The 5 Step Test
Oct 14 '07
The Bottom Line Always check the 5 Step Test on your child in every vehicle he/she rides in before you stop using a booster.
After your child outgrows their harnessed car seat, a booster seat is necessary. A booster seat works by lifting the child up so that the lap and shoulder belts fit properly. States vary in their requirements for how long a child must be in a booster seat. Some states allow children as young as 4 to ride in a regular seat belt, others require a booster seat to age 6 or 8. However, the law of physics is the true standard we should follow and the law is simple: Until the child fits properly in a lap/shoulder belt, they need a booster to help the belt fit correctly. If the belt does not fit correctly, your child could be seriously injured or killed in a crash.
How do you know if the belt fits correctly? Try the 5 Step Test
1. Does your child sit with their back against the vehicle seat?
2. Do your child's knees bend at the edge of the seat?
3. Does the lap belt lay over the hips?
4. Does the shoulder belt cross the shoulder without rubbing the neck?
5. Can your child stay seated this way the entire ride?
If you answer "no" to any of the questions above, then your child still needs a booster seat to help the seat belt fit correctly.
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jmmatlock
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