As your child gets older, the reliable car seat that he has been using for years starts to be too small. The first time your child sat in it, he was dwarfed by the protective seat. But often by the time he's 4 or 5 years old, he no longer can sit in the seat comfortably. When your child has grown too big for the seat but still needs added protection, a booster harness might be the answer.
Step 1
Adjust the booster once your child reaches the age of 4 and as needed until she is 8. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the booster seat will provide added security, because it lifts the child up and makes the car seat belt fit more snugly. Older children often like the feeling of security they get from sitting in a booster, and they enjoy sitting up higher
Step 2
Place the booster seat in the rear, outside positions of the car's back seat. This will allow the driver to see the child easily in the rear view mirror. Pull the harness down over your child's shoulder as she sits in the booster and snap the buckle into the latch in the front of the booster. Adjust the plastic clip in the front of the harness to tighten it appropriately.
Step 3
Strap the car's shoulder and seat belt over the child and into the buckle for added security. The belt will make sure the booster seat with the harness is in place securely throughout the ride.
Step 4
Lower the plastic clip on the harness to give your child more room to maneuver in the car. When a child gets older, she will want to move around with greater ease. If you tighten the harness too much, she will be unhappy with the restricted movement. As long as the harness is strapped in securely, and the buckle is placed in the latch, adjusting the clip will not affect the child's safety.
