I just learned that as of June 30th, the new law in Maryland is that any child under the age of 8 or 4'9" must be in a booster. This is the recommended height and age and is law in some states and catching on in others. Do you know what your state's law is? Check it out. I will admit, I am totally guilty of moving my older kids to a booster and out of a booster too soon. But, I have learned a lot and my 12yo is now in a backless booster. My 9yo has both a backless booster and a highback booster. My 4 yo is the proud owner of two Sunshine Kids Radians, while my almost 2 yo rides rear-facing in a Marathon and forward facing in a Roundabout.

Buying a car seat is a big task. There is no single perfect seat. The best seat is the one that fits your child and your car and that is used correctly every time. There is not a single seat that will take your child from birth to age 8, you will need to purchase more than one seat.

It's best to keep your child rear-facing as long as possible. Yes, beyond the first birthday. In fact, keep your child rear facing until they reach the rear-facing limits of the seat. My favorite rear-facing seat is the Britax Marathon. Yes, it is a big seat, but the rear-facing limit is 35 pounds. For an older child (over one year), you can install the seat more upright instead of the recommended 45-degree angle if space is an issue. There are cheaper seats that are also great options, one being the Cosco Scenera.

For an older child, above the 25 pound mark, keeping them harnessed as long as possible is safest. My favorite high weight harness seat is the Sunshine Kids Radian. This seat is narrow, so not ideal for a broad child. If you need to get three seats in a row in your vehicle, a Radian is almost a must. This seat is heavy, but easy to travel with since it folds nicely. It can be a bit tricky to install, but once you get the hang of it, it's a breeze.

New to the market are seats that have a high weight harness and then convert to a booster. The pricey Britax Frontier seems to have issues with getting installed, so be prepared to play around with it if you choose to get this one. The Graco Nautilus, while easier to install, doesn't seem as sturdy as the Frontier, but is definately cheaper. The Frontier will harness to 80 pounds, then becomes a high back booster until 100 pounds. The Nautilus harnesses to 65 pounds, then converts to either a high back booster or a low back booster until 100 pounds.

Before you decide to move from a booster, be sure to take the 5-step test.

The 5 Step Test
If you answer "No" to any of these questions, your child must be in a booster seat:
1. Does the child sit all the way back against the auto seat?
2. Do the child's knees bend comfortably at the edge of the auto seat?
3. Is the lap belt touching the top of the thighs, not the tummy?
4. Is the shoulder belt centered on the shoulder and chest?
5. Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip?
BELT-POSITIONING BOOSTERS CAN NOT be used with only a lap belt!

If you need help in choose the right seat, my friends over at the Car Seat Safety Board will be happy to help you! They are always ready to hear your dilemma and offer advice on what you should try. Be sure to do your own research as well. You'll want to consider things such as "extended rear facing", "high weight harness seats", "recalls" and "tethers and latches". Take the time to educate yourself and protect your child. While you may have sticker shock at times, just remember this is your child's life at stake. Every step up in car seats is a step down in safety. You wouldn't allow your child to argue with you over playing in the street or running with a knife, why argue over carseats? It's not a child's decision, it's a parent's decision. Don't stop carseat use just because your child throws a fit, find the right seat and require it's use always.

I'm going to close with a few Youtube videos well worth watching

• The Importance of Rear Facing
• 5 Point Harness vs. Booster
• Adult Belt is Not Enough