Seat belts are made for adults, not children. Once your child outgrows her car seat, a booster seat is needed to lift her up and allow for proper positioning of the seat belt. Children who are in a booster seats, according to research conducted by D.R. Durbin and associates, are 59 percent less likely to sustain an injury in the event of an accident than children secured by only a seat belt. Locating a safe booster seat that suits your family's needs doesn't have to be difficult or expensive, but there are some important items to keep in mind.
New or Known Seats
Never purchase a used booster seat at a garage sale or a consignment shop. A booster seat that has been involved in a medium to severe automobile accident may have sustained unknown damage and shouldn't be used again. If you don't know the booster seat's history, you can't trust that it will protect your child.
Recall Status
No matter if your child's booster seat is new or passed down from an older sibling, check the recall status. Occasionally vehicle restraint systems are found to have structural or hardware issues and they need be repaired or replaced. While recall notices are issued to the public, these are easily overlooked. Safecar.gov provides a database of recalled car restraint systems that will help you check to see if your child's booster seat has been recalled. Never use a recalled booster seat (see "Resources"). Additionally, if you purchase a new booster seat, send in warranty information to ensure that you'll be notified is there is ever a concern about the product's safety.
Condition
If the booster seat has been used before, inspect it for signs of wear, cracks and missing parts. Old or damaged booster seats should be disposed of and replaced. Missing pieces, such as belt clips, can generally be replaced by contacting the manufacturer and placing an order. Manufacturer information can be located on a label somewhere on the booster seat. If the booster seat doesn't have a product information label, do not use it.
Ease of Use
A booster seat that is difficult to install and operate is more likely to be used incorrectly. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provides a five-star rating system to help parents evaluate booster seats by how easy they are to use. Items considered are the ease of understanding labels and instruction, along with ease of installation, securing your child and overall use.
Style and Features
An economical booster seat is just as safe as a high priced one. There are, however, several items to consider when determining which style of booster seat will best suit your needs. Backless booster seats provide a platform for your child to sit on and allow your child's back to rest against the vehicle seat. This style transfers easily from one vehicle to another. A booster seat with a back is less portable, but maybe more comfortable. In addition, features such as harnesses, arm rests and cup holders are available. Consider your child, the amount of time spent commuting and personal preferences when deciding which style and features your child's booster seat should have.
References
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Child Passenger Safety Fact Sheet
- Healthy Children: Safety & Prevention: Car Safety Seats: Information for Families for 2010
- PubMed: Belt-positioning booster seats and reduction of risk or injury among children in vehicle crashes
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: 4 Steps for Kids: Booster Seats
