when can a child stop using a booster seat in washington state

A booster seat provides the best protection for an older child in a sudden stop or crash. Your child can sit in this position the entire time in the car.

Washington State Booster Seat Laws 2022 Driving Geeks

Most children will be 10 or 11 before they stop using a booster seat.

. Children can be injured or killed by airbags. An Easy Way to Test if Your Child is Ready to Travel Without a Booster Seat Safely. 6 through 17 years use a child restraint or seat belt.

When your child reaches the height requirement the seat belt will fit them safely and comfortably. All children in this state must ride in an approved booster or car seat until the age of eight years and up to 49 in height. Child passengers must be restrained in child safety seats until they weigh forty pounds or reach the upper weight limit for the car seat in use.

Law states no preference for rear seat. If they cannot comfortably sit in the back seat then they are probably not the right size or weight for a seat belt. Fortunately for parents there is an easy way to see if a child is ready to stop using a booster seat.

When they are shorter than 49 and under 8 years old children are required to use booster seats. Following child safety restraint laws is not only a matter of safety but of legality. Children must normally use a child car seat until theyre 12 years old or 135 centimetres tall whichever comes first.

Proper seat belt fit typically does not occur until children are age 912. Follow the guidelines above to know when your child can safely stop using the booster. That typically wont happen until theyre about 10 to 12 years.

Doctors and safety experts recommend that children ride in booster seats until the lap and shoulder belt fit right usually when they are at least 49 tall or around 8 years old. Children under age 4 must be properly secured in a child restraint system in the rear seat if possible. Children 4 through 7 who weigh less than 80 pounds and children 4 through 7 who are less than 57 inches tall must be in a child restraint or.

Law states no preference for rear seat. Younger than 1-year-old and less than 20 pounds. A child can stop using a booster seat when they reach 8 years of age and are at least 57 inches tall.

They can stop using the seat when the seat belt of the car fits them securely. In Washington all children who are less than eight years of age must be in a suitable booster or car seat based on their age and size unless they are at least 49 tall. Once your child outgrows their car seat theyll still need a booster seat to help them properly fit your cars own seat and safety belt until theyre over 57 inches 145 cm tall.

Kids arent ready to make the go from a booster seat to a seat belt until the lap and shoulder belts fit them properly. The booster seat should be used and placed for proper installation with a federally approved safety seat belt system. For their safety keep your child in the back seat until they are at least 13 years old.

Infants must ride rear-facing until they reach two years of age unless the child turned age one prior to May 26 2017. State laws also regulate child car seat usage. Professionals typically recommend that a child uses a booster seat until they have reached the height of 4 feet and 9 inches.

Seat belt fit can vary by vehicle so check fit in all vehicles to make sure the child no longer needs to use a booster seat. It could be that a child might need a booster seat in one vehicle but not another. They must then ride in a booster seat until they turn 8 weigh more than 80 lbs or are taller than 4 feet 9 inches.

However the law also states that children over the age of eight must be properly secured by a seat belt. Dont make the switch based solely on height or age. Try this 5 step test with your child.

All children whose weight or height exceeds the forward-facing limit for their car safety seat should use a belt positioning booster seat until the vehicle seat belt fits properly typically when they have reached 4 feet 9 inches in height and are 8 through 12 years of age. All children younger than 13 should ride in the back seat. Regardless of Floridas laws you should always err on the side of caution and follow your pediatrician and the car seats manufacturers recommendations for the safest possible car travel with your child.

Violation of the child restraint law is a standard offense. 1 through 5 years in a child restraint or a booster seat. 5 Ways to Know Whether Your Child Should Still Be Using a Booster Seat More than a quarter of kids age 4 to 7 are transitioned too soon according to a.

When can a child stop using a booster seat in Washington state. All children 3 and younger must be in a child restraint. Children over 12 or more than 135cm tall must wear a.

Violating child safety restraint laws is a. Child Safety Seat Law. A child is exempt from the booster seat law requirement only when a child weighs 40 pounds or more and is in a vehicle with lap-only belts.

Even if your child is 8 and it is legal for them to stop using a booster seat if they are under 4 feet 9 inches tall you should continue to use a booster seat to keep your child safe. Seat belt stage 4.

When Can A Child Use A Booster Seat Useful Kid Safety Tips You Need To Know