Booster seats help children who have outgrown car seats to safely utilize the car's adult seat belt. By raising the child in the seat, the booster allows the adult harness to lay properly across the upper thighs and chest. The requirements for booster seat use is dependent on state law. Not all state laws require them.
Height and Weight
Most states that require booster seats have set height and weight parameters for their use. For example, in Colorado, a child weighing more than 40 pounds must be in a booster seat up to the age of 6 unless he or she reaches 55 inches in height. Across the country, booster seats are used as late as 80 pounds in weight or 57 inches in height, though many states allow children to use the adult seat belt at 60 to 70 pounds.
Age
Many states also define required booster seat use in terms of age. Generally, children are required to be in a car seat until a certain age, usually between 4 and 8. Afterward, many states require use of a booster seat for an additional two to four years. No state requires use of a booster beyond the age of 8, though the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends using a booster until the adult seat belt fits appropriately -- up to age 12 if necessary.
Booster Seat Ratings
Not all booster seats are alike. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ranks booster seats according to their ease of use by individual features, such as restraining the child, and overall use.
