Safety Agency Tests Booster Seats

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Choosing a booster seat to keep their children safe can be a confusing and daunting task for parents.

But help is mouse click away.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) recently tested all of the newest and current child safety seats on the market to see which offered the best protection. Of the 31 booster seats tested for fit, 19 received the agency's highest rating.

"The booster seat will properly position the lap and shoulder belts, so that the lap belt lies flat against the upper thighs and the shoulder belt lies firmly in the middle of the shoulder," said Jessica Jermakian, a senior research scientist with the IIHS.

Click Here for a list of the top rated models.

Evelyn Juarez makes sure her four year old son Orlando is buckled up before she gets behind the wheel.

"It's extremely important because you're relying on it. That's the only safety you have when you're in the car," said Juarez.

She's now in the market for a new booster seat for her son. The seats are designed for four to eight year olds who have outgrown child seats but still need to be lifted so that seat belts fit properly.

Juarez said she plans to buy one of the top rated models.

"I have been in accidents myself and I know I rely on that seatbelt to keep me in place, so I rely on that booster for my kids to stay in place," said Juarez.

Studies have shown that children in booster seats are 45 percent less likely to get hurt in a crash compared to kids who buckle up without one.