Toddler Booster Seats

I am shopping for a booster seat for Lulu who is now almost 3 1/2 and weighs 30 lbs...There are so many choices out there AND it can all be so confusing! Here are some tips I came across that may be helpful!

When do you use a booster seat?
After your child outgrows the child safety seat. Once your child reaches the weight limit for their convertible seat and they are at least 35 inches tall (generally around age 4), they are ready for a booster seat. I am switching my Lulu to a booster becaause my baby boy is almost big enough to transition from the infant seat to the next size up! Children who have outgrown child safety seats should be properly restrained in booster seats until they are at least 8 years old, unless they are 4’9” tall.

Why We Use Booster Seats?
Safety belts are not designed for children. Beginning at around age 3 1/2- 4, many children are too large for toddler seats but too small for adult safety belts. A booster seat raises your child up so that the safety belt fits right – and can better protect your child. The shoulder belt should cross the child’s chest and rest snugly on the shoulder, and the lap belt should rest low across the pelvis or hip area – never across the stomach area.

In the event of a crash, the poor positioning of a seat belt can cause a child severe or even fatal injuries. The main purpose of a booster seat is to allow proper belt positioning for children. The lap belt should rest low across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt should fit snug on the shoulder and across the chest. A booster seat raises your child and guides the belt to achieve this fit.

Types Of Booster Seats

High-Back Belt-Positioning Booster Seats
Two types of high-back belt-positioning booster seats are available. Both types “boost” your child up so the vehicle safety belt fits better.

- One type provides head and neck support for your child if your vehicle seat back does not have a head rest. It must be used with the vehicle’s lap/shoulder belt, never with the lap belt only.
- The other, a combination seat, converts from a forward-facing toddler seat to a booster seat and comes equipped with a harness. This type can be used as a forward-facing toddler seat when your child is age 1 and at least 20 pounds to about age 4 and 40 pounds. When your child outgrows the toddler seat, remove the harness and use the seat as a booster seat with the vehicle’s lap/shoulder belt.

No-Back Belt-Positioning Booster Seat
- This type also “boosts” your child up so the vehicle safety belt fits better. This booster seat is used with a lap/shoulder belt. It should only be used in vehicles with built-in head rests.

While the law no longer requires them to be in a child safety seat once they weigh more than 40 pounds, we strongly recommend the use of booster seats and safety tests provide strong arguments to support our recommendation. Vehicle seat belts are not designed with children eight and under in mind and therefore young children are often improperly buckled in the back seat.

The first is a toddler/booster seat with a removable harness is used with the harness for children weighing between 30 to 40 pounds. Once they reach 40 pounds the harness is removed and the booster is used in conjunction with the vehicle seat belts to ensure proper belt positioning. The second type of booster is just a belt positioner that raises a child up so that the belt fits correctly.

What Booster seat should I buy?
The type of booster seat you purchase depends on your general needs. If you need to take your child out of their convertible seat because the weight limit for forward facing use is 30 pounds, you will need a toddler/booster seat to fill in that gap until they reach 40 pounds. If your child still fits in their convertible seat until they reach 40 pounds and the product manufacturer allows it's use forward facing to 40 pounds then you can go straight into a booster seat (which is usually less expensive).

Safety Tips for Booster Seats
The shoulder belt should never be placed behind a child’s back or under the arm. If this is done, your child could be seriously injured or killed in a crash.

Because many State laws only require children to be in a safety seat up to age 4 or so, many parents assume older kids are safe in just an adult safety belt. However, ALL children need to be restrained correctly whenever they ride in a motor vehicle – every trip, every time.

LASTLY- It is ALWAYS a good idea to check ratings on child safety items before buying them. Consumer Reports is a really great source for this. For insance today I learned that Combi seats were recalled because the straps break easily....Wouldn't want your child to go flying in the event of an accident!

AND in case you are wondering I am leaning towards the Compass booster seat- They FOLD UP which is pretty cool and makes for easier traveling, switching between cars or putting in the trunk etc. I also like the fabric choices!

SBH