This means the lap belt
lies across the upper thighs, not stomach, and the shoulder belt lies across the shoulder and chest, not the neck or face.
The results of the study suggest that the lap belt should be
wrapped across the upper thighs of the child as they are stronger and the chances of a serious injury is far less.
A booster seat will lift your child so that the seat belt hits all of the proper points to keep your child safe — over the sternum, through the center of the collarbone, and
then across the upper thighs.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention («CDC») recommends using age - and size - appropriate child restraints (including child safety seats and booster seats) in the back seat until adult seat belts fit properly (i.e., when the lap belt
lays across the upper thighs, not the stomach; and the shoulder belt lays across the shoulder and chest, not the neck or face), which normally occurs after a child is at least age 8 years or ≥ 57 inches (145 cm) tall.
The lap belt must lie
snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach; the shoulder belt should lie snugly across the shoulder and chest and not cross the neck or face.3
The shoulder belt should lie snugly across the shoulder, not the neck; the lap belt should
fit across the upper thighs, not the tummy; and she should be able to place her feet flat on the car floor while sitting back against the seat.
Boosters raise a child up in the car so the seat belt fits correctly in that way (over the sternum and the center of the collarbone, not the neck and low
across the upper thighs, rather than the abdomen).
Remember, you'd know seat belts are appropriate for your child if the lap belt is just
across their upper thighs, and if the shoulder belt is across their chest.
If there is a seat belt, secure
it across your upper thighs.
If there is a seat belt, secure
it across your upper thighs just below your hips.