How to Install a Booster Seat

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Once your child outgrows a car seat (child safety seat), he or she is still not big enough to use an adult seat belt in a vehicle. Booster seats are designed to raise your child up higher in your vehicle's seat. This dramatically reduces the risk of injury in the event of an accident, causing serious injury or paralysis. Never place a child in the front seat with an active air bag. Kids are generally safest when they’re placed in the back seat. [1] To benefit from the use of a booster seat, however, you must choose the right one for your child, and you must install it correctly and safely in your vehicle.

Part 1
Part 1 of 2:

Choosing the Right Seat

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  1. [2] There are several varieties of booster seats to choose from. They vary in design, material, and price. Choose one that fits your vehicle, suits your child, and meets your current and future needs. [3]
    • Backless booster seats do not have a back (as the name suggests), but rest on your vehicle's rear seat. Your child's back is supported by the back of the vehicle's seat.
    • High back booster seats have their own support for your child's back to rest against. These fit within your vehicle's rear seat much like a forward-facing child safety seat. High back booster seats are recommended for vehicles without headrests on the rear seat, shaped like a bench.
    • Combination child safety seat/booster seats can be used first as a child safety seat and then converted to a booster seat when your child is old enough or big enough.
    • All-in-one safety seats have either 3 to 5 modes of use, some of the seats have harness storage compartments underneath the headrest, just like the combination car seats. Most booster seats are designed for kids weighing from up to 120 lbs.
  2. Booster seats are not latched to your car in the same way that car seats are. Instead, they are held in place by your child's weight and your car's seat belt. [4] For this reason, it is very important to find a booster seat that you child can sit comfortably on. Choose a booster seat that is neither too large nor too small for your child, regardless of their age and size.
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  3. A booster seat will rest on top of your car's back seat, much like a car seat. It will also be strapped in using the car's seatbelt. [5] Therefore, it is critical that the booster seat fit properly into your car and onto the rear seat. Make sure you check the following:
    • The booster seat fits fully on your car's rear seat, and does not hang over the edge.
    • The booster seat sits flat on your car's rear seat, and is not turned or tilted.
    • At least one of your car's rear lap-shoulder seatbelts (not just a lap seatbelt) is able to fit fully around the booster seat so that you can secure it in place.
  4. As soon as you have purchased a booster seat, register it with the manufacturer, according to the instructions that are provided with the packaging. This is necessary to validate the warranty, and will also help the manufacturer notify you in the event that there is a recall on the booster seat. Look at the date of manufacture label on either location to know when it is expired or not.
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Part 2
Part 2 of 2:

Installing the Seat

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  1. [6] While the general techniques for installing a booster seat are the same for all types, each model is designed slightly differently and has specific instructions. To make sure that you know how your booster seat functions, and how to install it, always read the manufacturer's instructions and safety information that are provided with the seat when you purchase it. The instructional videos are available to watch when you install a booster seat into your vehicle. Please review these instructions before proceeding.
  2. [7] Booster seats should always be installed in a vehicle's rear seat, but never in a front seat. The best location for a booster seat is in the center of a vehicle's rear seat, as long as it fits properly there. However, if your vehicle only has a lap belt in the center position of the rear seat, try to install the booster seat on either the right or left side, as it doesn’t permit overhanging on the edge.
    • If you cannot install a booster seat in the center of the rear seat, it’s best to choose the side (right or left) that will allow you to best see your child from the driver's seat, and make it easiest to safely remove the child from the vehicle on busy streets. Some manufacturers don’t allow you to be using outer lower anchors in the center position, so always read your instructions manual to ensure correct use.
  3. [8] Some booster seats, but not all, have clips or guides to help you position the seatbelt across the seat. Read and follow the manufacturer's instructions provided with your booster seat regarding how to use these, if applicable.
  4. [9] Once the booster seat is properly installed, have your child sit in it (while the vehicle is not in motion) to ensure a good fit. Position the seatbelt as you normally would, and make sure the child is snug but comfortable in the booster seat, and that it remains secure on your vehicle's back seat when your child is sitting in it, regardless of their age and size. Watch the Five Step Test video to learn more about the correct use of this booster seat.
    • Adjust your vehicle's seat belt, if necessary. You should use a lap-shoulder combination seat belt. The lap portion should rest on the child's torso (not across the stomach or neck), and the shoulder portion should fit across his/her chest.
    • You can also visit a local police department, fire department, or other safety center to have an official check to make sure your booster seat is installed properly.
  5. [10] As your child grows, you may have to adjust the seatbelt or position of the booster seat. It may also shift slightly during transit. Because of this, it is a good idea to check the fit and position of the booster seat regularly, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Always make sure that the seatbelt fits your child correctly, and that the booster seat remains secure on your vehicle's rear seat.
  6. [11] A booster seat should always be used whenever the child it is intended for is in your vehicle. When the booster seat is not being used, it should be secured (for instance, strapped down or stowed inside the trunk). Otherwise, a loose booster seat moving around while you are driving the vehicle can cause injury or become a dangerous distraction during a crash, which can cause serious injuries, paralysis, and so on. [12]
    • Some models of boosters have LATCH connectors to connect to a vehicle's lower anchors for the purpose of securing the booster when it’s not in use. Take advantage of these if your booster comes with these connectors and the dedicated seating position has lower anchors marked with a symbol or a fabric tag for vehicles in the years, 2002 and newer. Some models include the Diono Solana, Graco Affix, and Britax Parkway. Each of the booster seats usually allow both lower anchors and top tethers, like the Graco 4Ever, Britax One4Life, Evenflo All4One, and more. And also, never attach two hooks into one vehicle lower anchor, unless if it’s permitted by the safety seat’s manufacturer.
  7. [13] General guidelines recommend that children use booster seats until they are 8 years old or they have reached 4' 9” in height. [14] Once you child is above this age/or height, he or she can use an adult seat belt.
    • Laws, regulations, and recommendations can vary by area. Always check the guidelines for using booster seats that are applicable, depending on where you live. And remember that, children should always stay in the back seat until they are 13 or above. If they move to the front seat earlier than that, the air bag can injure themselves, causing serious injuries, paralysis, and so on.
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  • Question
    What if the shoulder strap is across the child’s face when buckled?
    B2023316
    Community Answer
    Then they either need a higher booster or to go back to a 5 point harness. It can be very dangerous when not secured correctly.
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  • Question
    I have nothing to attach the hooks to besides the middle seat restraint. Is this safe?
    Sammy Peek
    Community Answer
    Read your vehicle's manual on "borrowing" lower anchors. You'd most likely have to either buckle in the booster or stow it in the trunk.
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      Tips

      • To check the expiration date on the booster seat, look for the label showing the date of manufacture and model number. For options, please refer to your car seat’s manual.
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      • When installing a booster seat with the lower anchorage system, extend the lower anchor strap to the maximum length by pressing on the gray button and pulling on it for easier installation.
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      • For combination and all-in-one seats, all vehicles have a lower anchor weight limit. If the weight of your child, plus the weight of their car seat is greater than the limit, please install the safety seat by using the vehicle seat belt.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/child-passenger-safety/about/index.html
      2. ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/child-passenger-safety/about/index.html
      3. ↑ http://consumer.georgia.gov/consumer-topics/child-car-seats
      4. ↑ https://www.nhtsa.gov/car-seats-and-booster-seats/how-install-backless-booster-seat
      5. ↑ https://www.nhtsa.gov/car-seats-and-booster-seats/how-install-backless-booster-seat
      6. ↑ https://www.nhtsa.gov/car-seats-and-booster-seats/how-install-backless-booster-seat
      7. ↑ http://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/injury_prevention/children/fact_sheets/older_children_5-9_years/child_passenger_safety_5-9_years.htm
      8. ↑ http://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/injury_prevention/children/fact_sheets/older_children_5-9_years/child_passenger_safety_5-9_years.htm
      9. ↑ https://www.nhtsa.gov/car-seats-and-booster-seats/how-install-backless-booster-seat
      1. ↑ https://www.nhtsa.gov/car-seats-and-booster-seats/how-install-backless-booster-seat
      2. ↑ http://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/injury_prevention/children/fact_sheets/older_children_5-9_years/child_passenger_safety_5-9_years.htm
      3. ↑ https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcfrs-info/Resources/Files/parents/C1-eng2014web.pdf
      4. ↑ https://www.nhtsa.gov/car-seats-and-booster-seats/how-install-backless-booster-seat
      5. ↑ http://www.in.gov/isp/files/Installing_Child_Safety_Seats.pdf

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      Booster seats are designed to keep your child safe in a car once they’ve grown out of their car seat. To install one, first, place the seat on the back seat of your vehicle, which is the safest place for the booster seat to be. Attach any clips or straps on the booster seat to hold it in place. Once the seat is installed, have your child sit in it with the car standing still to make sure it fits correctly. The shoulder strap of the seatbelt should rest across their chest, while the lap part should be on their stomach. If you’re in any doubt about the safety of the seat, go to your local police or fire department to get a safety check. For tips on how to check if the booster seat still fits as your child grows, keep reading!

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