Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital is calling on Florida lawmakers to require children to remain in booster seats until age 8 or until they reach 4 feet 9 inches tall, up from the current cutoff of age 5.

Two bills were introduced in the Florida Legislature in 2026 to raise the booster seat requirement from age 5 to age 8, but neither advanced to a final vote. The hospital says it plans to push for the same change in the next legislative session.

Injury prevention program manager Petra Stanton said the issue is more common than many parents realize. She noted that booster seats are underused, and that children who should be in a booster but are not are among those the hospital sees hurt most often.

Without a proper fit, a standard seatbelt can cause serious harm. Stanton said improper belt placement can lead to abdominal injuries and damage to internal organs, and that children often tuck the shoulder strap behind their back to avoid neck contact — eliminating upper body protection entirely.

Experts say the belt fits correctly only when the shoulder strap crosses the collarbone, the child’s back is flat against the seat, knees bend at the seat’s edge, feet touch the floor, and the lap belt rests across the thighs rather than the stomach.

The story of Gabe Aliotta, a 10-year-old fourth-grader, illustrates the issue. Despite his age, his height and weight mean that a standard seatbelt does not fit him properly, and he continues to use a backless booster seat. His mother noticed the belt riding up toward his neck before returning him to the booster.

The hospital says parents should use the fit test — not a child’s age — as the primary guide for when to make the transition.

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