At which age is it acceptable for a child to start using a booster seat?

A child can start using a booster seat at the age of 4, as this aligns with safety recommendations for child passenger safety. At this age, children typically outgrow their forward-facing car seats with a harness and are ready to transition to a booster seat. It is essential for the booster seat to be used until the child is big enough to fit in a seat belt properly, which generally happens around 8 to 12 years old, depending on the child's size.

Using a booster seat helps position the vehicle's seat belt correctly on the child's body, significantly reducing the risk of injury in the event of an accident. The guidelines regarding booster seat use are informed by extensive research on child safety and the biomechanics of how seat belts work with children's bodies.