Seatbelt Booster Seats

Children under seven years of age must travel in a harnessed car seat(type B/G) or a seatbelt booster. Tidy Riders recommends children are transitioned to a type F seatbelt booster once they have completely outgrown an extended harnessing (type G) restraint. Tidy Riders recommends that children are not transitioned to a seatbelt booster until they are at least 6 years old.

 

A seatbelt booster's primary function is to correctly position the vehicle seat belt across the child's body. There are several types of seatbelt boosters available:

  • Type B/E and B/F car seats are convertible booster seats that offer a forward facing position with a 6 point harness until around four years old, then convert to a seatbelt booster. 
  • Type E booster seats can be used until a child is around 8 years old - The same exit height as a type G restraint. 
  • Type F booster seats are know as 'high exit marker booster seats' can be used until a child is around 10 years old however many children can continue using a type F booster well beyond 10 years old. Tidy Riders recommend that children only begin travelling without a booster seat once they pass the "5 step test", and should continue using a seatbelt booster as long as they comfortably fit in one. 

Pros

Lightweight and easy to install and are available in untethered options, suited to vehicles without an anchor point

Less complicated to install than a harnessed car seat, which may be useful for people who share car seats ie a babysitter or support worker

Children can independently fasten their own seatbelt without needing an adult to tighten it

Booster seats can reduce the risk of serious injury by up to 45% when compared to a child travelling without a restraint using a seatbelt only

Cons

Provides significantly reduced protection in comparison to a harnessed restraint, and offers minimal lateral/positional support

More concentrated distribution of force across the body increasing the risk of injury to the head, neck and other vulnerable areas such as the abdomen

Many children lack the discipline to sit correctly in a seatbelt booster for more that several minutes

Booster seats increase the risk of injury in 4-7 year olds by up to 70% when compared to a fully harnessed car seat

Who can travel in a seatbelt booster?

Infants can travel in a capsule from birth and will typically outgrow the carrier between 6-12 months old depending on the restraint.

An infant older than 12 months can continue to use their capsule if their shoulders are below the upper height markers.

However, many parents choose to transition their infant to an extended rear facing (A4) car seat before they outgrow the capsule. Once an infant becomes too heavy to comfortably carry in the carrier, you may decide to retire the capsule. Capsules can be bulky, whereas a compact 0-4 car seat may give you more space in you back seat. 

Will I need additional hardware to install my booster seat?

In some situations, you may need to use additional hardware in order to achieve a secure installation. This might include top tether extensions, or anchor points.

Your installer will discuss this with you at the time of installation. 

Should I add any accessories to my booster?

The short answer is, no. Manufacturers recommend only using the accessories that come with the restraint unless absolutely necessary and only using approved accessories if you do. For example, the "Infasecure Piddle Pad" can be use with some Infasecure restraints. However, it should not be used with restraints not manufacured by Infasecure.

H-harnesses are no longer recomended for use and have been discontinued.

NEVER use aftermarket neck pillows, seatbelt covers, head positioners, seatbent extenders or other similar accessories. These may impact the correct funtioning of the restraint and could create strangulation or suffocation risks.

When can my child stop using a seatbelt booster?

Legally, a child must be restrained in a hearnessed car seat or seatbelt booster until they are at least 7 years old. However, a child should continue using a seatbelt booster as long as they fit in one. 

Once a child has outgrown a high exit marker seatbelt booster and passes the 5 step test, typically around 10-12 years old, they may begin using the vehicle seat and adult seatbelt.

See the videos above for further information.