Signs That Determine When To Use Booster Seats

By Marie Watson


A booster is often used by parents when they want to upgrade the seat of their son or daughter. When children reach a certain age, they are trained to learn how to sit on their own and these items are a safe way to do so. In fact, there are many countries in the world that require children of certain age groups to be seated in one when inside a vehicle.

For concerned parents, determining when their child is ready for this is a serious decision. In fact, there are many factors to consider when determining when to use booster seats. Read on below to learn some signs that indicate you and your child are ready.

There are many determining factors that may indicate when a child is ready. This entails how old they are, their height, as well as their weight. According to the industry standard, a child must be at least 4 years of age and weighs a minimum of 40 pounds in order to ensure safety. If your child does not meet these requirements, consider postponing your purchase.

The most important factor to consider here is the safety of your child. That is why you should always go with a booster that has a lap belt, as well as one that goes around the shoulders. This is especially useful to avoid the user from falling down in case of crashes, and protecting them from the impact.

Always ensure the booster is situated at the back seat of the vehicle. This is done to decrease the possibility of them getting hurt due to the impact during a crash or other kinds of accidents. The ideal spot to place them is in the middle of the back seat because it is the safest seat in the car and will give the people in front a clear view of them using the rear view mirror.

There are also some important safety guidelines to consider before you can avail of these items. When in the process of purchasing, always go with a rear facing seat especially if this is the first time of your son or daughter. Going with a forward facing position far too soon is dangerous and can affect the neck development of toddlers.

This type of product will usually have instructions printed on the back of its packaging, or has a manual. Always make sure the material is snug and fits tightly at the back. Do not neglect to check on this at the onset of every ride to ascertain safety.

If you are unsure on how tight the harness should be on your son or daughter, ascertain it is tight enough that only one or two fingers can fit between their chest and the harness. This will give them enough room to move comfortably without suffocating them too much. This will change depending upon the clothes worn since winter clothes are far thicker and bulky, you should make the necessary adjustments.

Moreover, it is also your responsibility to discipline your son or daughter from messing with the belt buckles. Playing with these materials will cause the harness to become loose and will lower its effectiveness. Since the primary purpose of it is to ensure safety, you must perform the needed maintenance work to ensure its effectiveness.




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