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Don't Skip The Booster Step: A Guide to Seat Belt Readiness

Your children don't wear your clothes (unless they are playing dress-up).
Your children don't drive your car (until they reach an appropriate age).
Your children don't go to high school (until they finish grade school).
Your children don't wear your seat belt (until it fits).

Graduation to a seat belt alone is serious business.

Your children don't wear your clothes (unless they are playing dress-up).
Your children don't drive your car (until they reach an appropriate age).
Your children don't go to high school (until they finish grade school).
Your children don't wear your seat belt (until it fits).

Graduation to a seat belt alone is serious business. If you know what to look for, you can accurately check your child for seat belt readiness in your own vehicle. It's more than height and weight, it's a combination of:

• Age – approximately ages 4 to 8 (and)
  
• Standing height - 57” (and)
  
• Weight - approximately 40 to 80 pounds (and)
  
• Maturity
  

• Does your child sit with their back against the vehicle seat back?
  
• Does your child's knee bend comfortably around the vehicle seat edge?
  
• Do your child's feet touch the floor?
  
• Does the seat belt rest on the shoulder (not on the face or upper arm)?
  
• Does the lap portion of the belt stay low on the hips?
  
• Can your child ride comfortably in this position for the whole trip?
  

You can download an overview of booster seat laws nationally here.

Office of Traffic Safety-Minnesota Child Passenger Safety Program
1-800-818-9296 or www.buckleupkids.state.mn.us