Health and transportation experts agree that booster seats reduce the risk of transportation-related injury to children. Currently in Alberta, there is no law requiring the use of booster seats among children who have outgrown their forward-facing child safety seats. The Canadian Paediatric Society and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend booster seats for children who outgrow their forward-facing child safety seat. As a health care professional, it is important to talk to your clients about the benefits and importance of using a booster seat for their child while traveling.

Key Messages

• When a child outgrows their forward-facing car seat with a harness (by height or weight), they should move to a booster seat.
• A child is safest in a booster seat until they reach the maximum height or weight limit of the booster seat.
• Use a booster seat until the vehicle lap and shoulder seat belt fits properly; this is typically when your child is 145 cm (4 ft. 9 in.) tall and between 8 and 12 years of age.
• Advise parents to review the Car Seat Guidelines in Alberta available on MyHealth.Alberta.ca.