Booster Seats

Booster seats help raise a child's car seat so that the seat belt fits them properly. This is necessary because most cars have seat belts designed for adult bodies and don't provide sufficient protection for small kids. In fact, without booster seats, seat belts can actually do kids more harm than good during a car crash. Booster seats are required by law in most states and are available from most car shops.

Types of booster seats

There are two main types of booster seats in the market: backless boosters and high-back or belt-positioning boosters.

• Backless boosters: These booster seats are light and compact, ideal for short trips and playdates. Older children usually prefer them because they don't look "babyish." There is also an optional shoulder belt adjuster, which is useful when the belt scratches your child's neck. Don't use this if your child's ears are past the vehicle's back-it leaves their skull exposed to crashes.
• High-back boosters: Also called belt-positioning booster seats (BPBs), high-backs allow you to remove the back support and convert the seat into a backless. Other types have adjustable harnesses, but these usually don't have removable backs. Studies show that high-backs offer more protection for the whole body than backless booster seats.

Choosing booster seats

Comfort and protection are the top considerations when choosing booster seats. While most booster seats are padded, it's best to have extra padding at the lower and upper back, where there is usually more pressure when seated. Install booster seats in a safe position away from windows and doors. For more information on choosing booster seats, visit our website at BoosterSeats.