Beyond Booster Seats
For most parents, the decision point for transitioning a child out of a booster and into a seat belt comes when a child grows to 4 feet 9 inches tall, usually between the ages of 8 and 12.
The transition to a seat belt provides an opportunity you to teach your child about safety. The first message is simple: If your child is a "Tween," (between the age of 8 and 12), the safest place for them to ride in the car is in the back seat - buckled up.
As a parent, you influence your kid by modeling safe driving practices - including buckling up every time you get in the car. Teach your tween that family safety is the responsibility of passengers as well as the driver.
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Explain to your tween why safety matters. Give him or her the facts: Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among children aged 3 to 14. In the United States in 2009, 5,366 passengers under the age of 14 were involved in fatal crashes. Forty-six percent of them were not restrained by booster seats or seat belts.
A Simple Fit for Safety: Shoulder, Lap, in the Back
- Tweens 4' 9" tall should use seat belts
- A lap seat belt should fit lightly and low across the upper thighs
- A shoulder seat belt should fit across the chest
- Because children in the front seat are 40 percent more likely to be Injured, they should remain in the back seat through age 12
