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The range of ages is between 4 and 8 years, and the weight range is between 40 and 80 pounds. Find out what your state laws are regarding booster seats so you'll be up-to-date and correctly equipped to suit your child's needs and comply with the local law. A good resource for child safety seat information is the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's website.
Shopping For a Booster Seat
Proper fit is the most important thing to look for in a booster seat. A seat that does not fit your vehicle or your child properly cannot protect your child in a crash.
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When you purchase a booster seat, take your child with you to sit in the seat and test it out. By doing this, you can be sure that you have a booster seat that fits and avoid the inconvenience of having to return it to the store.
There are three basic types of booster seats: high-back, low-back, and combination.
- High-back booster seats (or belt-positioning booster seats) help lift and position the child so that the seat belt fits properly. These seats do not have any internal straps and must be used with both a lap belt and shoulder belt. They feature a tall backrest that adds comfort and in some cases, impact protection. This is the type of booster seat you need if your car does not have a headrest.
- Low-Back booster seats look similar to the booster seats commonly seen in restaurants. They're compact and simple seats that serve the same purpose as a high-back booster by helping the seat belts fit the child properly. These boosters are for larger children who have outgrown their high-back booster seats.
- Combination Booster Seats can be converted from a high back into a low back.
