Rules for Children Wearing Seat Belts

Seat Belt Basics

• Seat belts are designed to hold occupants in a vehicle in place during a crash, when even a small child can place great force against the restraint -- an amount equal to their weight times the speed of the vehicle at the time of impact, according to CarSeatLady.com. The safety belt can help distribute these forces over the body̵7;s strongest areas, helping keep injuries to a minimum. This is why a lap-and-shoulder belt is safer than a lap-only belt; it spreads out the crash force and prevents the head from hitting something or someone. It is also the only type of restraint approved for use with a booster seat. Also important: an adult or child wearing a safety belt helps protect not only themselves, but others around them as well, since bodies can become projectiles within the car.

Booster Seats

• According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, your child should use a booster seat until the lap-and-shoulder belt fits properly without one, usually between 8 and 12 years of age and when he is at least 4 feet 9 inches tall. The lap-and-shoulder belt should lie flat, with the lap belt low around his hips and the shoulder belt snug across his shoulder but not touching his neck or face. Check with your state̵7;s Department of Transportation to find out further guidelines and laws specific to your state, and if your child buckles himself in, be sure to do a quick check before starting the car to make sure the restraint is positioned properly.

Older Children

• When your child meets the above age and height guidelines, check also that he can sit without slouching, with his back against the rear of the car̵7;s seat. At the same time, he must keep his feet flat on the floor, with his knees bent naturally over the seat̵7;s edge. CarSeatLady.com also mentions he should be able to sit this way for the entire trip and the lap belt portion should touch his upper thighs, not his stomach. If he meets all of these requirements, as well as any additional ones your state lists, he is ready to say goodbye to the booster. However, according to KidsHealth.org, he should still sit in the back seat of your car, where it is safer, until he is 13 years old to prevent a possible airbag injury in a crash.

Additional Precautions

• Wear a seat belt for every car ride, no matter how short. Buckle up before starting the car. Never put more than one person in a single seat belt, and don̵7;t fasten a belt under the arm or behind the back.