New Questions on Booster Seats

Booster seats are supposed to keep children too old for child seats safe by positioning them so the seat belts fit. Now, comprehensive tests on these widely used products are raising new concerns about boosters.

According to a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, a number of booster seats don't do enough to protect children in a crash and could even contribute to internal injuries.
[Booster Seat Safety Concerns] Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

The Volvo booster seat.

In a report released today, the Insurance Institute said 13 of the 41 booster seats it tested performed so poorly that it can't recommend them. The research group, which is funded by the insurance industry, said it considers 10 models the "best bets," and five more models are good bets. The rest are fair.

Another key finding: Children's proportions and vehicle designs vary so much that even a good booster can be misused. Parents should make sure that a booster fits their child and their car before buying the seat.

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