A backless booster doesn’t offer the support required to keep little ones correctly positioned if they should fall asleep and slump or fall forward. We believe this theory makes sense, and it is why we recommend using a booster with a back whenever possible. However, we think any belt-positioning booster is safer and, therefore, preferable not to use a booster at all. This graco convertible car seat High Back Booster Seat is a great seat to transition to for my “big kid’s” needs. Every now and then, if I have to stop suddenly, my child moves a little bit forward as well, but with the seat belt.Ease of UseThis seat is great, but its slightly annoying when the bottom unhinges from the top.
We’ve tested boosters both with and without LATCH; you’ll find multiple non-LATCH recommendations in the Other good booster seats section of this guide. But a booster that’s well engineered, with thoughtful features, can help provide a safer fit, a comfier ride, and a more pleasant overall experience for you and your kids. To ensure a secure installation, it is important to tightly attach the booster seat to the vehicle’s seat using the seat belt or LATCH system. Make sure the seat belt is correctly threaded through the designated belt path and tightened securely. It’s no secret that we’re fans of the TurboBooster and that that love has grown to include the TurboBooster family of products as that product line has grown.
This was followed closely by the Chicco KidFit Zip Air Plus 2-in-1, Chicco KidFit, and the BubbleBum. All of these options offer features that are easy for parents and kids to use and installation methods that are straightforward. The hardest-to-use boosters are the Clek Oobr, Evenflo Maestro Sport 2-in-1, and the Safety 1st Grand 2-in-1.
You may need to use the booster in an area of the car that doesn’t have LATCH anchors (like the middle seat or in a third row). Also, the addition of LATCH to a booster almost always translates to a higher price tag. LATCH is not actually required for a booster seat to function safely. This seat lacks some graco turbobooster of the conveniences (and pizzazz) of our top pick, but it’s a really good booster at a reasonable price. This model has deeper headwings than the version reviewed here but does not have the TrueShield side impact protection. In addition to the cupholder, this seat includes a media storage compartment.
The Graco company that creates baby gear launched din 1953, when they hired a new engineer to help create baby-centric products. With the launch of the first baby swing, Graco put itself on the map in the juvenile product world. They continue to make popular strollers, car seats, and more products that families are familiar with. The highest scorer for the quality metric is the Britax Grow With You ClickTight+, followed closely by the Chicco KidFit Zip Air Plus 2-in-1, Chicco KidFit, and the Peg Perego Viaggio Flex 120.
If it’s in backless mode, pull the vehicle seat belt out just a bit, then set it in front of the lap belt guide. The Turbo Booster Youth Car Seat was one of the single best things we bought for our kids safety. The weight and height instructions are clearly printed on the outside of the seat and it is easy to see where the seat belt straps are fed into. They elevate the kids to a higher level and support their backs and heads fantasticly. For taller kids, you can heighten the head rest to a suitable position and the head rest itself is rounded for when the children fall asleep and their heads bob to the left or right. But the best thing I like about these Turbo Boosters is the fact that the seat covers and arm rests are totally washable.
It also tucks nicely into a backpack or other smallish bags that a booster rider might carry. At about 1 pound, it’s light enough that most carpoolers can carry it in such a bag or backpack without issue. This Graco has one of the worst sensor results for the head sensor in the review with recorded G-forces more than twice graco convertible car seat the next lowest-performing competitors. The chest clip results are somewhat better and manage to prevent this booster from earning the lowest analysis score in the group, but they are still below the average for the group. The HIC result is enough to give us pause, and we would not use this booster with our children.