Booster Seat Know-How from NHTSA

Types of Booster Seats

• High back booster with 5-point harness
  This type of booster is good for providing head and neck protection in back seats that are not equipped with head restraints. The 5-point harness provides full body protection for children to 40 pounds, and then can be removed to convert the seat to a belt-positioning booster.

• Belt-positioning booster
  Uses the vehicle lap and shoulder belts for restraint for children 40 to 80 pounds. Most have a clip or strap designed to hold the shoulder belt properly in place.

• Shield booster
  This type of booster may be used in vehicles that are not equipped with shoulder restraints in the back seat. It offers protection when using a lap belt, but only for children up to 40 pounds, and most experts recommend keeping the child in a full harness to 40 pounds. When the shield is removed, the booster allows a child between 40 and 80 pounds to be safely restrained with the vehicle lap and shoulder belts. This type is a good choice if the vehicle's seat back is higher than the child's ears, eliminating the need for the added protection of a high back booster.

Check the Label
All booster seats are required by law to comply with the same standards as regular child safety seats. The label should state: "This child restraint conforms to all applicable U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards."

"Add-on Devices" or SeatBelt Positioners
Add-on devices advertised to improve belt fit for older children are not covered by government standards. They may make the shoulder belt more comfortable, but may put too much slack in the shoulder belt or cause the lap belt to ride up dangerously. According to NHTSA, these devices should never be used in place of booster seats.

Don't Use Substitutes
Never use pillows, books, towels or other objects to boost a child, since they can easily slide around.

Recalls
Always send in the seat's registration card so the manufacturer can contact you if there is a recall. If your seat is not registered, you can check for recalls by calling the DOT Auto Safety Hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT or by visiting the NHTSA Web site. You will need to know the model number and manufacture date of the seat -- information that is printed on a label somewhere on the seat. Second-hand seats with missing labels should not be used, since there is no way of knowing if there is a recall.

Used Seats
If you decide to use a second-hand booster seat, it is important to know that it has not been involved in a crash. Small defects are not always apparent when you inspect a seat, but can be significant enough to reduce the seat's protection. In addition, most manufacturers recommend that seats be retired after five years of use. If you do not know the seat's history, it is better to buy a new one.

Photos from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Used with permission.