Booster seat tips to protect your children

“Booster seats work best when they are used correctly,” says Lisa Schwing, trauma nurse coordinator at The Children’s Medical Center of Dayton.

“Be sure to read the child safety seat instructions and the vehicle owner’s manual information on child safety seats. If this seat is not installed correctly, it could fail to protect the child. Serious injury or death could result.”

Dayton Children’s offer the top five good booster seat habits:

• Use a booster seat correctly in a back seat every time your child rides in a car.
• A booster seat uses no harness. It uses the vehicle’s lap and shoulder belts only. Be sure the safety belt is properly buckled.
• Booster seats are not installed tightly. They sit on the vehicle seat; the child buckles the lap and shoulder belt and wears the safety belt like you do. Never use only the lap belt.
• Use the vehicle’s lap and shoulder belts on every booster seat. Never place the shoulder belt under the child’s arm or behind the child’s back.
• Be sure all occupants wear safety belts correctly every time. Children learn from watching you.

“One other reminder is to secure the booster seat in the car with the lap and shoulder belt when not in use,” says Schwing. “This will reduce the likelihood that the booster will become a projectile in the event of an accident.”

Provided by The Children’s Medical Center of Dayton

About The Children’s Medical Center of Dayton

The Children’s Medical Center of Dayton is the region’s pediatric referral center for 20 Ohio counties and eastern Indiana. At Dayton Children’s, there is a full-time dedication to caring for infants, children and teens. Specially trained and experienced pediatric specialists in over 35 specialty areas work as a team to make sure the medical and psychosocial needs of children and their families are met. We also have a number of community-based services as well.