When do you use a booster seat?
After your child outgrows the child safety seat. Once your child reaches the weight limit for their convertible seat and they are at least 35 inches tall (generally around age 4), they are ready for a booster seat. Children who have outgrown child safety seats should be properly restrained in booster seats until they are at least 8 years old, unless they are 4’9” tall.
Why We Use Booster Seats?
Safety belts are not designed for children. Beginning at around age 4, many children are too large for toddler seats but too small for adult safety belts. A booster seat raises your child up so that the safety belt fits right – and can better protect your child. The shoulder belt should cross the child’s chest and rest snugly on the shoulder, and the lap belt should rest low across the pelvis or hip area – never across the stomach area.
In the event of a crash, the poor positioning of a seat belt can cause a child severe or even fatal injuries. The main purpose of a booster seat is to allow proper belt positioning for children. The lap belt should rest low across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt should fit snug on the shoulder and across the chest. A booster seat raises your child and guides the belt to achieve this fit.
Types Of Booster Seats
High-Back Belt-Positioning Booster Seats
Two types of high-back belt-positioning booster seats are available. Both types “boost” your child up so the vehicle safety belt fits better.
- One type provides head and neck support for your child if your vehicle seat back does not have a head rest. It must be used with the vehicle’s lap/shoulder belt, never with the lap belt only. - The other, a combination seat, converts from a forward-facing toddler seat to a booster seat and comes equipped with a harness. This type can be used as a forward-facing toddler seat when your child is age 1 and at least 20 pounds to about age 4 and 40 pounds. When your child outgrows the toddler seat, remove the harness and use the seat as a booster seat with the vehicle’s lap/shoulder belt.
No-Back Belt-Positioning Booster Seat -This type also “boosts” your child up so the vehicle safety belt fits better. This booster seat is used with a lap/shoulder belt. It should only be used in vehicles with built-in head rests.
While the law no longer requires them to be in a child safety seat once they weigh more than 40 pounds, we strongly recommend the use of booster seats and safety tests provide strong arguments to support our recommendation. Vehicle seat belts are not designed with children eight and under in mind and therefore young children are often improperly buckled in the back seat.
The first is a toddler/booster seat with a removable harness is used with the harness for children weighing between 30 to 40 pounds. Once they reach 40 pounds the harness is removed and the booster is used in conjunction with the vehicle seat belts to ensure proper belt positioning. The second type of booster is just abelt positionerthat raises a child up so that the belt fits correctly.
What Booster seat should I buy?
The type of booster seat you purchase depends on your general needs. If you need to take your child out of their convertible seat because the weight limit for forward facing use is 30 pounds, you will need a toddler/booster seat to fill in that gap until they reach 40 pounds. If your child still fits in their convertible seat until they reach 40 pounds and the product manufacturer allows it's use forward facing to 40 pounds then you can go straight into a booster seat (which is often less expensive).
Safety Tips for Booster Seats
The shoulder belt should never be placed behind a child’s back or under the arm. If this is done, your child could be seriously injured or killed in a crash.
Because many State laws only require children to be in a safety seat up to age 4 or so, many parents assume older kids are safe in just an adult safety belt. However, all children need to be restrained correctly whenever they ride in a motor vehicle – every trip, every time.
Below you will find reviews of car seats that fall into the toddler/booster seat category.
Combi Kobuk Booster
For children 33 pounds to 100 pounds, the new Combi Kobuk is a sleek-looking, comfortable booster seat choice. The EPS foam adds extra crash protection, while the egg crate foam and seat ventilation holes provide comfort. Adjustable belt guides make it easy to get a good seat belt fit. Converts to a backless booster for older children.
Evenflo Big Kid Everest Booster
Evenflo Everest accomodates children 30 pounds to 100 pounds, and converts to a backless booster for older kids. The one-hand height adjustment and soft cushions provide comfort for your toddler. The kid-friendly features make this updated booster a real winner, though. Nighttime reading lights, cupholders, storage bins and pivoting armrests let kids control some of their car-time comfort.
Graco Turbo Booster
The Graco Turbo Booster carries children from 30 to 100 pounds and features Gracopedic Memory Foam in the cushions for a comfortable ride and increased impact protection. Kids will love the padded armrests and drink holders, as well as the fun designs and characters available on the cushions. The adjustable headrest is nice and maintains comfort as your child grows.
Britax Parkway Booster
Added side-impact protection sets the Britax Parkway apart from other booster seats. Several adjustment points let you fit the booster to your toddler's body for optimal seat belt positioning. Color-coded seat belt guides and incredibly soft, washable covers make the Parkway a breeze to use. Fits children from 30 pounds to 100 pounds.
(Past Reviews)
Cosco Alpha Omega
This seat is perhaps your best value of all of the car seats mentioned on this site since it can be used in all three stages. It can be used rear facing for infants up to 35 pounds, then turned around and used forward facing for toddlers until they reach 40 pounds when you can remove the harness system and use this seat as a belt positioning booster until they reach 80 pounds. There are four harness positions so the seat will grow with your child and the best part is that you can raise the harness position without having to rethread it.
The headrest is adjustable and it has a three position recline. This seat also comes with a tether and it has belt-positioning guides to ensure that your child is buckled properly when using the seat as a booster. The only drawback that we have heard about this seat is that it does not recline enough in the rear facing position.
Cosco Eddie Bauer High Back Booster
This attractive toddler/booster seat can be used forward facing until your child reaches 40 pounds and can then be converted to a belt-positioning booster that will accommodate your child until they reach 80 pounds. You are certain to get the vehicle seat belt on correctly because they provide three- position shoulder belt guides. The plastic mesh pockets on the side are just right for storing all of your toddlers favorite car toys so you wont have to search the car and hunt them down before every trip anymore. This seat is also sold with a tether. Aside from offering a more attractive design, The Eddie Bauer High Back Booster also improves on the basic design by providing front adjustable straps. However, this may not be a good choice if your child is tall because the harness straps are not very high.
Century Breverra Classic
This basic toddler seat/ booster features a tether for optimal safe installation and a five-point harness. Parents who own this seat have commented in particular that it is both sturdy and lightweight. Access to harness adjustment and vehicle belt routing flap is in the front, which makes adjustments a snap. The seat has ample cushioning and it's high back design offers comfort and cushioning for your child's head. The biggest complaint that we have had about this seat is that there are no sides so when your child falls asleep in the car they cannot rest their head on the side of the seat, which may cause some discomfort. It is a great value, especially when you consider how long you will utilize it since it can be used as a forward facing car seat and later as a belt positioning booster.
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