Car Seats and Booster Seats - When to graduate to the next level

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Car Seats, Booster Seats and Seat Belts
When to graduate to the next stage?
How to fit properly?

Car accidents are the leading cause of death among children in the U.S.
3 out of 4 car seats are not used correctly. The most common mistakes are loose seat belt attachment and loose harness straps
Nearly 30% of children ride in the wrong restraints for their age and size, and are therefore 3 ½ times more likely to be seriously injured

Rear Facing Infant Car Seats

Rear-facing car seats are the safest, use as long as you can. 12 months and 20 pounds is a minimum for moving to front facing car seats.
Wiggle the car seat: It should not move more than one inch side to side or front to back
Position the shoulder straps through the slots at or below your baby’s shoulders
Adjust the chest clip to armpit level
Tighten harness so you cannot pinch extra webbing at the shoulder
Use either the car’s seat belt or LATCH system, not both
Never buy a used car seat if you do not know its full accident history
Back seat only. Never put any car seat in front of an airbag

When to move to Front Facing Car Seat?

Child exceeds 12 months and 20 pounds (minimum)
Child’s head within one inch of the car seat top

Front Facing Car Seats

Strap height changes: Position the shoulder straps through the slots so they are even with or above your child’s shoulders.
Wiggle the car seat: It should not move more than one inch side to side or front to back
Adjust the chest clip to armpit level
Tighten harness so you cannot pinch extra webbing at the shoulder
Use either the car’s seat belt or LATCH system, not both
Never buy a used car seat if you do not know its full accident history
Back seat only. Never put any car seat in front of an airbag

When to move to a Booster Seat?

Child's shoulders above the car seat’s top harness slots
Tops of your child's ears above the top of the car seat
Child exceeds car seat’s height or weight limits
Typically this has been around age 4 and 40 pounds. However, today there are many 5-point harness car seats available to 65 or even 80 pounds. Use a 5-point harness seat as long as you can, they are much safer than a booster seat with a seat belt. Read this tragic story to understand why: kyledavidmiller.org

Booster Seats

Fits properly when the lap belt lays across the upper thighs (not belly) and the shoulder belt fits across the chest (not neck)
Never place the shoulder belt under the child's arm or behind the child's back
Never buy a used car seat if you do not know its full accident history
Back seat only. Never put any car seat in front of an airbag

When to move to just a Seat Belt?

Exceeds 4 feet 9 inches tall
Weighs between 80 and 100 pounds
Kids are usually 8 to 12 years old before they meet these heights and weights
When seat belt fits properly: lap belt lays across the upper thighs (not belly) and the shoulder belt fits across the chest (not neck)
For children 4 to 7, booster seats reduce injury risk by 59% compared to safety belts alone, don’t go to just a seat belt too soon!

Seat Belt Only - Fit Test

Have your child sit in a back seat with their bottom and back against the car’s seat back. Do the child’s knees bend at the seat’s edge? If not, the child must stay in a booster seat.
Buckle the seat belt. Does the lap belt stay low on the hips? If yes, go on. If it rests on the soft part of the stomach, the child must stay in a booster seat.
Look at the shoulder belt. Does it lay on the collarbone and shoulder? If yes, go ahead. But if it is on the face or neck, the child must remain in a booster seat.  
Never put the shoulder belt under the arm or behind the back
All children under age 13 should ride in a Back Seat

Sources
http://www.nhtsa.gov National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
http://www.recalls.gov for recalls and safety notices
www.carseatdata.org car seat comparisons
Always read your car seat’s instructions and vehicle owner’s manual
Download all of this page in a PDF here

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