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Article Think your child is big enough to ditch the booster seat? You might want to watch this first!

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8 Comments

This viral video is highlighting the importance of not being in a hurry to remove your child’s booster seat.

The clip shared on the Eastern Virginia Medical School, Facebook page has attracted over 4 million views and well over 100,000 shares.

The four minute video shows what happens to a nine year old child, without a booster seat, during a head on collision.

If you think your child might be ready to come out of their booster? Watch a short video here RACV produced which goes through a 5 step check.

Seatbelts are designed for people who are at least 145cm tall. To see if children are ready to stop using a booster seat and start using a seatbelt, use the 5 step test.

  • Their back is flat against the seat back
  • Their knees bend over the edge of the seat
  • The seatbelt sits across the middle of their shoulder
  • The seatbelt sits low across their hips and touches their thighs
  • The child can sit comfortably this way for the entire trip

**Warning some viewers may find this below video distressing**

Share your comments below.

MUST WATCH: How to tell if your child is seat belt ready

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Comments

  • Too much conflicting advice around. My daughter is in year 8 and turns 14 this year. According to this article she still would have to go in a booster seat. She was shocked when I let her read this story.

    Reply

  • The seatbelts in the front are not anchored at the same height or at the same angle as the ones in the back are either. As an adult in a mini-bus the seat belts do not go across the middle of your shoulder they come against or very close to your neck.

    Reply

  • I think that it is truly unfair to compare American Standards to Australian ones. Firstly, in the United States, for those who are truly safety conscious, you can get Child Seats that endanger treat facing well into the primary school years and forward facing right up to the end of the primary school years. We simply don’t have these available here in Australia.

    Also, our seats not only have height limitations (usually comparing the seat height to the temple of the child or similar, we also have weight restrictions. Equally often the weight limitations of the seat are the reason to move out of them, not always the height.

    It comes down to knowing all the restrictions of the car seats available to you and whether it’s your child’s height or wrought that it is dominant factor when shopping for them. As they get older, taking them in to the shops and having them there to compare options is always a practical step.

    Reply

  • I’ve just shown my 7 year old daughter this video. I’m thinking she may stop asking to come out of her booster seat for a while longer.

    Reply

  • One of my temporary foster kids turned 8 this year and the caseworker told her she now can go without booster seat, while I don’t agree…she’s far too little. But till they are 145cm tall ? My 13yr old is not even 145cm ! I should show my kids this video.

    Reply

  • Until he physically grows out of his seat he’s staying it it. Its just not worth the risk!

    Reply

  • Isn’t it the law in Victoria (AUS) for kids to be in boosters ubtil around 7 or 8 years old now?

    Reply

  • What a powerful video. Very important to keep the child on the booster’s seat for a little longer.

    Reply
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