Skip to main content An icon that symbolizes the United States Department of Transportation logo. United States Department of Transportation
        Report a Safety Problem

  Toggle navigation
      National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationNational Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationHomepage

    Ratings
                                Recalls
                                Risky Driving
                                Road Safety
                                Vehicle Safety
      
            More Info

                      Briefing Room
          
                        
            Importing a Vehicle
          
                                      
            
            Data
          
                        
            Research
          
                        
            Laws & Regulations
          
                    
                      Vehicle Manufacturers
                      State Governments
                      Enforcement & Justice Car Seats and Booster Seats
              
							
								How to Install an All-in-One Car Seat Used as a Booster


Language:
English
        Español
      Share:
  Facebook
  Twitter
  LinkedIn
  Mail




		Installation
  
       
  When your child outgrows the height or weight limits of the harness, remove the harness and use the seat as a booster. Be sure to carefully follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to convert your seat to a booster.

Some younger children may outgrow the weight or height limit of the forward-facing car seat with a harness but may not be ready to stay seated properly in a booster seat using the lap and shoulder belt. If this is the case, look for a harnessed car seat with a higher size limit.

 
  Converting Your Car Seat to a Booster Seat
		 
  Read the manufacturer’s instruction manual for your seat, and the portion of your vehicle owner’s manual on child restraint systems before you begin converting your all-in-one car seat to a booster seat. Because every car seat and vehicle is different, it’s important to follow all instructions carefully.
	Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to remove the harness.

 
  How to Use a Booster Seat
		 
  Place the booster in the back seat of your vehicle. Make sure the booster seat fits flat on the vehicle seat.
	Have your child sit in the booster seat.
	Pull the seat belt across your child’s body and buckle the seat belt.
	Make sure the belt fits your child properly. If the seat comes with seat belt guides, use them to achieve good belt positioning.
		Adjust the lap belt so it lies snugly across the child’s upper thighs, not across the stomach.
			Adjust the shoulder belt so it rests across the chest.
	Check the fit of the seat belt often.

 
  Best Practice
		 
  Continue using the booster seat until your child is big and mature enough to fit an adult seat beltproperly. Even if the child is not present, booster seats should be secured in the vehicle at all times. When not buckled in place, the booster seat can be tossed around the vehicle causing injury to vehicle occupants during a crash or sudden stop.
 NHTSA Information
              
              About NHTSA
          Careers & Internships
          Contact Us
          Recall Information
          Report a Safety ProblemInformation For
              
              Vehicle Manufacturers
          State Governments
          Enforcement & JusticeNHTSA Sites
              
        SaferCar App
          TrafficSafetyMarketing.gov
          EMS.gov
          911.gov
            Website Information
              
        Web Policies & Notices
          Accessibility
          FOIA
          Privacy Policy
          Information Quality
          Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
          No Fear Act Data
          Ethics
          Civil Rights
          Office of Inspector General
          OIG Hotline
          BusinessUSA
          USA.gov
          WhiteHouse.gov

            National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration
              1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
                Washington, D.C. 20590
              888-327-4236888-275-9171 (TTY)
              Twitter
                LinkedIn
                Facebook
                Youtube
                Instagram
        Submit Feedback >