When it comes to car safety, some questions require more than a quick "sound bite" answer. A good example is the response to the question, "Does your child need a booster seat in the car?" We often are given an age or weight requirement to help determine the answer. However, the answer to boosters isn't that cut and dried, as both kids and cars differ greatly. For instance, if you have ever been to a third grade music recital, you will have noticed the varied heights, proportions, and weights of children within the same age group. To top it off, the position of a vehicle's safety belt varies from car to car, too.

Irrespective of your child's weight or age, this five-step test will help you decide if a booster seat is appropriate.

1. Does the child sit all the way back against the seat of your car?
2. Do the child's knees bend comfortably at the edge of the car's seat?
3. Does the belt cross the shoulder between the neck and the arm?
4. Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs?
5. Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip?

If you answered "no" to any of the above, then it is time to consider a booster seat for your child. More often than you think, families tend to skip a step and transition their children from their car seats directly to using the vehicle's safety belts. They simply don't realize that a poorly fitting lap belt that rides up on the soft tummy could actually result in serious, permanent injuries. Booster seats, when used correctly, help prevent such injuries or even deaths by making the vehicle safety belt fit your child more effectively. So, no matter what reason you need to give your child for sitting in a booster seat--a better view, a more comfortable seat, or simply safety--you know, for your own peace of mind, that it is to preserve your child's health and future. Remember, boosters are for big kids!