when can a child stop using a booster seat in washington state

If your vehicle has lap-only seatbelts in the rear seats keep your child in a harnessed car seat as long as possible. Children 8-years of age or at least 49 who wear a seat belt MUST use it correctly never under the arm or behind the back or continue to use a booster.

Washington State Car Seat Laws 2022 Current Laws Safety Resources For Parents Safe Convertible Car Seats

A rear-facing car seat has a harness and will protect your childs head neck and spine.

. Aged 4 years to under 7 years seated in either a forward-facing child seat or booster seat restrained by a fastened seatbelt or child safety harness. Keep your child in a rear-facing car seat for as. Booster seats are now required until children are 8.

Children over forty pounds or who have reached the upper weight limit for their forward-facing car seat must use a child seat with harness or a booster to 49 tall or age eight and the adult belt fits correctly. Youre probably looking closer to 10 or 12 years old. Shoulder belts must be used with booster seats at all times.

Children from the age of four who are shorter than 4 9 must be in a properly secured booster seat. Four years and older. Children between 4 and 10 would have been required to use a booster seat until they are at least 4 feet 9.

Children under 13 must be. Children who are over 4 9 and 812 years old must be secured in a well-adjusted seatbelt. Starting in 2020 children under age 2 in Washington State must use rear-facing car seats.

Children up to age 2 must be properly secured in a rear-facing car seat. Proper seat belt fit typically does not occur until children are age 912. Children 2 to 4 years old must be in a forward-facing car seat with a five-point harness.

The best way to determine when your child is ready to stop sitting in a booster seat and use only a seat belt in a car is to use the 5-Step Test detailed below. Eight to 12 years. Booster seat laws often follow this pattern where a child can legally move out of a booster seat when they reach 8 years old or 80 pounds or 49 whichever comes first.

Washingtons Child Passenger Restraint Law RCW 4661687 requires. Rear-facing car seat for infants and toddlers. Vehicles that have lap-only seatbelts are exempt from the use of a booster seat.

Washingtons new car and booster seat regulations go into effect in 2020 Local dnews. Children over 4 years but under 4 feet 9 inches tall must be in a booster seat. Most children cannot be trusted to sit properly until at least five years old.

That typically wont happen until theyre about. It could be that a child might need a booster seat in one vehicle but not another. Enhanced enforcement programs.

A child is exempt from the booster seat law requirement only when a child weighs 40 pounds or more and is in a vehicle with lap-only belts. A lot of kids in Washington are riding in booster seats again thanks to a new set of child restraint laws. Many parents find that their child is actually much older than four before they can be expected to sit still in a booster.

Children 4 and older must ride in a car or booster seat until they are 4 9 tall. Once your child outgrows their car seat theyll still need a booster seat to help them properly fit your cars own seat and safety belt until theyre over 57 inches 145 cm tall. Aged 7 years to 16 years are either in a suitable child seat or a seatbelt.

When state residents claim the updated booster seat laws would require a teenager or petite adult to ride in a booster seat its often because theyve misread the or for. Kids arent ready to make the go from a booster seat to a seat belt until the lap and shoulder belts fit them properly. Helps reduce injuries and deaths by requiring children who have outgrown car seats to use booster seats through age 8 years or until seat belts fit properly.

Seat belt fit can vary by vehicle so check fit in all vehicles to make sure the child no longer needs to use a booster seat. Aged under 7 years must not be in the front row of seats if the vehicle has two or more rows of seats. A child is exempt from the booster seat law requirement only when a child weighs 40 pounds or more and is in a vehicle with lap-only belts.

For child passenger safety are similar to those used for seat belt use see above. A 5-point harness gives the best protection for your child. Effective programs are short-term highly.

Booster seat provisions. Updated Car Seat Rules For Washington In 2020 Under the expanded regulations many kids will require a booster seat until 10 to 12 years old. House Bill 1012 says a child must remain in a booster until the vehicle lap and shoulder seat belts fit properly typically when the child is.

Children ages 2-4 years must ride in a car seat with a harness rear or forward facing. Dont make the switch based solely on height or age. OLYMPIA In less than a week some kids may need to remain in booster seats well into middle school.

It could be older than 8 years old now before a child outgrows a booster seat.

The New Law Would Require A Child To Remain In A Booster Seat Until They Are 4 9 R Seattlewa

Booster Seats