Does anyone know the best brand of booster seats?

[Minnie824]

My DD finally is able to move to the booster seat in the car - only a year later, and still just *almost* 40lbs. Anyway, can anyone recommend a good booster seat and tell me how they work? Do you just use the regular seatbelt? Is it fastened into the car at all? Thanks!

 

[kathi29]

How old is your daughter? How tall?

We (car seat techs) don't recommend putting very young children in non-harnessed seats - age 4 is the absolute minimum that most kids are ready to sit in a booster.

That said, the Graco Turbobooster (or SafeSeat 3) is a decent seat. I like the high back version for its added head and side protection. My 7.5 year old has been riding in one since she turned 5. She is about 48 inches tall and we are now using it backless as she outgrew the highest adjustment for the headrest. Depending on the cushiness of the fabric, the prices range from about $20 for a backless to around $100 for all the bells and whistles on a high back version.

Britax makes an awesome booster seat called the Parkway. It has true side impact protection and a much higher adjustment for the back height, allowing it to be used for longer. The only contstraint is that it can't be used without the back. Although if we had the Parkway, my DD would easily fit with room to grow. The Parkway can be found for around $100.

As far as how you use it: You will use the regular seatbelt just as you buckle yourself in. On the high back seats there are guides for the shoulder belt to go through. Either seat will also have a belt path for the lap portion of the belt. No, it is not attached to the car in any way, but we do suggest buckling the seat even when it is not in use to avoid it becoming a projectile in a crash or hard stop.

 

[julsmom]

I say go for the Graco. It is a good seat. We have used it through the times where we used the back of it and now DD is old enough to sit on just the base. Also, at Target I have seen that they sell new covers (cute new designs). I have removed my covers countless times and washed (and bleached) them. It has held up really well.

 

[Minnie824]

Thanks for the responses! DD just turned 5 and finally made it to 40 lbs (44in tall as well). I think we may go w/the Britax. I looked online and that one seems good. Thanks!

 

[kathi29]

That's almost exactly what my DD was at 5!
The Parkway is an excellent choice It wasn't available back when I was shopping for seats; I still think about buying one or three.

 

[RPrincess]

For some reason I can not remember what the rule is as to what age or height or weight does a child have to have a booster seat. Does anyone know? My son is almost 6 and is around 50 inches tall and about 50 lbs and still in the booster. Thanks

 

[jayhjay]

For some reason I can not remember what the rule is as to what age or height or weight does a child have to have a booster seat. Does anyone know? My son is almost 6 and is around 50 inches tall and about 50 lbs and still in the booster. Thanks

I believe it varies by state. In MD, the kids are supposed to be 6 years or 60lbs. Other states have different guidelines. I think there is a list of criteria that your child is supposed to meet to move out of the booster (knees reach so their legs bend naturally over the end of the seat, belt fits naturally on their shoulder and lap in the right place. I am sure you can find it online. I think most kids end up being in a booster over 6 b/c most are not big enough at that age to fit as an adult would into the seat.

 

[laughinplace199]

We have the Britax Parkway for DS and we love it. One of the reasons we chose it is that you can use it from 30 lbs instead of 40 lbs. DS is 5, but only weighs 36 lbs.

 

[grlpwrd]

The Britax Parkway is an excellent choice for a child who weighs from 30 to 100 lbs. An alternative would be the Britax Regent which is good for a child from 22 to 80 lbs yet it is wider, doesn't have TSIP, and can be used, obviously, for a lesser time. There is also the new Britax Monarch.

Britax is a wonderful choice!

 

[emh1129]

We have the Britax Parkway and we really like it.. it was definitely worth the money
Aside from the safety issues (Britax is always the leader), it's great for those kids who tend to fall asleep in the car. It has the little 'wing' type things on each side of the head part and it catches the head before they flop over.
It also has a washable cover, which is nice. We paid about $100 for it at Babies R Us, but I know they have a coupon sometimes for $10 off a carseat over $50 or so.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I have a Graco for my 4year old son. He is 46 inches tall and 56lbs. We liked the high back and it is nice and wide as he has very broad shoulders. I looked into the parkway but it was way too narrow for him. I would suggest taking your child to the store to try out different ones to see which one is most comfortable.

 

[all4fun]

For some reason I can not remember what the rule is as to what age or height or weight does a child have to have a booster seat. Does anyone know? My son is almost 6 and is around 50 inches tall and about 50 lbs and still in the booster. Thanks

I think this is the info you're looking for

Q9: When can my child be in a regular seatbelt without a booster?

Children are not ready to be in a regular lap/shoulder seatbelt until:

They are tall enough so that their legs bend at the knees at the edge of the seat; and
They are mature enough to remain seated with their backs flat against the back of the seat and not slouch; and
The lap belt sits high on the thighs or low on the hips (NOT on their tummy!); and
The shoulder belt crosses the shoulder and chest (NOT on their arms or neck!); and
Each passenger must have their own lap and shoulder belt! Never allow children to share a seatbelt.

Some organizations will also give limits like 80 or 100 pounds, 4'9" in height or 8 years old. These are rough guidelines, not absolute limits. The criteria above are most important.

Child Carseat Safety FAQ Q#9

 

[utahkennedys]

We love our new Compass brand. Search in google and you'll find it. It is top-rated. Make sure your booster ALWAYS has a back, those ones that just have bottoms are death traps. The Compass is awesome b/c it is lightweight, and the headrest adjusts for much older kids too. It even folds in half, and I got it for like $80 w/ free shipping. The high end stores here sell them for over $100 each.

 

[bigbabyblues]

For some reason I can not remember what the rule is as to what age or height or weight does a child have to have a booster seat. Does anyone know? My son is almost 6 and is around 50 inches tall and about 50 lbs and still in the booster. Thanks

from a fellow Ohioan!

I think the law in Ohio is 80-lbs and 8 years old, at least that's what the billboard I passed the other day said.

 

[kathi29]

We love our new Compass brand. Search in google and you'll find it. It is top-rated. Make sure your booster ALWAYS has a back, those ones that just have bottoms are death traps. The Compass is awesome b/c it is lightweight, and the headrest adjusts for much older kids too. It even folds in half, and I got it for like $80 w/ free shipping. The high end stores here sell them for over $100 each.

Why do you think backless boosters are death traps?

A backless booster used according to manufacturer instructions, with a child old enough and mature enough to sit properly, is quite a safe way to be restrained.

 

[all4fun]

Why do you think backless boosters are death traps?

A backless booster used according to manufacturer instructions, with a child old enough and mature enough to sit properly, is quite a safe way to be restrained.

This is the information I came across quite a while ago:

How to best protect children in Side-Impacts

"Effectiveness of High Back and Backless Belt-Positioning Booster Seats in Side impact crashes"

* Belt-positioning booster seats provided a 58 percent overall reduction in risk of injury to 4-to 8-year-olds in side-impact crashes as compared with seat belts alone. (These findings support prior PCPS research, which shows booster seats to be 59 percent effective in reducing injury risk to 4-to 8-year-olds in crashes of all impact directions.)
* The risk reduction provided by booster seats in side-impact crashes varied by booster seat type: 4-to 8-year-olds riding in high back booster seats were at a 70 percent reduction in injury risk, while those in backless boosters did not experience a statistically significant risk reduction as compared with seat belts alone.
* However, both types of booster seats provided significant protection from "seat belt syndrome" injuries to the internal abdominal organs and lumbar spine. Most of the injuries to children seated in backless booster seats were head injuries.
* Possible explanations for non-significant reduction in injury risk for backless booster seats are that parents may be less likely to use to use the shoulder belt- positioner that comes with backless booster seats and that high back boosters have a contoured back that may better contain the occupant in side-impact crashes.

So I wouldn't call backless bpb's "death traps" but they evidently don't provide as much protection in Side Impacts, according to this research.

 

[kathi29]

I totally agree with that. High back boosters definitely provide more protection than low back. The sides and head wings (even the barely there ones on the Graco) provide some side and head impact protection. They are also easier to use correctly with the belt guides (The webbing strap Graco uses for the backless is not the easiest thing in the world to figure out.)

Given that my 48" long in the torso DD has outgrown the high back Turbo by height, I can see a lot of kids having the same problem. And I can see a lot of parents not wanting to spend the money to buy yet another high back booster to replace it.

But a child that needs a booster is going to be safer in the low back one than they are in just a seatbelt. I would hate for someone to forego the benefits of a booster seat because they read somewhere that they are death traps.

I know I am preaching to the choir