How do I know when my child is ready to graduate
from a booster seat to a safety belt alone?
Children should ride in boosters until at least
age 8 or they are 4 feet 9 inches and the
vehicle safety belts fit correctly. Correct fit
means:
- The child can sit all the way back against
the vehicle seat, with knees bent comfortably
over the edge.
- The lap belt remains snugly across the bony
areas of the lower hips/upper thighs (not the
soft abdomen).
- The shoulder belt remains snugly positioned
across the chest and collarbone.
If any of these criteria are not met, it is
likely that the child needs a belt-positioning
booster seat.
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