Is Your Child Ready to Ditch the Booster Seat?

Step-by-Step Guide for Parents to Make the Right Move

Moving your child out of a booster seat and into just a seatbelt is a big milestone but it has to be done safely. Many kids don’t fit properly in a seatbelt until they’re 10–12 years old. The booster seat helps position the seatbelt correctly over your child’s smaller body, and transitioning too early can lead to serious injuries in a crash. So how do you know when it’s time? Use this guide to walk through the steps.

Step 1: Know the Law (and the Recommendations)

Each state has its own laws about booster seat use, but those laws often set the minimum—not what's safest. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that children use a belt-positioning booster seat until:

• They are at least 4 feet 9 inches tall,
• AND between 8 and 12 years old,
• AND can pass the 5-Step Seat Belt Fit Test (below).

Step 2: Perform the 5-Step Seat Belt Fit Test

Have your child sit all the way back in the vehicle’s back seat. Then check these five key points:

1. Knees bend naturally at the edge of the seat – without slouching forward.
2. Back is flat against the seat – no gaps or leaning.
3. Lap belt sits low across the hips – not riding up on the belly.
4. Shoulder belt crosses the middle of the chest and shoulder – not cutting into the neck or slipping off the shoulder.
5. Your child can stay seated like this the entire ride – without slouching, leaning, or moving out of position.

If your child fails any of these, they still need the booster.

Step 3: Check in Different Cars

Seat belt fit can vary from car to car. Your child might pass the test in one vehicle but not another. Always check in:

• Your main family car
• Any carpool vehicles
• Grandparents’ or babysitters’ cars

Step 4: Keep Kids in the Back Seat

Even after graduating from a booster, kids under 13 should always ride in the back seat. It’s the safest spot in the car and offers the most protection in a crash.

Don’t rush it—using a booster seat longer is safer, not babyish. Talk to your child about the importance of seat belt safety and why their body needs a little extra help to stay protected in the car.