Ford Escape Quiz
Child Safety

Booster Seats

In this manual: Child Safety
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~2min read

Use a booster seat with the seat belt for children who have outgrown or no longer properly fit a child restraint, and meet the following criteria.

  • Generally, children under 57 in (1.45 m) in height.
  • Older than four (4) years and younger than twelve (12) years.
  • From 40 lb (18 kg) up to 80 lb (36 kg) and above, up to 100 lb (45 kg).

Many state and provincial laws require that children use approved child seats until they reach eight years of age, 57 in (1.45 m) in height, or 80 lb (36 kg).

Use a booster seat until you can answer yes to all of these questions when seated without a booster:

Ford Escape. Booster Seats
  • Can the child sit all the way back against the vehicle seatback with knees bent comfortably at the edge of the seat cushion?
  • Can the child sit without slouching?
  • Does the lap belt lie low across the hips?
  • Does the shoulder belt lie across the center of the shoulder and chest?
  • Can the child stay in this position for the entire trip?

Always use booster seats in combination with the vehicle lap and shoulder belts.

Types of Booster Seats

Ford Escape. Booster Seats
  • Backless Boosters

If your backless booster seat has a removable shield, remove the shield. If the vehicle seat has a low seatback or no head restraint, a backless booster may place your child's head, measured at the tops of the ears, above the top of the seat. In this case, move the backless booster to another seat position with a higher seatback or head restraint and lap and shoulder belts, or consider using a high-back booster seat.

Ford Escape. Booster Seats
  • High-Back Boosters

If you cannot find a seating position that adequately supports your child's head with a backless booster, a high-back booster seat will be the better choice.

Child restraints and booster seats vary in size and shape. Choose a booster that keeps the lap belt low and snug across the hips, never up on the stomach, and allows you to adjust the shoulder belt so that it crosses the chest and lies comfortably near the center of the shoulder.

The following illustrations compare the correct fit with a shoulder belt that is uncomfortably close to the neck and a shoulder belt that may slip off the shoulder. The illustrations also show how the lap belt should lie low and snug across the child's hips.

Ford Escape. Booster Seats

If the booster slides on the vehicle seat it is used on, placing a non-slip mat or rug-type liner under the booster seat may improve this condition. Do not use items thicker than this under the booster seat. Check the child seat manufacturer's instructions.

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