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Belt Positioning Booster Seats

By , About.com Guide

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Definition: Belt Positioning Booster Seats

Boosts child up providing a higher sitting height, which allows the adult lap and shoulder belt to fit properly

Used Forward-Facing Only

  • All children who have outgrown their forward-facing child safety seats should be properly restrained in booster seats until they are 4'9" tall.
  • Although most kids move into a booster seat and out of harness straps when they are about 40 pounds and 4 years old, keep in mind that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that kids ride in harness straps for as long as possible, which can be well after 4 years of age, as many forward-facing convertible and combination seats have harness strap weight limits of 65 pounds.
  • Can only be used with the adult lap and shoulder belt. Never with a lap belt only.
  • Provides the child a higher sitting height, which allows the adult lap and shoulder belt to fit properly.
  • The shoulder belt should cross the chest, resting snugly on the shoulder, and the lap belt should rest low across the upper thighs. Never up high across the stomach.
  • Styles include high-back, no back, and base only. A high-back booster provides head support not provided by vehicle seats with low backs or no head restraints.
  • The mid-point of the back of the child’s head (ear level) should not be above the vehicle seat back cushion or the back of the high back booster.

Featured Belt Positioning Booster car seats:

adapted from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

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