Can my child use just the vehicles seat belts when hes too big for the car seat?
No. The next step after a convertible or forward-facing car seat is a booster seat. Vehicle seat belts are designed for a 160 lb. adult man and will not fit a child correctly until he’s around age 9 and close to 5′ tall. A booster seat will boost the child up so that the lap belt will fit over his hips more safely and the shoulder belt will fit properly across his chest. Aside from the booster being the smart next step for a child, many states now have laws requiring booster use. Click here to see when your child is ready for a vehicle’s seat belts. Never use a booster seat with a lap-only belt if you are not using a harness. The child could receive severe abdominal and head injuries in a crash. There are several options on the market now for bigger kids who must sit in a lap-only belt position. (Source: SBS USA, Car-Safety.
No. The next step after a convertible or forward-facing car seat is a booster seat. Vehicle seat belts are designed for a 160 lb. adult man and will not fit a child correctly until he’s around age 9 and close to 5′ tall (or close to being adult-sized). A booster seat will boost the child up so that the lap belt will fit over his hips more safely and the shoulder belt will fit properly across his chest and shoulder. Aside from the booster being the smart next step for a child, many states now have laws requiring booster use. Click here to see when your child is ready for a vehicle’s seat belts. Never use a booster seat with a lap-only belt if you are not using a harness. The child could receive severe abdominal and head injuries in a crash. There are several higher weight harness options on the market now for bigger kids who must sit in a lap-only belt position.
