How to Choose and Install a Booster Seat? Ultimate Guide

How to install a booster seat in a vehicle is what we’ll cover today. Onwards!

Steps on putting a booster seat in the car

Do not tighten any car seat straps during the first step of installation.

Step 2: Adjust the harness so that it fits snugly around your child’s waist and hips.

It’s important to make sure that the shoulder straps aren’t too low or too high for your baby. You can keep them from flying forward in a crash by keeping this belt in place, even if there is slack elsewhere in the harness (i.e., crotch buckle).

If you can’t slide two fingers between it and your baby’s collarbone/chest, it’s too close to her collarbone/chest and too low to her belly button because of concerns with airflow during the breathing process.

As soon as you’ve attached the harness, tug it to tighten it up a bit further. When pulled, you should not be able to pinch any additional strap between your fingers.

Try putting a small object in the child’s crotch area to simulate an accident circumstance where they would fall forward beneath both straps (if one is loose). You can either make modifications or put them back in their car seat and start the process over again.

Where is the FAA sticker on a car seat?

There is an FAA sticker on the side of a child’s car seat. There will be an N, P, or T at the top, followed by a series of numerals. In order to meet Federal safety rules for aviation travel, a youngster must be restrained by either a vehicle lap belt or shoulder strap.

As a last resort, if they are not wearing one of these devices and there is no other way to safely restrain them, they can sit in your lap throughout takeoff and landing.

As part of their new safety regulations, many airplane seats no longer allow you to cradle a small baby on your lap!

At least one adult must accompany youngsters over 40 pounds when they travel in their own plane-approved car seat (and the car seat is securely fastened to the aircraft seat with a locking clip).

How do you transport a carseat on a plane

Lap belts or straps should be used to fasten car seats to an airplane seat. CARES Harness; Combi Coccoro Convertible Car Seat; Diono Radian and Pacifica RXT All-in-One Converters; and the Pacifica RXT All-in-One Convertibles can all be used if the carseat is too large (all of these options arec).

There are tethered devices specifically made for youngsters weighing less than 22 pounds on this list, so keep that in mind. If your party includes more than one infant, you’ll need to find a different solution that fits beneath the seat because these restraints don’t have any further carryon space beyond that of the adult accompanying passenger (s).

Please verify with the airline in advance if you plan to use a gadget that is not on this list. We recommend getting a seat for the carseat if you are traveling domestically with more than one child under the age of two requiring separate seats in which an infant car seat will be utilized for each.

Instead of holding children during taxiing, takeoff, and landing, the FAA strongly recommends utilizing an FAA-approved safety harness such as CARES when traveling outside of North America or when your aircraft does not have any empty middle or window seats.

How to Choose a Booster Seat

• It is recommended that you only sit in a car seat which has been certified to meet or beyond Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213.
• Use a seat that is newer than six years or one that was involved in a collision (it could be unsafe, even if it looks OK).
• You don’t want to buy seats that are missing parts or aren’t marked with the year of production and model number (you won’t know about recalls) or seats that don’t come with an instruction manual.
• The manufacturer’s recommended “expiration date” can be found on the seat. Avoid using a seat if you’re unsure of its history or notice cracks or other symptoms of wear and tear.
• It’s always best to check with the manufacturer before purchasing a used seat to make sure it’s safe to use and hasn’t ever been recalled. The manufacturer may be able to give you with a replacement part or a new model in the event of a recall.

What Are the Types of Booster Seats?

They come in a variety of shapes and sizes:

With the help of a belt placement booster, children may use the car’s lap and shoulder restraint systems safely. They’re available with or without a back, depending on your preference:

• When the car seats have low backs, high-back boosters should be used.
• If a child’s head is supported by the vehicle’s rear seat or head support, a backless booster can be used.

Seats with a five-point harness and high backs are known as combination seats. This type of booster seat can be used with or without straps, depending on the child’s needs. If your child is over 40 pounds, you should use a five-point harness.

Shoulder belts for the backseat can be placed by your car dealer if yours aren’t already. Keep children in a forward-facing seat with a full harness if that is not possible, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

How Do I Install a Booster Seat?

• Read the owner’s instructions for your car and for the booster seat you intend to use thoroughly before putting it in place. Use the instructions in your car’s owner’s handbook to learn how to properly fasten your seatbelts when accompanied by a child safety seat.
• Place the booster seat in the back seat facing forward. Where there is a lap and shoulder belt, you should place it in the middle of the back seat.
• Before each use, make sure the safety seat is properly positioned.
• Ensure the right installation of your child safety seat by having it inspected at a child safety inspection station.

To ensure the safety of the booster seat:

• Consult the owner’s handbook for additional information.
• Make sure your child’s lap belt is fastened securely around their hips.
• Make sure your child’s shoulder belt fits snugly and doesn’t get in the way of their neck or face when wearing it.
• Shoulder and lap belts should never be twisted or dragged; they should lie flat.

The need of buckling up can begin to sink in at this age, and some children may even desire to buckle themselves in. When kids buckle their seatbelts by themselves, make sure to give them a pat on the back.

When Do Kids Outgrow Booster Seats?

A booster seat can be removed from a child’s car when:

• With their back against the vehicle’s seat back and their knees bent over the edge of the seat, they are big enough to use the vehicle’s lap and shoulder seatbelts without slouching.
• The shoulder belt and the lap belt both rest comfortably across the middle of the chest.
• This is a good spot for them to ride in for the duration of the trip. When a child is between the ages of 8 and 12 and has reached a height of 4’9″ (approximately 150 cm), this frequently occurs.

Seatbelt Safety

Putting the seatbelt’s shoulder strap over a child’s neck or behind their back is a bad idea. Never put two children (or adults) in the same seatbelt. In a car accident, their heads could come into contact.

Make sure to include an extra booster seat in case you’re not sure if a youngster fits the height criteria for the booster seat you’re using. Safer than risking injury to a child who isn’t tall enough for a seatbelt is always preferable.