FAQ Friday: How Long Should I Keep My Kids in Booster Seats?

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that kids reach 80 pounds and 4'9" tall (typically 8 - 12 years old) before leaving their booster seats behind. This is stricter than any of the state laws, which vary wildly: While 47 states have booster seat laws, only 25 states and the District of Columbia require booster seats for children up to at least age 8. Ohio's new booster seat law just went into effect October 7th. Florida, Arizona, and South Dakota have no booster seat law at all.

Most kids don't want to wait until they're 4'9", and parents often give in to their demands. (See Booster Seats: Fight the Good Fight.) But this is a tragic lack of judgment. According to a new study released this week from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), children ages 4 to 8 in belt-positioning booster seats are 45 percent less likely to be injured in a crash compared with children using a seat belt alone. The study confirmed that the "older" 6 - 8 -year-olds benefit just like the 4 - 5-year-olds from earlier studies.

For more on child passenger safety, see CHOP's site, the Car Safety Guide, and the Women and Family Car Guide.

Posted by

Joanne Helperin October 23, 2009, 11:00 AM

Permalink

Categories:

Car Safety, FAQ Friday