Children Too Big for Child Seats

Children who are large enough to wear the shoulder belt comfortably, and whose legs are long enough to bend over the front of the seat when their back is against the seatback, should use the vehicle seat belt in the rear seat. Use this simple 5-step test to decide whether a child can use the vehicle seat belt without a booster seat:

1. 1
   Can the child sit all the way back against the vehicle seatback?
2. 2
   Do the child's knees bend comfortably over the front edge of the vehicle seat cushion while the child is still sitting all the way back?
3. 3
   Does the shoulder belt cross the child's shoulder between the neck and arm?
4. 4
   Does the lap belt sit as low as possible, touching the child's hips and not the stomach?
5. 5
   Can the child stay seated this way for the whole trip?

If the answer to any of these questions is "no," the child still needs to use a booster seat in this vehicle. If the child uses the lap/shoulder belt, check the belt fit periodically and make sure the buckle is latched.

If the child slouches or moves around, the belt may shift. If the shoulder belt touches the face or neck, move the child closer to the center of the vehicle, or use a booster seat to correctly position the seat belt on the child.