Everything you need to know about booster seats for kids
Car seat type: Booster Seat (forward-facing, booster only). Age range: Dependent on child’s height, weight and maturity.
What's included in this guide:
- Benefits and drawbacks of a booster car seat
- When a child can use a booster seat
- How to know when to stop using a booster seat
- Features to look for when purchasing a seat
- Information on second-hand booster seats
What is a booster car seat?
A booster seat is a type of child car seat designed to ‘boost’ your child up to ensure that the adult seat belt fits their body safely. Some come with a top tether strap and/or with LATCH connectors, but others simply sit on top of the vehicle seat.
When can my child use a booster seat?
Before switching to a booster seat, ensure your child reaches the entry height and weight levels of the seat, and is mature enough to sit still and keep the belt properly positioned throughout the journey.
If they aren’t tall, heavy or mature enough to move to a booster seat, or you want to keep them harnessed for longer, there are plenty of options available that will enable you to do so.
When can my child stop using a booster seat?
Legally, a child must be in a child car seat until they are at least 7 years old. We recommend keeping your child in a car seat until they are at least 148cm tall and can pass the 5-step test. To pass this test, your child should be able to:
- Sit with their back against the back of the regular car seat.
- Have their knees bend in front of the seat cushion.
- Comfortably have the lap belt across their hips and touching their thighs.
- Comfortably have the sash belt across the middle of their chest and not digging into their neck.
- Remain in this position for the duration of your car trip.
While typically a child is around 148cm before they can sit in a safe position without a booster seat, it’s really dependent on your individual child, their physical build, their temperament, and your vehicle car seats and seatbelt settings. So, be sure to check each of the 5 steps above before making this big move.
Tip: while it’s exciting to see your child grow up, remember that being appropriately positioned in the car is extremely important. Moving your child into a booster seat too early can increase the chances of injury or worse in an accident. Avoid ditching your child’s booster seat just because you have celebrated their 7th birthday and instead look for readiness using the 5-step test.
What features to look for when choosing a booster car seat
While booster seats typically have simpler designs than harnessed seats, there are a few things to look out for when you’re shopping for a new booster.
Anti-submarining
Submarining is when the forces of an accident cause your child to slip down under the seat belt and becoming unrestrained. Some booster seats have an anti-submarining design to prevent this from happening. This device may be in place by the structure of the armrests or seat base incline, or by an inbuilt slide-guard which ensures the seatbelt stays low across a child’s hips.
This is why it’s so important to ensure your child’s seatbelt follows the correct path when using a booster seat!
Car seat dimensions
If you have a vehicle with plenty of room for the whole family, this won’t matter as much. But if you have a vehicle where space is limited (this can be the case regardless of how big a vehicle is on the outside), or if you have multiple seats to install in one row, you’ll want to think about the dimensions of the booster. Remember that you’ll want enough room to reach down between the seats to access the seat belt buckle.
And don’t forget to think about your vehicle’s general height and roof shape – some cars have ceiling angles for the side seats that make it impossible to extend a headrest to its highest setting. If you can, pop the seat in your car at its maximum height to test it out before committing to the purchase.
Adjustable size settings
Every kid is built differently – some are wide, some petite, some have long torsos and other have long legs. Having more options to adjust the seat makes it more likely your child will find it comfy to sit in, and comfy kids are less likely to wriggle and whinge while you’re trying to drive.
For bigger kids, some models have expandable wings and higher maximum height settings to allow you to get longer from the booster.
Tether strap
Boosters can come with or without a top tether strap. The tether strap is an extra point at which the booster is secured into the vehicle. Whether it’s necessary for you to use this or not will be explained in the booster seat’s instruction manual. Make sure you follow these instructions and if it states you must use the tether, then this is a legal requirement, and you will need to be sure you have an anchor bolt in your vehicle to attach the tether to.
Should I purchase a second-hand booster seat?
Even when a seat looks to be intact without any damage, there are some forms of wear and tear you won’t always be able to see. We would always discourage you from purchasing any car seat second-hand as you can never be 100% sure of its history.
If you are looking at purchasing second-hand, there are a few questions you should ask before doing so:
- What is the full history of the booster seat? Has it been in an accident? Has it been stored and washed according to the manufacturer’s guidelines?
- Has the booster seat been visibly damaged or modified in anyway?
- Is the booster seat in line with current manufacturing standards, or does it meet previous versions of the standard?
- Is the booster seat complete with all the components in place?
Are you looking for more information before investing in a booster seat? Give our team a call or visit them in store for more advice.
Alternatively, if you’ve already decided you are ready to pick up a booster seat, you can browse our range of booster seats online.
