Booster seats are for children who are 4 to eight 8 old weigh 40 to 80 pounds and are less than 4 feet 9 inches in height. Generally children between ages 5 and 9 with heights under 4 feet 9 inches and weighing less than 80 to 100 pounds are the appropriate age and size for a booster car seat advises the safe kids website 5 this is a verified and trusted source. Booster car seat weight and height restrictions vary according to manufacturer. Always use both the shoulder and lap belts with a booster seat. Using a child car seat or booster seat children must normally use a child car seat until theyre 12 years old or 135 centimetres tall whichever comes first. Children over 12 or more than 135cm.
Never use only the lap belt with a booster seat. In this state all children who weigh less than 80 pounds or are under eight years of age need to be in a booster seat or appropriate car seat. Children between the ages of 3 and 4 who are at least 40 pounds are good candidates for booster seats as long as the lap and shoulder belt fits properly when the child is seatedthe child should be able to sit comfortably for the entire trip without altering his position by sitting on his knees or leaning forward. You can use a booster seat until an adult seat belt correctly fits the child without use of the booster seat. The american academy of pediatrics aap recommends babies be in rear facing seats until age 2 or until they reach the car seats height or weight limit. Parents must also check their car seat manufacturers height and weight limits and follow recommendations from health and safety organizations.
Children aged from seven years old but under 16 years old who are too small to be restrained by a seatbelt properly adjusted and fastened are strongly recommended to use an approved booster seat children in booster seats must be restrained by a suitable lap and sash type approved seatbelt that is properly adjusted and fastened or by a suitable. If you need help installing your car seat trust a professional and find a car seat inspection station near you. Booster seat laws are incorporated into the general state laws for child passenger safety so your use of a car seat or a booster seat will generally be based upon your individual child. Thats usually 30 to 60 pounds 136 to. Keep in mind that many convertible car seats and combination car seats have forward facing weight limits of 65 to 80 pounds when used with harness straps. Kids can next move to a belt positioning booster seat when they reach the weight and height harness strap limits of their forward facing car seat.
Car seat laws in iowa set specific standards for certain age groups with weight or height restrictions also considered within the law. Visit our main car seat safety page for additional age weight and height guidelines. The state also recommends that they stay in a booster seat until they are 100 pounds in weight or 49 in height although this is not mandatory.