have a shoulder guide that helps keep the shoulder belt in position for shorter kids. As the child grows, the backless booster may eventually become an option as well. Remember, keep children in their booster seats until the lap and shoulder belt fit correctly.
Knowing when your child needs a new seat, and what direction they should be traveling in can be difficult. That is why the www.UltimateCarSeatGuide.org is such a great tool. It can help parents decide which type of seat is the best option for your child as they grow. Please take a moment to try this new tool to help keep your family Safe.