ABC News Report

NBC News Report

Proper placement of the vehicle lap/shoulder belt is the KEY factor in preventing injury during a crash. Children come in all shapes and sizes, all booster seats do not fit all children or all vehicles.

Parents should continue to use their children's booster seats as long as the lap belt is positioned across the lower hips and upper thighs and the shoulder belt comes across the child's shoulder. If the lap/shoulder belt is not being positioned correctly, parents should replace the booster seat with one that provides a better fit. Parents should take their children with them to purchase the new booster seat and use a display model as a guide for proper fit. Convertible seats are now available with upper height and weight limits that might accommodate their child and will provide the child with better protection due to the 5-point harness. Children should not be transitioned to the vehicle seat unless they are at least 4 foot 9 inches tall and the lap/shoulder is positioned correctly.

Below Is A Statement From Safe Kids Worldwide:

Confused about using a booster seat? Don’t be!

Real children are not like crash test dummies, so every seat can fit differently. Booster kids come in all shapes and sizes, so take your child to pick out the booster that fits him or her best.

Don’t panic if your booster seat shows up on a “not recommended” list. The seat that does not fit the crash dummy may fit your child perfectly and all boosters on the market meet federal crash test standards.

The most important factor is how a booster fits your child:

Does the shoulder belt rest on the shoulder bone? You may have to raise the booster seat’s head rest to adjust the fit for your child.

Does the lap belt lay across the upper legs or thighs? Be sure the lap belt is under both armrests.

If both lap and shoulder belt fit as directed, you have a “recommended” seat because it is a good fit for your child.

The numbers tell the truth: booster seats save lives.

The latest research from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia shows that children who use a belt positioning booster seat in a back seat are 45 percent less likely to be injured in a crash than those who use just a seat belt.

Most kids under 4 feet 9 inches, who weigh between 80 and 100 pounds (usually between 8 and 12 year old) are likely to need a booster seat to get a good fit of the adult seat belt. Don’t guess. Use your correctly fitted booster seat to keep your child safe in the vehicle.

FREE Child Safety Seat Class at Northeast Georgia Medical Center

Every first Wednesday of the month, Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County sponsors a FREE child safety seat class at the Essentially for Women Building (825 Jesse Jewell Parkway) from 7:00 - 9:00.  (No classes in January or July).  Registration is required by calling Women's and Children's Services at (770) 219-1916. 
Please note - child safety seats are NOT distributed at this class.