Car seats protect your child from serious injury or death in the event of a car accident. Of that, there can be no doubt; statistics prove it. But how do you reconcile the need for safety with an older child – a tweener, for example – who has outgrown a traditional car seat, and thinks that she’s now “too big” for her “babyish” booster seat? You’re probably wondering that yourself, but have niggling doubts that she may still be too young or too small for regular seat belts. A tween may be ready to outgrow a booster seat and use the car’s factory installed seat belts, but only if you can answer yes to all of these 5 important questions.
First thing’s first, have your tween sit down in the seat (back seat, please) and buckle up, using the shoulder/lap belt. Done? Good, now let’s see how she’s scored?
- Is your child’s back flush against the seat? Yes? Move on to question #2.
- Do your child’s knees bend normally at the seat’s edge? Yes? Move on to question #3.
- Does the seat belt cross her shoulder, coming down between her neck and her arm? Yes? Move on to question #4.
- Does the lap portion of the belt touch the top of her thighs? Yes? Move on to question #5.
- Can your tween stay in this position for the entire trip? Yes? Are you sure? This is the make or break question… what if you had a 4-hour drive, could she remain comfortable like this for the whole ride? Still, yes? Congratulations! Your tween is ready to move out of a booster seat.
If you answered “no” to any of these questions, it simply means that your child doesn’t have the physical stature needed to forego her booster seat. Don’t let her be discouraged because she didn’t “pass” this test, this time – growth spurts happen overnight. Really, this is a win-win test, because the bottom line is your precious tween stays safe. And, it will not be long before your tween becomes a teen driver and you will be looking for car insurance for teenagers.
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