Child Safety Seat Checkup

California law requires all children to ride in a child passenger restraint system until they are at least six years of age or 60 pounds. For their own safety, however, most children need to ride in a booster seat until about age eight. Small children riding in adult safety belts are about three times more likely to be injured in front-impact crashes than those in booster seats.

Children should not use an adult safety belt until they pass the following five-step test:

1. Does your child sit all the way back against the auto seat?
2. Do your child's knees bend comfortably at the edge of the auto seat?
3. Is the lap belt below the tummy, touching the thighs?
4. Is the shoulder belt centered on the shoulder and chest?
5. Can your child stay seated like this the entire trip?

If you answered "no" to any of these questions, your child needs a booster seat to ride safely in all motor vehicles. Once you can answer "yes" to all five questions and your child is at least six years old or 60 pounds, your child is large enough to use an adult safety belt alone; in many cases, children need to use a booster seat until age eight or are taller than 4'9".

Not only do belt-positioning booster seats dramatically reduce injuries caused by ill-fitting adult safety belts, but boosters can make rides in the car much more enjoyable for children, too. Boosters allow children to easily see out the passenger windows and offer a more comfortable lap and shoulder belt fit.

Remember:  All children under 12 should ride in the backseat, where it’s safest!