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When to Put Your Child
in a Booster Seat
Booster seats raise the child up and help to position the
vehicle lap and shoulder belt correctly. When the child
is properly restrained in a booster seat, his/her risk
of injury in all types of crashes is reduced, as the lap and
shoulder belt provides excellent restraint of both the up-
per and lower torsos.
It is important for the child to sit properly within the
vehicle seat belts. When the vehicle belt is buckled,
the lap belt should be low on the hips, just touching
the thighs, and the shoulder belt should lie across the
middle of the shoulder. If the child leans out or moves
the belt behind the back or places it under the arm, it
will not provide the intended restraint.
There are a number of things to consider when deciding
whether a child is ready to sit in a booster seat, includ-
ing: the weight and height ratings on his/her current
child seat, the child’s own weight and height, his/her
maturity, and the seating positions available in your
vehicle.
How is a booster seat used?
Using a booster seat is very similar to buckling yourself
into the vehicle:
• Read the instruction manuals for both the booster seat
and the vehicle before you start.
• Put the booster in the back seat in a location with
a lap and shoulder belt. Never use a booster with
only a lap belt, as this could cause serious injuries.
• After the child is in the booster, pull the lap and shoul-
der belt across him/her and buckle it.
• Check that the shoulder belt lies across the middle of
the shoulder and that the lap belt is low on the hips,
just touching the thighs.
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