When Is Your Child Ready For A Regular Seat Belt?

Use this five-point test to find out.


Can your child sit all the way against the back of the seat?

Does your child’s knees bend comfortably at the edge of the seat without slouching?

Does the lap belt fit snugly below the child’s abdomen, touching the thighs?

Does the shoulder belt come across your child’s rib cage and shoulder and not across the neck?

Can your child stay seated like this for the entire ride?

If you answered no to any of these questions, your child needs a booster seat to ride safely in the car. If your child meets all five criteria above, he or she is ready to graduate to an adult seat belt. For more information on choosing and using booster seats, pick up these two free AAA brochures, Put Big kids in Boosters and Safe Passage, both available at your local AAA office.