Ah yes, the age old question for any parent with young children: when can I rid my car of this terrible booster seat safely? Although it is extremely important for children to use booster seats, it doesn’t change the fact that booster seats a true hassle—not only do they take up space, they also are such a pain to install and re-install! So we’re glad you’re here—knowing what age your child can travel without a booster seat isn’t a cut and dry answer, so we’re here to help you navigate through the process of determining when your child can travel without a booster seat once and for all.

En este artículo, incluiré las leyes y estatutos individuales de cada estado que deben seguirse con respecto a los asientos elevados. ¡Es importante saberlo para que viaje legalmente con sus hijos a medida que crezcan!

También incluiré en este artículo formas de asegurar que viaja de manera segura con su hijo, ya que las leyes y estatutos estatales no siempre incluyen este conocimiento. ¡Vea a continuación una prueba fácil de 5 pasos sobre cómo ver si su hijo está listo para viajar sin un asiento elevador!

¿A qué edad puede viajar un niño sin un asiento elevador legalmente?

Hay dos tipos de sugerencias cuando se trata de la edad en la que un niño puede viajar sin un asiento elevado: legal la edad en la que un niño puede hacerlo y la edad en la que un niño puede hacerlo de manera segura. En algunos estados es mejor exigir que un niño se siente en un asiento elevado hasta que sea seguro no hacerlo que en otros.

If you’re a parent looking to find the legal age your child can travel without a booster seat, see the list below for your state. There is paraphrased information on the legal age a child must use a booster seat for each state in this article—click on the hyperlink for your state for more detailed information.

• Alabama – children must use booster seat until age 6
• Alaska – children must use booster seat until age 8 or until at least 65 pounds in weight
• Arizona – children must use booster seat/child restraint system until age 8 or until 4 feet and 9 inches in height
• Arkansas – children must use booster seat/child restraint system until age 6 or until at least 60 pounds in weight
• California – children must use booster seat/child restraint system until age 8 or until 4 feet and 9 inches in height
• Colorado – children must use booster seat/child restraint system until age 16
• Connecticut – children must use booster seat/child restraint system until age 8 or until at least 60 pounds in weight
• Delaware – children must use booster seat until age 8 or until at least 65 pounds in weight
• Florida – children must use child restraint system until age 6
• Georgia – children must use child restraint system until age 8 or until at least 4 feet and 9 inches in height
• Hawai – children must use booster seat/child restraint system until age 8 or until at least 4 feet and 9 inches in height
• Idaho – children must use child restraint system until age 6
• Illinois – children must use child restraint system until age 8
• Indiana – children must use child restraint system until age 8
• Iowa – children must use child restraint system until age 6
• Kansas – children must use child restraint system until age 8 or until 80 pounds in weight or 4 feet and 9 inches in height
• Kentucky – children must use child restraint system until age 8 or until at least 57 inches in height
• Luisiana – children must use child restraint system until age 9
• Maine – children must use child restraint system until age 8 or until at least 80 pounds in weight or at least 57 inches in height
• Maryland – children must use booster seat until age 8
• Massachusetts – children must use booster seat until age 8 or at least 57 inches in height
• Michigan – children must use booster seat until age 8 or until at least 4 feet and 9 inches in height
• Minnesota – children must use child restraint system until age 8 or at least 4 feet and 9 inches in height
• Misisipí – children must use child restraint system until age 7
• Misuri – children must use child restraint system until age 8 or at least 80 pounds in weight or 4 feet and 9 inches in height
• Montana – children must use child safety restraint until age 6 or at least 60 pounds in weight
• Nebraska – children must use child safety restraint until age 8
• Nevada – children must use child safety restraint until age 6 or at least 60 pounds in weight
• New Hampshire – children must use child restraint system until age 7 or at least 57 inches in height
• New Jersey – children must use booster seat until age 8 or at least 57 inches in height
• Nuevo Mexico – children must use child restraint system until age 6 or at least 60 pounds in weight
• Nueva York – children must use child restraint system until age 8
• Carolina del Norte – children must use booster seat until age 8 or at least 80 pounds in weight
• Dakota del Norte – children must use booster seat until age 8
• Ohio – children must use booster seat until age 8 or until 4 feet and 9 inches in height
• Oklahoma – children must use child restraint system until age 8
• Oregón – children must use booster seat until at least 40 pounds in weight or at least 4 feet and 9 inches in height
• Pensilvania – children must use booster seat until age 8
• Rhode Island – children must use child restraint system until age 8 or until at least 57 inches in height or 80 pounds in weight
• Carolina del Sur – children must use booster seat until age 8 or at least 57 inches in height
• Dakota del Sur – children must use booster seat until age 5
• Tennesse – children must use booster seat until age 8 or until at least 4 feet and 9 inches in height
• Texas – children must use booster seat until age 8 or at least 4 feet and 9 inches in height
• Utah – children must use booster seat until age 8 or at least 57 inches in height
• Vermont – children must use booster seat until age 8
• Virginia – children must use child restraint device until age 7
• Washington – children must use booster seat until age 8 or until at least 4 feet and 9 inches in height
• Washington DC – children must use child restraint system until age 8
• Virginia del Oeste – children must use child safety device until age 8
• Wisconsin – children must use booster seat until age 8 or until 80 pounds in weight or 57 inches in height
• Wyoming – children must use child restraint system until age 8

The above information provides just a paraphrased version of the laws and statutes for each state—some states have very detailed information on the different types of restraints that children should use as they grow up. If you are looking for more information on laws regarding seat belts, car seating for infants, when your child can sit in the front passenger seat, and more, click on your hyperlinked state.

¿A qué edad puede viajar un niño de forma segura sin un asiento elevador?

There is a difference between what the state requires and what is recommended by professionals when it comes to child travel safety. There are many different facets that must be looked at before determining if a child is ready to travel without a booster seat. You cannot simply look at age alone—because each child is unique, it is important to look at each child’s weight and height before deciding if they are ready to be without a booster seat!

It is important to note that there are many, many different types of car seats for children. Let’s take a quick look at the different types of seat below:

• Orientado hacia atrás: este tipo de asiento para el automóvil se recomienda para bebés y niños pequeños
• Orientado hacia adelante: este tipo de asiento de cuidado se recomienda para niños pequeños y niños en edad preescolar; Los profesionales recomiendan asientos de seguridad orientados hacia adelante con arneses para estas edades.
• Booster: this type of car seat is usually backless and simply elevates a child in a car seat; boosters use your vehicle’s seat belt to buckle them in properly—boosters are usually recommended for children between the ages of 4 and 8

Los asientos elevados suelen ser el último tipo de asiento para el automóvil que usan los niños antes de poder sentarse en el automóvil usando solo los cinturones de seguridad. Hay asientos elevados con y sin respaldo, y depende de cada padre individual determinar qué es lo más seguro para su hijo.

Professionals recommend that children use booster seats until between the ages of 8 and 12. But that’s a big age gap—which age is best to stop using a booster seat?

La mejor edad está determinada por el peso y la altura de su hijo, como lo sugieren algunos estados en sus leyes y estatutos. Los profesionales generalmente recomiendan que un niño use un asiento elevador hasta que haya alcanzado la altura de 4 pies y 9 pulgadas.

Una forma fácil de comprobar si su hijo está listo para viajar sin un asiento elevado de forma segura

Afortunadamente para los padres, existe una manera fácil de ver si un niño está listo para dejar de usar un asiento elevado. Pruebe esta prueba de 5 pasos con su hijo. Haga que su hijo se siente en el automóvil sin un asiento elevado y abrochelo con una hebilla normal para automóvil.

1. ¿Dónde descansa el cinturón de seguridad de su hijo? ¿Descansa en la mitad del pecho y en la mitad de su hombro?
2. ¿Puede su hijo sentarse con las nalgas hasta el respaldo del asiento?
3. Can your child’s feet touch the floor with their knees bending at the edge of the car seat?
4. Does the lap of the seat belt rest across your child’s hips and upper thighs?
5. ¿Puede su hijo sentarse así cómodamente durante el viaje que necesite?

If you answer no to any of these questions, your child likely isn’t ready to travel without a booster seat quite yet. Wait at least 3-4 months before trying this test out again. Children grow fast!

But what if my child can legally ride without a seat belt but didn’t pass this test?

You are not legally required to use a booster seat if your child fits the legal requirements of your state. We aren’t here to tell you want to do—it is up to you as a parent to determine what is best for your child! With this in mind, this five-step test is to determine whether or not it is safe for your child to travel without a booster seat.

Professionals recommend that you wait until your child passes this test before ridding the booster seat for your child’s safety. Don’t worry—it’s only a matter of time until your child is ready to travel without one!

Conclusión

When it comes to booster seats, any parent, babysitter, or nanny can tell you just how annoying they are. But it is important to follow the laws of your state and test for your child’s safety before getting rid of the booster seat. In this article, we provided information on the various laws and statutes that each state holds surrounding child safety in vehicles.

Aunque algunos estados son excelentes para crear leyes que tengan en cuenta la seguridad de los niños basándose en opiniones profesionales, otros no. En este artículo, proporcionamos una prueba de 5 pasos que puede usar fácilmente para probar y ver si su hijo está listo para viajar sin un asiento elevador.

Esperamos viajes seguros para usted y su familia, y esperamos que este artículo haya podido brindarle una idea de cómo viajar de manera legal y segura con o sin un asiento elevado.