Booster Seat Poor Evaluations
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute have put out a new study with regard to booster seats - they found 13 booster seats do not position the belt properly on children. This study did not look at the crashworthiness of the seats but rather the belt positioning. As we know booster seats help prop children up higher, with a goal of making sure the car's seat belt is in the correct position.
The seat belt is meant to be routed across a child's lower hips and mid-shoulders instead of the abdomen because the liver and spleen are more vulnerable to injuries. Story
This of course does not mean and should not be taken to mean that parents should opt not to use a booster seat at all- it just means that parents need to ensure that the one they are using at least has the seat belt positioned in the proper location.
We, at the firm, are advocates for 5 point harness booster seats - while these booster seats referenced in the story utilize the car's seat belt, they merely deal with the the height issue and prop the child up higher to position the belt properly. They do not account for the weight of the child. Car seat belts are made for a minimum weight - usually much heavier than the average 4-6 year old.
Also, make sure to check your state laws regarding the age AND weight requirements for children and child restraints in your state.
