Car seats and booster seats are meant to protect children while riding in a vehicle. In the event of a car crash, both of them should prevent children from surging forward. That’s why children must remain in a booster seat until they’ve grown enough to be able to use a car’s seat. A lot of kids do not like the idea of remaining in a booster seat, especially when some of their friends no longer use it. Besides, there are certain misconceptions about the age to move children from a car seat to a booster seat and when they no longer need any booster seat. So, car seat vs. booster seat age is a topic that is still being debated.
This article will clarify the issue and correct the misconceptions.
Car Seat Vs. Booster Seat Age
A car seat is a harnessed booster seat meant for toddlers. The car seat has a 5-point harness. It holds a child back at 5 points. 2 points on the chest, 2 points at the abdomen region, and 1 point between the legs. The 5-point harness prevents the child from slouching. Your child should be in a car seat until he clocks 4.
Age is not the only factor to consider here. The child must weigh at least 40 pounds, and he should be able to sit on a booster seat without slouching. Often times, children meet these requirements at the age of 4 – 5 years.
Now, let’s talk about a booster seat. It is just a padded seat that will raise your child so that your car’s seat belt will cut across his chest, and the lap belt will hold down his thighs snugly. A booster seat can either have a backrest or not.
The child can stop using a booster seat at the age of 9 -12 years. Actually, the emphasis isn’t on the age but on the height of the child. According to safety experts, a child can sit in a car seat when he’s 4 feet and 9 inches (57 inches) tall.
With that height, the back of his knees will be at the edge of the car seat. The shoulder belt will be able to cross his chest firmly. And the lap belt will hold down his upper thighs snugly. Here’s where age comes in.
Some kids attain the height at the age of 9, while some reach the height at 10. Others reach the height at 11, but most children reach the height at 12. That’s why you’ll often hear that children can use a car seat at the age of 9 – 12 years.
Should My 5-Year-Old Be in a Car Seat or Booster?
A 5-year-old child should be on a booster seat. At that age, his weight will be above 40 pounds, and he should be able to sit without slouching. A 5-year-old will be too big for a car seat.
Is a Booster Seat OK for a 3-Year-Old?
No, a 3-year-old child will likely be too young to be in a booster seat. His weight will likely be lower than 40 pounds, and he cannot ride in a booster seat without slouching. And that defeats the whole purpose of putting him in a booster seat.
He should still be in a 5-point harness car seat that will prevent him from slouching. To be moved to a booster seat, he should attain the weight of 40 pounds, and be able to ride without slouching. Most children often meet these requirements at the age of 4-5 years.
What is the Difference Between a Booster Seat and a Car Seat?
A car seat is meant for children who are 3 years old or younger, with the weight of less than 40 pounds. It has a 5-point harness that prevents the child from slouching in a seat.
The 5 harness points are distributed thus – 2 points on the chest, 2 points below the stomach, and 1 point between the legs.
A booster seat can have a high back or it can be backless. It has no harness points. A booster is meant to raise the sitting height of your child to fit the seat belt of your vehicle.
When a child sits in a booster seat, the shoulder belt of the car will go across his chest firmly, and the lap belt will also hold down his upper thighs snugly. This is ideal for children from 4 – 9 years.
What are The Types of Car Seats by Age?
From birth to 1 year, your child should be placed in a rear-facing car seat. From 1 year to about 4 years, your child should be placed in a forward-facing 5-point harness car seat. That’s because his weight will be lower than 40 pounds by then. And he may not be able to sit without slouching.
At the age of 4 – 9 years, he should be moved to a booster seat. At this age, his weight will be 40 pounds or higher. And he’ll be old enough to sit without slouching.
At the age of 9 – 12 years, he should no longer use a booster because he should be 4 feet and 9 inches tall. By then, the seat belt of the car will fit him properly, and the back of his knees will be at the edge of the car seat even without being raised by a booster seat.
What are the 4 Types of Booster Seats?
1. Booster Seat with High Back
This type of seat helps to raise the child so that the seat belt can fit properly. In addition, the booster seat provides head and neck support. It’s nice for vehicles that do not have headrests.
2. Backless Booster Seat
This one also raises the child for the seat belt to fit properly but it does not provide head and neck support. It’s great for cars that have headrests.
3. Combination Seat
This is the type of booster seat that changes from a forward-facing seat with a 5-point harness to a booster seat. So, instead of buying a booster seat, you only need to convert it to a booster seat.
4. All-in-One Seat
This is the seat that can change from a rear-facing seat to a forward-facing seat with a harness and to a booster seat. Your child can use this right from birth until when he longer uses a booster seat.
Final Words
To remind you of the basic points in the article, a child should be placed in a rear-facing car seat from birth to 12 months. After clocking one year, the child should be moved to a forward-facing car seat with a 5-point harness.
At the age of 4 – 5 years, he can be upgraded to a booster seat. And when he becomes 4 feet and 9 inches (57 inches) tall, he should no longer use a booster seat.
