Boosters for Big Kids!
One of the most common things I hear working as a Car Seat Safety Technician (CPST) in the foster care and adoption world is, "Oh car seats, I don't need to worry about that because my kids are older." But is that really true? Car seat safety has evolved quite a bit since we millennials fought with our siblings over who had to sit in the middle with the hump on the floor (yes, I'm showing my age here!). Today's cars have sophisticated built-in safety features and seat belt systems in both the front and the rear of the vehicle - but in order to benefit from them, you must be big enough for the seat belt to fit you properly. Most kids don't even come close to being "big enough" until they are between the ages of 10 and 12.
Thankfully, there is an easy fix to this - you guessed it, booster seats! Just like the name implies, a booster seat is designed to "boost" a smaller child up into a position where they can achieve a proper and safe belt fit. This allows an older child to obtain the full benefits of all of the car's safety features, while also mitigating the risks of an improper/unsafe belt fit.
It is important for foster and adoptive parents to understand when children need a booster seat and how to use it properly. This way, you will be able to ensure that any child you care for can be safely transported in the car. Here are a few things to consider when determining whether a child still needs a booster seat:
The law: Here in Pennsylvania, the law requires that all children under the age of 8 use a booster seat. This certainly makes the decision easy for parents caring for kids before their 8th birthday - they definitely need a booster!
The child's size: Many parents are quick to say that their child is "too big" for a booster seat. However, they are surprised to learn that many booster seats on the market are made to accommodate children up to 63" tall and weighing up to 120 pounds! As a general guideline, most children may begin to achieve a proper seatbelt fit without the help of a booster around 4'9" tall, or age 10-12. However, this depends on the child's build as well as the geometry of the vehicle, which leads me to the third factor:
The vehicle: It is important to evaluate the child's fit in each individual vehicle - and in fact, each individual seating position within the vehicle. This is crucial because all vehicles and seats are built differently. For example, a child may not need a booster in the third row of an SUV, but still need one in the captain's chair of a minivan. This can be a little challenging for kids who ride in many different vehicles - for example, being transported to visits by various caseworkers, or carpooling with friends' families. It may be helpful to have a small portable booster on hand for these "just in case" situations.
But how do we know exactly when a child is ready to ride without a booster? There is a simple, 5-step test you can use to gauge this:
- Knees are bent comfortably at the edge of the seat, with feet flat on the floor.
- Butt is all the way back in the seat.
- Lap belt is low across the hips at the top of the thighs, not on the stomach.
- Shoulder belt is across the collarbone, not cutting into their neck.
- Child has the maturity to sit properly in this position for the entire ride - not slouching, leaning, moving the shoulder belt behind their back, etc.
Boosters and older kids can become a touchy subject - especially when a child comes into your home and is used to riding without one. It is vitally important for us as foster and adoptive parents to keep our kids safe. However, it is also important for us to respect their felt safety - building an atmosphere of understanding and trust with the child. As a CPST, I would never advise you to allow a child to ride in an unsafe position in the vehicle. However, as a foster and adoptive professional, I also understand the nuance of these delicate first days of building a relationship with a child. There are certainly some things you can do to compromise with your child without compromising their safety. Here are some tips:
- Buy a booster that is the same color as the vehicle upholstery so that it is not as obvious.
- Use a backless booster so that it won't be seen by peers looking in the window, i.e. at school dropoff.
- Speaking of school, allowing the child to ride the bus rather than transporting them in your vehicle, if that is an option, so that they can ride in the same way as their peers (boosters are NOT needed on a bus, and it is actually statistically safer than riding in a car to school)
- If the child needs to keep the booster with them at their destination because a different vehicle will pick them up, you can use a smaller portable booster seat like the Bubble Bum that can compress into the child's backpack, rather than them having to carry a large obvious seat with them.
- If the child is over the age of 8, test them in various vehicles and seating positions - you may find there is a specific spot where they can achieve a safe fit without a booster, and then allow them to stick to that spot whenever possible
As always, if you run into trouble or have a specific question, our agency CPSTs (myself and Nicole Hirschman) are here to help! Please feel free to reach out to us at any time and we can help troubleshoot your specific situation, recommend a specific booster seat, or help you with installation or fit challenges.
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