Car Booster Seats

Once your child has reached four years of age, they are usually big enough to move on from their toddler car seat.

They are also often very vocal about their dislike of riding in a “baby seat.” The good news for you is that your child can still be protected (and often must be, according to law).

The good news for your preschooler is that he or she can ride like a big kid, using the grown up seat belt, in one of several car booster seats.

Most children, once they reach the age of four, are large enough to transition to one of these booster seats. At this age, they will need the variety that has a back. (When they get older, they can do without the back.)

These seats don’t have straps of their own. Instead, they simply sit in the back seat of the car, and the shoulder belt feeds through them, guided across the child’s chest at a safe height.

If a child were to sit in the back seat without a booster seat at this age, the shoulder belt would cut across their face or neck, posing a great danger in the event of hard braking or an accident.

The alternative, tucking the shoulder belt behind the child so they rely only on the lap belt, is also dangerous. In this configuration, a child would easily be injured in a crash.

Car booster seats of this type come in a variety of styles and many fabrics. Most children of this age do ride in booster seats, so there should be no feeling of embarrassment for the child to ride in one.

To encourage the child’s cooperation, have him or her help pick out the seat. Giving a child choice is a sure way to make him feel comfortable and grown up.

Once a child reaches the height indicated by the booster seat manufacturer, you can often remove the backrest of the car booster seats. There’s usually a clip on a tether that will help guide the seatbelt over the proper place on the shoulder, and the child will be more comfortable.