Car Seat Quip: 5 Step Test for Regular Lap Belt Readiness

When is my child ready to move out of his booster seat?  All of his friends ride with just a regular belt.  It would make carpool so much easier to not use a booster.

Children should be in a booster of some sort until they reach 4'9" tall (normally between age 10 and 12).    How do you know if they are really ready to safely ride without a booster?


Carseat.org has a great simple 5 Step Test to ensure that your child is ready to safely ride without a booster seat.

1. Does the child sit all the way back against the auto seat?
2. Do the child's knees bend comfortably at the edge of the auto seat?
3. Does the belt cross the shoulder between the neck and arm?
4. Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs?
5. Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip?

If you answered "no" to any of these questions, your child needs a booster seat to make both the shoulder belt and the lap belt fit right for the best crash protection.  Your child will be more comfortable, too!

For best protection, all children should ride in the back seat until they are ready to drive. It's twice as safe as the front seat.