Height, not age, best determines when your child can safely sit in a regular car seat. While most states mandate a safety seat for children age 6 and younger, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping children in booster seats until they are 4 ft. 9 inches or taller, generally between the ages of 8 and 10.
Evaluation
You can't properly evaluate your child's eligibility for ditching the booster seat from your own seat in the car. Carseat.org, a site dedicated to car safety for kids, states that you need to have your child sit in the car so you can observe how he is seated and how the safety equipment in the car fits him.
Identification
The seatbelt needs to cross her shoulder between her arm and neck and lie low and tight across her lap. She should be able to sit all the way back, resting against the seatback comfortably. She should also be able to bend her knees. In addition, she needs to be able to sit comfortably for long periods of driving, so check her seating after a few errands to see if she's still in a safe position.
Warning
If any one of these five tests--shoulder cross, lap cross, knees bending, sitting back and seated for long periods comfortably--fails, your child still needs a booster seat. Joanne Helperin, a columnist for Edmunds.com, notes, "Motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death and acquired disability for children between the ages of 4 and 8 years. Young children are four times more likely to suffer devastating injuries, including severe damage to the brain, liver and spleen, if they use adult seatbelts rather than car seats or booster seats."
Geography
A short trip around town may tempt you to forgo the booster seat. Some parents may reserve the booster only for long trips or high-speed trips on the highway. However, Insurance USA notes that you are twice as likely to have a car accident occur within a mile of home.
Benefits
By keeping your child in a booster seat until she reaches the height that better fits into a regular car seat, you are protecting her from serious injury. While some parents may think you are overprotective, car experts and pediatricians believe children should be in booster seats based on size, not age. Until your child is over 4 ft. 9 inches, keep her safe and seated appropriately in the car.
