Everything You Need to Know About Booster Seats

Searching for information about car seats online can feel like trying to drink water from a fire hose—the Google pages never end. But all that info tends to address proper infant and convertible car seat usage (still very important!) and neglect the booster seat, which your child will ride in for years.

Which type of booster seat is right for your child? When should you switch your child out of a convertible car seat? When can your child safely ride without a booster seat? If you’ve got more questions than answers, we’re here to help. Here’s everything you need to know about booster seats.

What Is a Booster Seat?

A booster car seat bridges the gap for kiddos who have outgrown their convertible car seat, but aren’t yet big enough for the seat belt to fit properly. A booster raises a child up off the vehicle seat, creating a better seat belt fit. You’ll transition your child from a convertible car seat to a booster once he is at least forty pounds, is at least four years old, and sits on his own properly for the duration of the trip (no slouching over or fidgeting with the shoulder belt, for example).

What Types of Booster Seats Are There?

High back boosters resemble car seats—there’s a headrest, a back, and a bottom. HIgh back boosters guide the shoulder belt, assuring proper positioning and fit (these are described as high back belt positioning boosters). Most of these boosters have backs that can be removed once your child is tall enough.

There are also combination high back booster seats that function as car seats with a five-point harness (for kids up to at least forty pounds) or as a belt positioning booster (for kids over forty pounds). Most combination high back booster seats do not convert to backless boosters.

Backless boosters are a specialized seat cushion that give kids extra height to ensure they can be safely strapped in and have guides to keep the seat belt in the proper position. They’re less expensive than high back boosters, and a great option for travel and rideshares.

Do You Need a Booster Seat?

Definitely! Your child will outgrow their forward-facing car seat before they’re able to safely use a vehicle seat belt (both the shoulder belt and lap belt will not fit your young child properly, even if they’re in the 95th percentile for weight and/or height). Additionally, all states require that children ride in booster seats, though the duration and cut off ages vary by state. If you’d like to check your specific state’s car seat laws, Safe Ride 4 Kids keeps an updated list here.

How Do You Know If Your Belt Positioning Booster Seat Fits Your Child Properly?

There are two spots to check on your child for proper belt positioning booster seat fit:

The shoulder belt. The shoulder belt should be in direct contact with your child’s shoulder (not lifting off). It should be laying across the midpoint between the slope of your child’s shoulder and their neck.
The lap belt. The lap belt should be laying flat across the top of your child’s thighs at the hip. It should not be resting on their waist or stomach.

The Car Seat Lady has a helpful graphic demonstrating proper seat belt placement with a belt positioning booster right here.

What Is the Safest Booster Seat?

One of the most common questions we’re asked by parents-to-be is ‘What car seat is safest for my new baby?’ Fortunately, all new car seats must pass federal safety regulations set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), so how you use your seat matters more than what you choose to buy. In other words:

The safest car seat is one that is the right size for your child’s weight, height and age; that fits your car; and that is properly installed each and every time.

Where Can You Find More In-Depth Safety Info and Ratings for Booster Seats?

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is an independent, nonprofit scientific and educational organization that evaluates booster safety by how well the seat positions the seat belt on your child’s body in a range of vehicles (both the lap and shoulder belts). They group boosters into four different categories:

Best Bet: Seats that provide a good belt fit in almost any car, minivan, or SUV.
Good Bet: Seats that provide an acceptable belt fit in most cars, minivans, and SUVs.
Not Recommended: Seats that do not provide a good belt fit and should be avoided. (Good news alert! No car seat on the market has received this designation.)
Check Fit: Seats the IIHS has tested that have varied results depending on the size of the child and vehicle model.

Where Is the Safest Vehicle Placement for a Booster Seat?

All children under the age of thirteen should ride in your car’s back seat, and the safest placement for car seats could be the middle of the back seat.

The middle back seat in many cars is narrow and uneven, making it difficult—and sometimes impossible—to tightly install a car seat (additionally, some cars do not have lower anchors in the middle back seat). It is always safest to put your car seat in a position where it can be safely and snugly installed using either your vehicle’s seat belt or LATCH system.

So if the right or left side of your vehicle’s back seat is where you can achieve the tightest installation, it’s where you should install any car seat, including boosters.

Related: How to Install a Car Seat

How Do You Know if Your Car Seat Has Been Recalled?

Fortunately, both the NHTSA and car seat manufacturers have worked to ensure that it’s easy for parents to find information about car seat recalls. If you’re concerned or aren’t sure if your booster seat has been recalled, you can:

Check the manufacturer’s website. Visit your car seat manufacturer’s website—most have “Recall” or “Safety Information” sections in their navigation, and most have a page where you can enter your specific seat’s model or serial number to search for recall info.
Use the NHTSA database. The NHTSA maintains a comprehensive database of recalls on the SaferCar.gov site. The site allows you to search for recalls by entering the car seat’s brand name, model name or number, and manufacturing date.
Make sure to register your car seat. Don’t ignore those registry postcards that arrive in your car seat’s packaging! If you have recently purchased a car seat, make sure to register it with the manufacturer—you’ll automatically receive important safety-related updates, including recalls.
Contact the manufacturer directly. If you’re having trouble finding recall info about your car seat online (or just like triple confirmation!), you can always contact your seat’s manufacturer for recall info.

If you learn that your booster seat has been subject to a recall, it’s essential to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for repair, replacement, or any other necessary actions outlined in the recall notice.

Is It Safe to Buy a Used Booster Seat?

We usually advise against purchasing a used booster seat, and not just because we’re a baby gear retailer. It’s critical you know a previously used car seat’s complete history (Has it been recalled? Does it need replacement parts? Has it been in a crash? Are the manufacturer’s instructions available? etc.), and with a used car seat, that’s probably not possible.

If budget is a concern, there are plenty of affordable brand new options that you can be sure are up to current safety standards. Additionally, there are nonprofits like Buckle Up for Life that donate seats to families in need.

When Will You Need a Booster Seat?

Do not feel rushed into transitioning into a booster! Children—especially the younger ones—are safest in a five-point harness, so if your little one still fits within the height and weight limits for their five-point harness convertible car seat, keep them there.

Generally speaking, you’ll transition your child from a convertible car seat to a booster once they are at least forty lbs, are at least four years old, and can sit on their own properly for the duration of the trip (no slouching over or fidgeting with the shoulder belt, for example). Until your child reaches all three preconditions, they should stay in their convertible car seat. Most children are at least five years old before they reach the physical requirements and are mature enough to sit in a booster properly.

When Can You Switch to a Backless Booster Seat?

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends keeping your child in a high back booster seat for as long as possible while the seat belt is still properly positioned on your child. A booster’s head and neck support provides extra protection in the event of a collision.

When Can Your Child Ride Without a Booster Seat?

Similarly, there are guidelines (and state laws) that indicate your big kid’s readiness to ride without a booster seat. Your child is ready to ride without a booster when you can answer “Yes” to all of the following conditions:

Their back is against the vehicle seat and
Their knees bend at the edge of the vehicle seat and
The lap belt sits across their thighs, not their belly and
The shoulder belt is between their neck and shoulder and
They sit properly in the seat without slouching.

Most kids can ride safely without a booster when they’re ten to twelve years old (The Car Seat Lady has a great writeup on why these guidelines are important here). And remember, all children under thirteen should be riding in the vehicle’s back seat.

Finding What’s Right for You

Albee Baby is the oldest family-owned specialty baby shop in the US, and we pride ourselves on providing our customers with the best assortment of baby products anywhere, at fair prices, always. We’re committed to being an inclusive resource for parents, and hope you’re feeling empowered to find the right baby gear for your family. Still have questions? Feel free to contact our baby gear experts at 877.692.5233 or by email at [email protected].