When To Move From Carseat To Booster

Under three, use a car seat. The guidelines for transporting infants and toddlers are deeply embedded in parental mantras. It gets a little fuzzy though when your youngster hits hyper-drive and grows out of his front-facing car seat.

Today, less than 10% of children ages 4 ? 8 use a booster seat when riding in cars. National traffic and safety organizations have confirmed that your child needs to be restrained appropriately when riding in a car. This means supplementing the standard adult-sized seat belts with additional equipment to keep your child safe.

The child restraint system you use changes as your child grows. You started with the rear-facing infant seat, then graduated to the front-facing car seat after your child was one year old. Some state laws only require a car seat up to the age of three and parents may assume their child is safe in just a seat belt, but this is not the case.

When your child outgrows his front-facing car seat, he is still not big enough to fit properly in an adult seat belt. To keep him safely restrained, you will need to use a belt positioning booster seat. Any child who cannot sit with his back straight against the seat back and have his knees bend over the seat edge is not big enough to be restrained with just an adult safety belt.

There are two types of booster seats available:

No-Back Belt-Positioning Booster Seats. These seats are used with a lap/shoulder belt and are for use in vehicles with built-in head restraints.

High-Back Belt-Positioning Boost Seats. These seats provide head and neck support for your child if your vehicle seat back does not have a head restraint.

When a booster seat is not used, the lap and shoulder belts end up being positioned in dangerous areas on a young child and may cause serious or fatal injuries in the event of a crash.

A booster seat lifts your child up so the seat belt fits right and protects your child. The lap belt should fit low across the hip area. The shoulder belt should cross his chest and rest snugly on the shoulder. Your child's ears should not be higher than the seat back cushion or the back of a high-back booster seat model.

Important things to remember about using booster seats:

• Always use both the lap and shoulder belt. Do not tuck the shoulder belt behind your child's back or under his arm. He could be seriously hurt if you are in an accident.
• Replace a booster seat that has been in an accident. It may have defects that you cannot see.
• Have your child safety seats inspected by a certified child safety seat technician in your community. You can contact your local police or fire department or call the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's toll-free hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT.

About the Author

For more great information about expecting and parenting, visit MomRecommended.com, a site for moms by moms. Annie Valle is a freelance writer, web designer and a mom. You'll find product reviews, recipes, baby names, free projects and more, when you visit http://www.momrecommended.com.

---

Wooden High Chairs Offer Simplicity, Beauty, and Practicality for Todays Busy Families

Wooden high chairs with their looks and functionality make a... Read More

Baby Sunglasses

It might appear to be sufficient to apply some high... Read More

How to Make a Diaper Cake

Hosting a baby shower or looking for a great gift... Read More

How to Choose a Changing Table

As a prospective parent, you may wonder how hard it... Read More

Should Baby Bedding Be Tight or Loose?

Many parents already know that it is better not to... Read More

Couples Baby Shower Honors Both Mom and Dad

If having a Couples Baby Shower seems odd to you,... Read More

White Noise for Baby Stops Colic Crying Fast

It's true. Colic is MUCH harder on the parent than... Read More

What to Look For When Choosing Baby Furniture

If you're a new parent, be aware that you baby... Read More

How to Choose a Car Seat That Meets The Needs of Your Baby

There are many types of car seats available on the... Read More

How To Clone The Perfect Baby

How To Clone The Perfect BabySheep, Cows, pigs, mice, donkeys,... Read More

Tough Time Deciding on a Name for Your Baby?

The conversation went something like this:"Hey honey, when we get... Read More

Potty Training Boys - How To Potty Train Boys - Do You Teach Them to Sit or Stand?

I am asked this question by many parents - they... Read More

Tale of the Missing Nub

The extent of the memory loss that accompanies new parenthood... Read More

Backpacking With Children: My Own Adventures

When I had my firstborn I thought I new everything... Read More

Family Baby Showers

The addition of baby number 2, 3, or 10 is... Read More

Intersting Baby Facts - Strange But True!

* A baby is born every seven seconds.* Babies are... Read More

Baby Strollers - Frequently Asked Questions

Baby Strollers are one of the major purchases you will... Read More

When To Start Teaching Your Baby (1)

When is it that I should start teaching my baby?... Read More

Baby Girl Shower Invitations

Baby girl shower invitations basic theme is the welcoming of... Read More

Fun and Easy Baby Shower Crafts

Baby shower crafts can be fun and easy to make.... Read More

Important Safety and Styling Features of Baby Cribs

Baby Cribs are the feature item in any baby's nursery.... Read More

Better Health and Happiness for Your Baby

The design of your home has an amazing affect on... Read More

Basic Guide To Choosing Toys For Babies

A baby's only activities until the age of two months... Read More

Baby Names - Unique or Common?

When it comes to naming their baby, people tend to... Read More

Baby Massage: A Cure for Colic

Colic hurts. Any parent who has an affected child will... Read More

Fussy Eaters

The experts often tell us that in order to ensure... Read More

The Truth About Baby Bedding

Imagine your little baby in her nursery. So happy in... Read More

Baby Shower for Twins (Or More) Peas in a Pod

Baby shower for twins or multiples can be given when... Read More

Make Your Own Baby Food - The Easy Way!

Is your baby about to start solid foods? Are you... Read More

Baby Yoga and Me

Having carried a sizable bump around for a very long,... Read More

Safely Feeding Babies - 10 Important Tips

Babies usually triple their birth weight the first year. That's... Read More

Baby Furniture Buyers Guide

Communication between the guests would be wise to prevent any... Read More

Babies: How to Get Your Children Excited About the New Arrival

The sudden appearance of a new baby can be rough... Read More