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Quantifying Naturalistic Changes in Occupant Postures in Belt-Positioning Booster Seats Utilizing Pressure Mats

Rosalie Connell1,2, Gretchen H Connell1, Julie A Mansfield1

  • 1Injury Biomechanics Research Center, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

Stapp Car Crash Journal
|December 22, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Children in belt-positioning booster seats (BPBs) tend to slouch forward over time, shifting their center of force significantly. High-profile BPBs showed less posture change, potentially reducing injury risks like submarining.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric safety
  • Biomechanics
  • Human factors engineering

Background:

  • Belt-positioning booster seats (BPBs) are crucial for ensuring proper seat belt fit for children.
  • Child occupant posture in BPBs significantly impacts their effectiveness and safety.
  • BPB design features can influence occupant posture over time.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantitatively analyze changes in children's postures within belt-positioning booster seats over time.
  • To investigate the influence of different BPB configurations on occupant posture using pressure mapping.
  • To identify potential correlations between posture changes and injury risks.

Main Methods:

  • Thirty children (ages 5-12) participated in 30-minute trials using various backless BPB configurations.
  • TekScan 5250 pressure mats recorded center of force (COF) data to track posture shifts.
  • Mixed models analyzed COF position changes relative to seating configuration, time, and individual characteristics.

Main Results:

  • Children exhibited a statistically significant average forward COF shift of 2.5 cm over 30 minutes.
  • No significant differences in average COF position were found across different seating configurations.
  • High-profile BPBs demonstrated the least maximum and cumulative forward COF translation, indicating more stable postures.

Conclusions:

  • Children's postures naturally change, tending towards slouching, during booster seat use.
  • BPB design, specifically profile height, can influence the degree of posture change.
  • Significant posture shifts may increase injury risks, such as submarining, highlighting the need for improved BPB designs.

Keywords:
belt-positioning boostersoccupant posturepediatric injury preventionpressure mat

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