This is How to Safely Transition Your Child to a Booster Seat
There’s a lot to keep in mind when it comes to child safety in vehicles, so when is it safe for your child to transition to a booster seat?
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“For toddlers, you can change a convertible seat to face the front of the vehicle,” Nastasi says.
Booster Seat Safety
Booster seats are for children who have outgrown convertible or toddler seats, according to the NYS DMV. They are for children ages 4-8, who weigh 40-80 pounds, and are shorter than 4 feet, 9 inches. Booster seats are used until the child is large enough to use an adult seat belt correctly, without the extra help from the booster seat. And once the child has grown out of a booster seat, it’s safer for them to sit in the backseat until they reach certain age and height guidelines. Always use both the shoulder and lap belts with a booster seat. Never use only the lap belt with a booster seat, according to the DMV.
Whatever type of restraint system your child uses, it's important to make sure your car seat is installed properly and correctly. This includes reading the instructions and information provided in the vehicle owner manual about the use of child safety seats or child restraint systems, according to the NYS DMV.
More information about car seats and child-safety restraint systems in New York state can be found on the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee website. Information about car seats and child-safety restraint systems in other states can be found online at the Governors Highway Safety Association.