The FAA label specifically prohibits using it on airplanes. The sticker is located on the bottom of the base of the seat. He loves this seat and his CPST mom is thrilled with the way it fits him.
The Diono Monterey 2XT Latch is similar to our top pick in terms of function, but it’s covered in a plusher fabric and has the option of extending the sides through the shoulders. This makes it a good choice for kids who have a wider frame and parents who want bigger children to stay in a high-back booster seat longer. This seat received a Best Bet rating from the IIHS for its ability to provide a proper graco turbobooster seat-belt fit. She’s got plenty of room to grow in the TurboBooster LX with True Shield and it offers a good vehicle seat belt fit. She climbed into the TurboBooster LX without any trouble and was able to buckle herself in properly. She reports that the armrests are too short for her tastes — she’s got a fondness for car seats with higher sides around the thighs so I’m not surprised at this.
We generally purchase high-end carseats but the Turbobooster was able to stack up to the more expensive seats for about 1/4 of the price. The Peg Perego Viaggio HBB 120 is an expensive high-back booster seat with rigid LATCH; it can be converted to backless mode. In 2018, a spokesperson for Peg Perego told us that the company was planning to phase the model out of the product line, so we did not test it.
Press the button or pull the lever upward while simultaneously moving the headrest to the desired height. Release the button or lever to lock the headrest into place. My model is very much her own person and she’s not a fan of this guide so we went back to high back mode for the rest of the review period. C-Grade Pallets marked C Grade have been sorted by one of our sorting teams.
And as with our top pick, the seat belt slides into the threader from the bottom up (though one tester found Chicco’s version to be more intuitive). The TurboBooster LX has a standard stationary plastic cupholder on one side, and on the other there’s a cupholder that slides in and out of the seat base. These cupholders cannot be removed for cleaning (as the Chicco’s cupholders can).
The backless mode fit her reasonably well but once again, my car’s configuration made for a bit of a challenge. The shoulder portion of the vehicle seat belt is sliding off her shoulder so I wouldn’t say this is a good fit. Transporting the seat easily from car to car is essential if you plan to do it regularly.
We see how the TurboBooster could end up on your shortlist, given its smaller size, lower weight, and additional features like armrests and cup holders. However, it is not our seat of choice for any use, be that every day or for travel, and given the lower crash testing results, we’d recommend parents look elsewhere for suitable options based on their goals. Considering comfort factors, we compare the foam support, fabric feel, the seat’s design, the depth of the seat bottom and headrest, and the potential for napping. Some boosters offer denser padding, a cushy feel, softer fabric, or a steel frame. Boosters are tested side-by-side by adult testers and children for general comfort compared to the competition. We contracted with the same crash test facility used by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) to conduct our booster seat crash tests.
You just place it in the car and thread the seat belt through the guide hook. It’s lightweight and easy to put in and take out.Child’s ComfortMy child seems very comfortable in her special seat. She’s tall and slim and fits perfectly, and she is very happy to sit in her special chair.
Once the booster is flat, lift the back portion off of the backless portion and store it with your possibly embarrassingly large pile of car seats and car seat parts. Our tester was able to buckle the belt easily, but the shoulder belt did get twisted. We do think this will sort itself out over time as children learn how it works and get some practice under their belts.
For quality, we consider the materials and construction of the final seat. We analyzed our purchased competitors’ padding, foam, fabric, and attention to detail. Each component influences the longevity and stability of the booster. We checked the weight and width of each seat at its widest point. The booster’s weight can be crucial if you use it on travel or carpooling. The test dummies include sensors that measure impact forces in the chest.