booster seat question

[ldimaulo]

Is is unsafe to continue to use a booster seat if the child can be seated properly without one?

[Defrost]

There's not a one-shot answer for that - the answer is "possibly."

If the booster is outgrown, then yes, it's unsafe to continue using it. Boosters are outgrown when the child's shoulder is above the belt guide (for high-back boosters), or the tops of the ears are above the head restraint (this would apply to both high-back boosters as well as vehicle head restraints). Most boosters also have a weight limit, although many parents choose to ignore it as long as the child otherwise fits in the booster.

The booster needs to position the shoulder portion of the seat belt across the collarbone, and the lap portion of the seat belt low on the hips or upper thighs. In some vehicles, some older children may actually fit better without a booster, even if they still need one in their own vehicle, so it's good to pay attention to how the seat belt fits when riding in different vehicles.

Remember that in order to use just a seat belt, the child needs to pass ALL of the 5-Steps (http://www.carseat.org/Boosters/630.htm). Keep an eye them at first to make sure they continue to pass that last one - sometimes they start out sitting correctly for the first couple of days or weeks, but then start learning bad habits as time goes one.

Used properly, boosters tend to help kids maintain that last step, even if they may otherwise fit well in just the seat belt. Comfort is key to keeping kids properly positioned, and boosters usually help with that.

[LISmama810]

I agree with everything Debbie said. As long as the booster and child still fit each other, it's fine (and maybe even preferable if it's a HBB with "wings" for napping/side impact protection). But if the child is too large for the booster, then it's not safe.

I also wanted to point out that kids will fit differently in different cars (or even different seating positions in the same car). So just because a kid fits in one seatbelt, it does not mean that he/she will necessarily fit in every one.