According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), vehicle booster seats are made for children who have outgrown their forward-facing car seats, usually at around age four or 40 pounds.  A recent NHTSA survey shows that most youngsters are not properly protected.  In 2006, among children ages four to seven. . .

• Only 41 percent used car booster seats.
• 17 percent rode in other types of child safety seats.
• 33 percent used regular safety belts-which are dangerous for young children.
• 9 percent weren't restrained at all.

Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. , who supplied this information, adds: These seats "boost" children up so car safety belts fit properly across the hips.  A child using a regular safety belt that hits at the waist risks serious injury to internal organs and the spinal cord in a crash.  Information from the NHTSA says that using booster seats lowers the risk of injury to children by 59 percent.

My neice Lori says the booster seats are easy to change from one car to the next and that her girls always use them. Good going, Lori,  and all you other mothers who are keeping your kids as safe as you possibly can.

The Schoolmarm