Almost all parents buy one. A growing number of states mandate their use. Many auto insurance policies require them. The result is that most of the 4-8 year-olds who travel the nation's roads do so in a booster seat. The reason is simple. Children in booster seats are far safer in a crash than those who are not.
The booster seats are recommended and in many instances required for youngsters who have outgrown forward-facing infant and convertible car seats, which restrain occupants with their own harnesses. Booster seats are less complicated. They're designed to elevate youngsters to help seat belts, which are designed to fit adults, to correctly fit the smaller bodies of children. When the fit is accurate, the booster seats are a vital adjunct to safety.
Indeed, studies consistently show that children ages 4-8 who are properly restrained in booster seats are 45 percent less likely to be injured in a crash than those using only a seat belt. Children who are not restrained at all face enormous risks of death or injury if the event of a crash. That information, understandably, has spurred widespread use of booster seats.
Not all booster seats, however, are equal, according to an analysis released Thursday by the Institute for Highway Safety. Almost half of the 83 seats examined were placed in the "check fit" category, which means they might not ensure that adult-sized seat belts fit children in all vehicles. If that's the case, the protective value of a car booster seat could be compromised -- with disastrous results.
The problem, safety experts say, is that a booster seat that fits properly in one vehicle might not fit properly in another. For example, a seat that properly fits when used in the family car or minivan might not fit correctly when placed in a vehicle used to car pool a child to school or other activity. There are ways to check for a proper fit.
Experts say parents should make sure the lap belt lies flat across a child's upper thighs and that the belt snugly fits across the middle off the shoulder. If the belt doesn't do both, they say, a child is at risk and another seat should be used.
There is help at hand for parents concerned by the report from the institute. Rankings of the booster seats tested are available at www.iihs.org. The site provides a listing of "best bets" that "correctly position a vehicle safety belt on a typical 4-to-8-year old in almost any car, minivan or SUV." It also lists seats that are "good bets" and "not recommended" as well as the "check fit" category.
Parents buy car seats to protect loved ones. The institute's report and the data on its website can't guarantee, of course, that every booster seat will be a perfect fit for every child in every car. It does provide a valuable service. It can help parents make a wiser choice about a possibly life-saving device.