IS YOUR CHILD READY FOR A SEAT BELT?

Graduating from a car seat or booster to sitting in a seat belt feels like a rite of passage. For the kid, it signals some major “big kid vibes” and gives them something to tell their friends.

For the parents, it means not having to corral kids into a car seat or booster every day. It’s an exciting prospect, for sure, but it’s a decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Seat belts are designed for adult bodies and can actually cause serious harm to children. While we support making every parent’s life easier, we’re more interested in saving lives.

Here’s a quick look at seat belt safety guidelines for kids to help you make the decision that’s best for your child.

According to NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), a child is not ready for a seat belt until they meet all of the standards below:

• Can your child keep their back against the vehicle seat without slouching?
• Can your child keep their knees bent naturally over the edge of the vehicle seat?
• Can the child keep their feet flat on the floor?
• Does the lap belt lie snugly across the upper thighs, low on hips, not the stomach?
• Does the shoulder belt lie snugly across the shoulder and chest, and not across the neck or face?

Again, seat belts are designed for adult bodies. When a child doesn’t meet these standards it means they are too small and at increased risk of injury.

If your child isn’t ready for a seatbelt but is too large for a car seat, the solution is a booster. If your car seat is a Combination or All-in-one seat, it can be easily converted to a booster seat. (follow the owner’s manual for instructions and weight limits) Otherwise, a high back or backless booster can be purchased based on your needs.

A booster seat essentially “boosts” your child up so that a seat belt will fit properly across their lap and chest. This allows the seatbelt to work properly and reduces strain on the child’s body.

Quick Note: It’s really important that we make it clear to kids that a booster seat isn’t a “baby seat.” There’s a strong chance that their friends have already been moved to a seatbelt (correctly or not) and sitting in a booster can make them feel left out.
Explain to them that booster seats are perfectly designed for kids their age and size and are meant to keep them safe.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

• Kids under the age of 13 should always ride in the backseat. Even if they’re big enough for a seat belt, airbags create a tremendous amount of force and could cause serious injuries or death.
• Make sure your child doesn’t slip the shoulder belt portion under their arm or behind their back. In the event of an accident, this would mean all of the crash forces would be directed to the child’s lap and abdominal or spinal injuries could occur.
• Kids should take off their backpacks before sitting and buckling in. (This one sounds weird, but I just saw it happening the other day…)
• Seatbelts should never be shared. (Again, strange, but it happens)

Bottom line: Seat belts save lives, but only when they fit properly. Keeping your children in a booster seat isn’t mean, it won’t scar them emotionally, but it may save their lives!

If you have questions about car seat or seat belt safety, drop us a comment below. We have a National Child Passenger Safety Technician on staff, ready to answer your questions.

You can also schedule a car seat safety check with us as well. For questions or to schedule your safety check, call or text (423) 424-9301.