Car seats are much safer for children today than they were when their parents were young – but they’re also more complicated. As a result, young parents often have questions about which types of car seats are necessary for their children and when to make the switch to the next type of car seat in line.
If you’re wondering what a booster seat is and when your child needs one, consider the following tips from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and your experienced New York car accident attorneys.
What Is a Booster Seat?
A booster seat acts as a “transition” seat during the years when your child is too big to fit in a car seat, but too small to fit into the car’s seat belt properly. The booster seat raises your child so that the lap belt fits across the hips and the shoulder belt crosses the child’s chest at the sternum. Without a booster seat, the lap belt may cross the stomach and the shoulder belt may rest against the neck, and cause injury rather than prevent it if an accident occurs.
Which Booster Seat Is Right for My Child?
Children should use a booster seat when they outgrow the height and weight limits of a forward-facing seat. They should keep using the booster seat until they are large enough to fit into the seat belt correctly.
Highback booster seats provide protection for the head and neck in cars with low seat backs. If the car’s seats provide this protection for your child, a backless booster seat may be appropriate. All-in-one or combination car seats can be converted into boosters, but you should read the manual carefully to make sure you’re using the converted booster seat the right way.
If your child is injured in a New York auto accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Get started on your claim today by calling the NY child injury lawyers at Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP at (212) 986-7353.