Booster seats can save a child's life during a crash, but a new survey finds most parents stop using the seats too soon.
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"Nine in 10 parents admitted to us that they in fact move their child before they are ready."
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The group, Safe Kids Worldwide says children should be at least 4' 9" and weigh between 80 and 100 pounds before they are allowed to ride without a booster seat. A fact that about 70% of parents surveyed didn't know.
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"The booster seat will properly position the lap and shoulder belt so the lap belt lies flat across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt lies firmly in the middle of the shoulder."
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But when an undersized child is allowed to ride without a booster seat, the seat belt itself can actually hurt them in a crash.
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"If the child isn't tall enough the lap belt will be on their abdomen and the shoulder belt could hit their neck or their face. And if there was a crash then that child could have serious abdominal injuries, neck injuries or maybe even face lacerations."
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Many parents admit not using booster seats because it's inconvenient during short rides or in car pools.
But safety experts say they need to be used during every ride.
Research has shown booster seats can reduce the risk of serious injury by 45% compared to seatbelts alone, for kids 4 to 8 years old.
