Kids are anxious to grow up quickly, and many of them cannot wait to ditch the car seat and ride in the car without one. For parents, the idea of kids getting one step closer to riding with only an adult seat belt for protection is nerve-wracking, so the higher weight limits and boost in safety provided by a booster seat is comforting.
Function
A booster seat literally boosts your child up so that the adult seat belt fits correctly; low and snug across the hips with the shoulder belt on the collarbone. Children who are too big for a forward-facing, harness-style car seat are typically too young and small to move directly from such a seat to riding in the car with only the seat belt. Booster seats offer an important intermediate step that is critical to your child's safety.
Types
High back booster seats, as their name implies, feature a back that offers additional head support and side impact protection, and some models are designed with a track to better position the seat belt. Choose a high back model if your car lacks headrests.
Backless boosters are the most simple car seats available, and they are perfect for children in cars with headrests.
Both models may offer comfortable padding, armrests, cup holders and fun fabrics to make them appealing to kids.
Fit
While every child is different, most children require a booster seat until they are 57 inches tall, a height usually attained between 8 and 12 years old. Though the size of your particular child is the most appropriate measure, most booster seat manufacturers suggest their seats for children who are at least four years old and who weigh 40 pounds.
Considerations
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children ride in a forward-facing, harnessed car seat as long as possible since it affords a higher level of safety. For many parents, the biggest challenge of a booster seat is that young children might not be mature enough to sit appropriately in a booster seat and require the more secure five point harness. One option in such cases is a convertible booster seat that features a harness for younger, smaller children and then converts to a booster seat for older children.
Travel
Although the Federal Aviation Administration prohibits the use of booster seats onboard airplanes, you can still check a car seat without a fee on most airlines when you are traveling with a child. If you are uneasy about checking a car seat, most airlines will also allow you to gate check it when you board the plane.
