Parents Urged to Use ‘Booster’ Car Seats

In a reminder on child safety, the Automobile Club of Southern California urged parents on Monday to use so-called booster seats to protect children who have outgrown infant safety seats but are still too small to wear regular safety belts.

According to the club, most children ages 5 to 8 are improperly protected with an adult-sized seat belt. Because the belt is too big, those children remain at risk of fatal injuries from shoulder straps that cut across their necks and lap belts that press against their bellies, said Arline Dillman, the auto club’s safety expert.

The Auto Club is launching a nationwide campaign urging parents to use booster seats for children between 40 and 80 pounds. The seats lift the child into a position that allows the seat belt to fit properly.

Booster seats should be used until the child is big enough to sit straight up against the car seat with knees bending over the seat edge without slouching, according to the club.

The seats cost approximately $60 and are required to meet federal standards for safety regardless of price, Dillman said.

She added that all children under 13 should ride in the back seat.