The best way to determine when your child is ready to stop sitting in a booster seat and use only a seat belt in a car is to use the 5-Step Test detailed below. All children younger than 13 years should ride in the back seat.
4 Stages Of Car Seat Use For Children Child Safety Seat Guide
We understand that pressure and concern but it is safer to move from a forward-facing car seat to a booster seat only after your child reaches the weight or height limit of the seat you are using.
How tall to get out of booster seat. All children under 2 less than 40 pounds and 40 inches must be in a rear-facing infant seat. That typically wont happen until theyre about 10 to 12 years old. Alabama children must use booster seat until age 6 Alaska children must use booster seat until age 8 or until at least 65 pounds in weight Arizona children must use booster seatchild restraint system until age 8 or until 4 feet.
Kids 7 year and younger or under 57 inches must ride in a booster seat. Since laws regarding the childs height weight and age vary by state be sure to use the map above to find laws applying to your state. Colorado car seat laws and booster seat laws.
All 50 states the District of Columbia Guam the Northern Mariana Islands and the Virgin Islands have laws in place for infants and children requiring proper child safety seats. Thats the height at which seat belts begin fitting kids correctly for the best protection. Kids arent ready to make the go from a booster seat to a seat belt until the lap and shoulder belts fit them properly.
This height recommended by expert guidelines means the vast majority of seven-year-olds are not safe without a booster seat. Typically this is when they have reached 4 feet 9 inches in height and are 8 to 12 years of age. Kids can stop using a booster seat whenand only whenthe car seat belt properly fits them without the help of a booster seat.
That usually happens between the ages of 10 and 12 when the child is close to five feet tall or 120 pounds. At this height kids can legally ditch the booster seat. What is a Booster Seat.
A booster seat is made for older kids when they are too big for a car seat but not big enough for an. Children need to ride in a booster seat until the seat belt fits right when they are at least 4 feet 9 inches tall about 80 pounds and 8 years old. Children aged from four years old but under seven years old must be secured in a forward facing approved child restraint with an inbuilt harness or an approved booster seat.
Ms Stephens knew her daughter was far shorter than the 145-150cm height needed for an adult seatbelt to do its job. Sometimes parents get pressure to use a booster seat from friends relatives or the child. As you can see there is quite a bit of overlap between age groups there.
Again in California all children under 8 must be in a car or booster seat unless theyre at least 4 feet 9 inches tall. The American Academy of Pediatrics encourages parents to keep kids in a booster seat until they are anywhere from 8 to 12 years old and at least 57 inches tall. Most children will not fit in most vehicle seat belts without a booster until 10 to 12 years of age.
Neither are most eight nine or even 10-year-olds. What Age Can a Child Travel Without a Booster Seat Legally. Age 4 age 12.
And check out these Booster Seat Requirements. Once theyre at least 8 or at least 57 inches tall adult seat belts can suffice. Thats because the appropriate seat for your child will greatly depend on their height and weight not just their age.
Children aged from four years old but under seven years old cannot travel in the front seat of a vehicle with two or more rows unless all other back seats are occupied by children younger than seven years in an approved child. Dont make the switch based solely on height or age.