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Here are the best-tested booster car seats to keep your child safe and comfortable on the road.
Best overall booster car seat
The Chicco KidFit can be used as a high back or a backless booster seat for older kids. This is made possible by the detachable backrest.
For safety, it comes with the duo zone head and shoulder-side impact protection. It also has a super clinch strap located at the front of the unit, which, when pulled, secures the seat tightly. These strong fasteners keep the seat in place and make it easy for the baby to get in or out.
The Chicco kid fit grows with your child, made possible with the height-adjustable feature. The height is adjustable from 38-57 inches and carries weight from 30-110 pounds. The backrest can also be adjusted to two positions.
Chicco KidFit has a contoured design and comes with an ergo boost double padding for maximum comfort. The ergonomic design is complemented with convenient features such as the 2 cup holders, which can be removed for easy cleaning. When not in use, the cup holders fold away to save space.
The removable seat pad and armrest covers are machine washable.
Generally, the Chicco KidFit checks all the boxes of a good booster seat. And its additional features make it more convenient for safety and comfort.
See more: Chicco KidFit 2-in-1 review
Best for long rides
The Evenflo chase seat comes with 4 different harness positions making it grow with your child. Once your baby is older, it converts from the 5- point harness to a belt-positioning car seat. This booster seat fits children from 22-110 pounds. It grows with your child from 28 inches to 57 inches. The 5-point harness is easily adjusted using the strap in the front of the seat, making it easy to get in and out.
It comes assured for safety as it has been tested to meet the federal safety standards. In addition, Evenflo chase comes with a latch system to securely hold the seat. This feature also makes it easy to install and transfer between multiple vehicles.
The Evenflo chase seat comes with cup holders on both sides, which are closely fitted to save space. This makes it possible to have 2-3 booster car seats at the back seat of your car.
The cozy removable head pillow is machine washable. On the other hand, the harness can be easily cleaned by wiping it down with mild soap and allowing it to air dry.
Overall, Evenflo is a great choice for a booster seat that grows with your child. With the robust adjustable harness positions, its durability will save you money in the future as it can be passed on to younger siblings.
See more: Evenflo Chase review
Best budget car seat
The Cosco Topside backless booster seat is extraordinarily light, weighing just 2.2 pounds. Its compact nature makes it very portable. Being just 15 inches wide, more than one Cosco backless seat can be fitted at the back of the car. Once placed on your car seat, it ensures no indentions are left.
This seat holds kids between 40-100 pounds and 43-57 inches in height hence suitable for growing kids. The Cosco topside backless seat padding comes with extra plush for comfortability.
However, it falls short in some of the areas as the seat cover can only be washed by hand. And it cannot be used in all cars as it has a check fit IIHS rating. Though, It mostly cannot be used in minivans where the seatbelt comes from the side panel.
The Cosco Topside seat also lacks extra features for convenience and comfort. It does not come with cup holders. Moreover, it lacks adjustable armrests for extra comfort.
All in all, if you are going for portability and comfort, Cosco Topside is the best choice due to its lightweight nature and the extra padding respectively. It brings both of these at an affordable price.
Best high back booster car seat
The Graco Affix booster seat also doubles down as a backless seat. It is easy to install and also the setting up process is a piece of a cake. The backrest is easily removed once your little one grows.. it comes with a front-adjust latch system to secure the booster seat to the car seat. Once the seat is secured in place, the kid can easily buckle up.
This seat is made of foam that absorbs energy for impact management and a multi-layered headrest for comfortability. In addition, height can be adjusted to keep your child comfortable and safe.
This booster seat comes with two cup holders and an extra storage section for convenience.
The Graco Affix Youth booster seat grows with your child. It is used as a high back booster seat at first then converted to a backless seat between 40 pounds and 100 pounds and 39 and 58 inches tall.
The fabric cover is machine washable but has to be air-dried.
The Graco Affix is a great narrow option, which means that two or three can be fitted at the back seat of the car. This booster seat is, however, a little too heavy, weighing in at 10 pounds. Although, this is not a problem for parents who do not move their booster seats around.
Overall, it is great value for money. Especially when considering all the features that it brings in while still prioritizing safety for your baby.
Best for minimal space
The Graco TurboBoster backless booster is IIHS ‘Best Bet’ rated. This means that it has been tested for safety in multiple vehicles. Apart from this, Graco carries out ts own rigorous crash tests to ensure that the child will be protected in any event of an accident. Therefore, it safely transports your ‘big kid’ from 43 inches to 57 inches tall and from 40 pounds to 100 pounds.
Unlike other backless booster seats, Graco does not compromise on extra features due to its small size. It comes with two cup holders on either side, which fold away to save space. It is only 16 inches wide once the two cup holders fold away.
Its portability is complemented by its lightweight and nature. Weighing in at only 5.1 pounds.
The armrest, which is adjustable, comes with covers that are removable to be run through the washing machine.
To our disappointment, the fabric of this backless booster seat is not durable. It gets worn quickly, more so with constant contact with a wiggly kid.
All in all, this backless booster seat gives some high back seats a run for their money due to its extra features. Such as the two foldable cup holders and adjustable armrest. It is definitely one of the best backless booster seats as it brings in portability and functionality at a good price.
The Evenflo AMP is a 2-in-1 booster seat with a removable back. Therefore, it grows with your child, and once he/she’s old enough, he/she could use the backless mode. It will hold your child between 30 – 100 pounds and 38 to 57 inches. The seat is easy to use as it can be adjusted to 6 different positions with just one hand for comfort.
Comfort is provided through the foam liners, which are shock absorbent. The foam liner will protect your child in case of an impact.
It comes with two cup holders strategically designed on either side to save space.
However, Evenflo AMP does not come with a LATCH system, unlike its competitors. This should not be a problem as long as the belt secures the baby on the lap and across his/her chest. Though to compensate for the lack of a LATCH system, it has an integrated belt guide. This achieves better positioning of the belt, which will tightly secure your child in one place.
Evenflo AMP does not come with too many extra features, as seen in other high back chairs. This is totally justified as it is available at an affordable price. However, its ability to grow with your child and adjust to 6 different positions is impressive.
See more: Evenflo BigKig AMP review
The Maxi Cosi Rodifix seat stands out due to its excessive padding. This extra padding will come in handy for long trips. Its sleek-cozy design is also topped off by a cradling headrest that holds your sleeping child’s head without letting it fall to the side. The seat keeps providing comfort for your growing child with the adjustable headrest.
The Maxi Cosi’s cover is removable and can be run through the washing machine. It also stands out as the removable pad is dryer safe, unlike its competitors, which require air drying.
For extra protection, the Rodflix booster has air protect technology.
The seat is made of a flexible material that can be squeezed together in case you want to fit more than one booster seat in the back.
Though the Maxi Cosi does not come with an armrest which is usually for enhancing comfortability. It, however, achieves this through its sleek hourglass design. Its unique shape gives your kids somewhere to place their hands.
The lack of armrest makes it easier for your child to buckle up. For this reason, it has a Best Bet IIHS rating, meaning it is not only safe but also easy for the child to get in and out.
The Maxi Cosi seat comes with a LATCH system for securely holding the seat in one place. However, this feature is not necessary as this booster can be secured with just a seat belt. You should always note that LATCH connectors are only used up to 65 pounds.
However, this chair is heavier than its peers; it weighs a little over 14 pounds. So it is recommended for parents who do not need to move it around. It also lacks cup holders.
With the reclining feature and the extra padded seat, this is hands down the best booster seat for comfort hence making it suitable for long travel.
Mifold Grab and Go booster seat is a compact and handy seat that is innovatively designed. With Mifold, you would never have to worry about your booster seat occupying too much space as it folds away. It will fit into your glove box and backpack. With a weight of 1.75 pounds, it is designed to be ten times smaller than other booster seats.
Due to its compact nature, three of them can fit in the back seat at once. The belt is easy to set up with just one hand, as the belt guides adjust swiftly. The belt guide is adjustable to securely fit children of all sizes.
Its small size does not take away its capability to provide safety for your child. It has been tested to keep your 4-year-old (and above) child safe throughout the journey.
Mifold booster seat has a solid design with a hard outer case to protect it in case of drops. If it gets dirty or stained, it is very easil clean it.
The Mifold seat is made with unique material to prevent sliding,
Mifold Grab and Go, is a unique booster car seat suitable for parents who do not want to go for the classic big size booster seat. It comes at a favorable size and is one of the most portable booster seats in the market.
Clek Ozzi is a backless booster seat that has a sleek design that will blend well with the interior of your car.
It is lightweight hence makes it easy to transport it from one car to another. To complement portability, it also comes with a handle making it easy to carry.
Even though it is small in size, it comes with additional features. It has a padded armrest to enhance comfort. And the seat cushion also provides comfort to your baby for a long time without them being numb.
It also comes with two drink holders on either side for convenience.
Unlike most backless boosters, it comes with a LATCH system. It has strong fasteners located in the seat rear that will keep the seat sturdy in case of a collision. The latch system also makes it easy and quick to install the chair. Its removal is just as easy as the installation due to the quick-release method.
The Clek Ozzi is a good option for parents who are looking for a booster seat with portability as well as extra features. It stands out from backless booster seat due to its LATCH system, which provides more security.
The spiderman design attracts kids, and it is the best option for younger kids as it transitions from a car seat to a booster seat once your baby grows older. For young kids, it comes with a 5- point harness protection with two points at the child’s hip, two points at each shoulder, and one point between the legs where the harness buckles.
It grows with your child due to the 3 harness positions, which can be easily adjusted to ensure the shoulder straps are on or above the shoulder.
The seat can be used for babies who weigh between 22 and 100 pounds and are 29 to 57 inches tall. For younger kids (22 to 65 pounds), they use the forward-facing mode with the 5 point harness. While for the ‘big kids’ it converts into a belt-positioning booster seat.
This seat does not fall short in safety. It has a Best Bet rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. And surpasses the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
For comfort, it comes with an adjustable headrest to three positions. The headrest is also equipped with energy-absorbing foam. The armrest is attached with two cup holders, designed to save space.
This booster seat is best for transitioning your baby from a front-facing car seat to a high back booster seat. However, the superhero design is not impressive for all babies. If your kid is not a spiderman but a marvel fan, he/she can choose from a variety of Marvel characters.
It is overall a good seat with all the additional features you would need from a booster seat.
The main purpose of a booster car seat is to protect your child in the event of a car crash. So the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) regulates and rates each booster car seat depending on their safety. The IIHS conducts crash tests and looks at the proper fitting of SUVs, cars, vans, etc.
The IIHS has 4 different safety ratings as follows:
These ratings emphasize how much the safety belt fitting enhances the child’s safety. So you should note that booster car seats, just like car seats are only safe when your little one buckles him/herself properly.
When buying a booster car seat, you should check out for ones that have LATCH connectors. This is a type of latch system which stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children. This latch system makes it easy to install a booster car seat without a seat belt.
For backless booster seats, they should only be used if your car seat has a headrest and the back of the car seat is high enough to reach your child’s ears.
There are mainly two different types of booster car seats available. High backs and backless boosters. High back seats come with both a bottom and a back. Some come with features that allow the backrest to be adjusted to the child’s height and others have padded headrests or both. These extra features make them more expensive than backless seats.
On the other hand, backless boosters are budget-friendly and their primary function is to elevate your child to ensure that the seat belt fits properly.
The belt adjustment system of car seats should make it easy to tighten and loosen the belts on the seat. And for parents who will use the booster in more than one car, consider harnesses and straps designed to be moved from one car to another.
The comfort of your child is important during travel. It ensures that your child stays calm throughout the journey. Features such as adjustable arm/leg rest and thick-energy absorbing padding will keep your child cozy.
When the booster seat is lightweight, it will be easier to transfer it from one car to another. Parents who want portable booster seats should go for the backless booster seat rather than high back seats. Though you should ensure that the conditions of using a backless booster seat are met first.
The best booster car seats come at varying prices. From the luxurious ones where you would have to pay more to, in turn, get additional comfort and convenience features. To the cheaper ones that will only bring the functionality aspect of booster seats.
To make it easier for you, set your budget and shop within your range while choosing a booster seat with the best features for your child.
What is a Booster seat?
Booster seats are specifically designed for children to keep them safe in case of collision. Its main function is to elevate your child to a height where your car’s seat belt will protect them. They make sure that the seat belt goes across your baby’s thigh instead of his/her belly. It also prevents the seat belt from strangling your baby by guiding the belt safely across your child’s chest.
Why should you use a booster seat?
Why can’t 4-8 years old kids use the car seatbelt? In most states, it is against the law. Most states have enforced laws that children under 8 years must use a car seat or a booster seat.
These laws come with good reason. Research and analysis compiled from previous car crashes showed that kids in booster seats were 59% less likely to be injured than if they were only using the car seat belt. Though from the data, only one percent were injured. And even a lower percentage(0.77%) for those using a booster seat.
A booster seat is recommended mainly because the car seat belts are not designed to fit kids. The lap beltscutg across their belly instead of securelycutg across the hips like grown-ups. The shoulder belts strangle your baby’s neck, but a booster seat will guide it across the chest.
For grown-ups, the seat belt keeps them from flying rigorously out of the car in the event of a car crash. It also distributes the energy from the crash to the hip bone and the chest- these are parts of the body that can handle the force. For the case of a child, the car seat belt may end up further injuring your child’s neck and belly in case of a car crash.
So why should you use it? It makes the car seat belt work on children like it is designed to in case of a crash. Booster seats will protect your child from serious injury.
When should you start using a booster seat?
Once your child has outgrown the 5 point harness and is ready to graduate to the big kid seat. This happens, when your child is at least 5 years old, weighs at least 40 pounds, and is responsible enough to sit in their booster seat properly without any naughtiness like unbuckling the seat or putting it behind their back.
For backless boosters, your child can safely ride if the headrest is above their ears. This will protect them from whiplash during a collision.
The safer option to start with is the high back booster seat, especially if your vehicle has a low back seat. But they are overall both good as long as they safely guide the seat belt.
Are booster seats tested for safety?
Independent test labs such as the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety test booster safety and rate them to four different categories
These ratings form guidance for buying to ensure safety in your car. It is recommended to always go for the best bet rated booster seats.
Moreover, our top 10 list consists of companies such as Evenflo and Gracoconductingt their crash tests. However, these companies are notorious for recommending misleading age, height, and weight recommendations.
You should always note that 40 pounds is the minimum recommended weight for booster seats.
How to install a booster seat?
For backless booster seats, they are placed on the car seat, and no fastening is needed. Most high backs come with LATCH connectors, which snap metal bars inside the car seat. This LATCH system ensures that the booster seat does not move around. This makes it easy to come in and out of the booster seat.
LATCH connectors are not effective over 65 pounds. However, LATCH connectors are not a must in a booster seat because the car seat belt holds your child safely in the booster seat.
When not used, booster seats should be stored in the trunk as they won’t be steady in a car crash if a child is not on them.
What are the types of boosters seats(which one is best)?
It all comes down to your family’s needs and not safety issues. In fact, studies have shown that neither of the two has a safety advantage over the other. Safety depends on whether your child is safely secured with the seat belt or not.
Both high back and backless booster seats have their advantages and disadvantages, as you will see below.
High back booster seats have the bottom just like a backless seat but have a high back for support.
The high back seat is designed with wings on the side for impact protection.
High backs have the edge over backless booster seats since the back part is removable in some. This means that you can convert it to a backless seat later hence getting the best of both worlds.
The convertible high back options are cheaper in the long run since they grow with your child.
These booster seats are straightforward and mainly designed for functionality. Its main purpose is to elevate your child so that the seat belt will properly fit them on the chest and lap.
Unlike the high back booster seats, most backless seats do not have a fastening mechanism on your car seat.
From the above points, you realize that it all comes down to the parents’ needs and preferences. However, most parents prefer to buy high backs that grow with their children. Later, they can detach the back part to leave them with a backless booster seat for their older kid.
How to buckle up your child properly?
For both high back and backless boosters, the lap belt should run across the top of your child’s laps and the shoulder belt across the middle of your child’s shoulder. Most high back and backless booster seats come with visual illustration manuals to ensure proper use.
Is my kid slouching a problem?
Yes, slouching is a serious problem not only for children but also for adults. Slouching pulls the lap belt to the belly, making it dangerous in case of a car crash. The energy from the crash will be transferred to the soft body organs such as the liver, kidney, intestines, and even as serious as the spinal code.
Slouching makes the belt loose; hence the body is not securely held. In case of a crash, the whole body will move, especially the head, which may hit the back of the front seat, causing neck and brain injuries.
If your kid slouches, leans over his/her siblings, hangs out the window, and cannot sit calmly and upright, then the child is not ready for a booster seat.
You can always consider a forward-facing 5-point harness for taller and heavier children. They will protect from side impact while holding your child in place. You do not have to rush because the priority is safety.
However, most kids outgrow the 5-point harness quickly, so ensure to pick a taller one.
Is my 3-year-old 30-pound child ready for a booster seat?
No, the 5 points harness forward-facing car seat is the best option for kids less than 4 years(40 pounds). The 5-point harness distributes the crash force over a larger area than a safety belt and booster seat.
Most booster seats have misleading information on the minimum requirements for your child to use it. So to be on the safe side, ensure your child is at least 40 pounds before using a booster seat.
See also: 13 Best Car Seats to Buy Right Now
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