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Booster Seats:
An Urgent Need for Preschoolers Part Two
By Brenda Ruggiero
Don't Use Substitutes
Never use pillows, books, towels or other objects to boost a child, since they can easily slide around.
Recalls
Always send in the seat's registration card so the manufacturer can contact you if there is a recall. If your seat is not registered, you can check for recalls by calling the DOT Auto Safety Hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT or by visiting the NHTSA Web site. You will need to know the model number and manufacture date of the seat -- information that is printed on a label somewhere on the seat. Second-hand seats with missing labels should not be used, since there is no way of knowing if there is a recall.
Used Seats
If you decide to use a second-hand booster seat, it is important to know that it has not been involved in a crash. Small defects are not always apparent when you inspect a seat, but can be significant enough to reduce the seat's protection. In addition, most manufacturers recommend that seats be retired after five years of use. If you do not know the seat's history, it is better to buy a new one.
Photos from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Used with permission.
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