The booster's weight can be crucial if you use it on travel or carpooling. Check out our favorite infant car seats and travel systems. The Diono Cambria 2 still offers some of the highest booster seat limits on the market and the ability to become a backless booster seat for older riders. Also, is the Rodifix shallow for a taller child? For families who want the best booster seat for a sleeping child, be sure to consider this one. These seats provide a good belt fit for most four- to eight-year-olds and work in most cars. This sucker is wide. Hide Summary. Its not terribly wide and the cupholders fold in to help it play nicely with other car seats. The lowest height for the shoulder belt guide on the RodiFix is one of the lowest available. While it is a bit wider than some of the other options on this list, the aluminum-reinforced side impact protection helps provide reinforced security. Overall, the Nuna AACE has to be one of the comfiest booster seats around! Also, a high-backed booster seat is better at keeping children positioned correctly, especially if they frequently enjoy sleeping in the car. Car seats are a part of a parents life from the moment they drive their precious bundle home from the hospital. Your best bet is to grab one of the more padded options from this list. The AACE is plusher and will accommodate bigger kids, while the Oobr is better for tight backseats. If you have kids like mine who are old enough and mature enough for booster seats but still short, they may not meet the minimum requirements of the Highpoint. She also manages GHs growing research division and the analysis of applicants for the GH Seal and all other testing emblems. Unlike other car seats, booster seats help by ensuring that the seatbelt is positioned correctly on your little one to provide safety without injuring them. We've tested more than 60 car seats, and in this update, we purchased the top 8 boosters for crash testing and extensive side-by-side comparison. That may not matter to most families, but we make extremely short kids and our daughter also happens to have a short torso relative to her overall height. Learn more about our, 9 Best Booster Car Seats of 2023, Tested by Experts, 9 Best Car Seat and Stroller Combos of 2023, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads, 22-50 pounds as harness car seat, 50-110 pounds as booster, 28-57 inches as harness car seat, 44-57 inches as booster, 38-57 inches highback, 40-57 inches backless, 34-49 inches harness, 44-63 inches booster, 25-65 pounds harness, 40-120 pounds booster, Up to 49 inches harness, 43-57 inches highback and backless booster, 22-65 pounds harness, 40-100 pounds highback and backlessbooster, Up to 49 inches harness, 43-57 inches booster, 4-40 pounds rear-facing harness, 22-65 pounds forward-facing harness, 40-100 pounds highback booster, 40-120 pounds backless booster. Here are our top picks for the comfiest booster seat by age: Chicco MyFit Zip Air - recommended for ages 3-10 Chicco KidFit Zip Air Plus - recommended for ages 5-10 With a front-adjust LATCH system, installation is a piece of cake. For the most comfortable fit, it has an eight-position adjustable headrest, as well as machine-washable seat pads and dual removable cup holders. And remember, a comfortable kid who doesnt complain during road trips is priceless. Most comfortable booster seat: Chicco MyFit Harness + Booster Car Seat. The 4 Best Booster Seats 2023: Crash Tested | BabyGearLab Reports in the court records alleged that Bateman had the 9-year-old sleep in his bed four months later. We've road-tested a dozen booster car seats in the past year to evaluate safety, ease of use and proper fit. Transitioning from a harness car seat to a highback booster, this Evenflo option can see your child from toddlerhood to big kid status. As of this writing, my younger child is 5.5 years old and she still rides in this seat almost all the time. However, while testing we noticed that the headrest is not adjustable, so the only customizable aspect of this seat is going from harness to booster. (15%), Extra features (like cupholders, snack tray and armrests) (5%), Warranty/Return Policy/Seat Belt Guides/Installation Materials (5%). The reasonable price tag with higher quality is just a bonus. Especially for kids on the smaller end of the curve, it can be pretty comfortable and it can fit in their backpacks! We install each product in multiple cars to see how well it fits and how easy it is to install and use. What does the booster do? Its optional, but we used it when we rented a Britax highback booster seat and found it helpful for getting a great belt fit. The rear-facing seat fits kids up to 40 pounds, the forward-facing car seat up to 65 pounds, the highback belt-positioning booster up to 100 pounds and finally the backless belt-positioning booster up to 120 pounds. Graco Nautilus SnugLock LX 3-in-1 Harness Booster Seat. As with all of their car seats, Chicco puts two things first when designing new products: comfort for kids and ease of use for parents. Key stats:-Weight 12lbs-Highback booster size limit 4yo/30lbs/38 to 100lbs/57; max belt guide 19.5-Backless booster size limit 40lbs to 110lbs/57, Pros: Nice padding Supportive head wings Ventilated fabric for temperature regulation Reclines for sleeping Leg rest extension 8 year expiration, Cons: The 57 height limit means tall kids might need another backless booster down the line Seat isnt wide enough for kids at the top of the growth chart. Third, the seat can get deeper as your child grows! Take a look at this quick size comparison: *Diono recently launched their Diono Difference program. We appreciate that it raises little ones for better belt positioning to avoid head side-impact intrusion that could potentially happen in an accident when little ones sit on the vehicle seat itself. The parenting and product experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute test all of the must-haves for babies, toddlers and children, from baby humidifiers and crib mattresses to swing sets and everything in between. Some people also use a styrofoam cooler to achieve the same goal, but I stopped trying that when my sons foot went straight through the top. IT'S BETTER TO BE SAFE - When it comes to child and baby safety, NapUp outperforms the competition. We checked the weight and width of each seat at its widest point. With over 15 combined years of experience, we feel it is safe to say they have the most experience in the review business with safety seats. Prior to starting at GH in 2021, she worked at BuzzFeed and People, covering a combination of product reviews and lifestyle content. The Maestro Sport Harness Booster is a no-frills option that won't break the bank while still offering you and your child a safe ride. Once your child no longer needs the back or if youre flying to start off your family trip, the Monterey XT converts to a backless booster seat similar to the Solana 2 featured in the next section. Child Comfort 8.0. . The Olli does not have a shoulder belt guide. Related: How to Pick a Booster Seat for You and Your Child. You can usually find her reading, surfing, eating and traveling or on Twitter at @sashajol. The Car Seat LadyBooster Basics - The Car Seat Lady These features give you a backed booster that does double duty for travel when you remove the back. The new Britax Highpoint 2-stage booster seat (also available here and here) has a lot to offer for your familys next road trip! We then conduct our tests in vehicles of various sizes. We prefer a booster with a back instead of a backless option because we believe they are intrinsically safer. The Cybex Solution Z-Fix car seat in Autumn Gold is for 3-12-year-olds (15-36kg) or Group 2/3. EXCELLENT review i read every. Bob works with Senior Review Editors, Wendy Schmitz and Abriah Wofford, to test each booster. Around 11pm I looked back and saw my new booster rider passed out but still sitting perfectly! However, this model is a bit more expensive than other options. document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Best 2-In-1 Booster Seat: Evenflo Maestro Harness Booster Seat. We like the adjustable headrest, comfortable armrests, and easy-to-clean fabric. We also have reviews for the best infant car seats for a new baby and convertible car seats for older babies. The BubbleBum's lower price makes it a cost-effective second seat when using your high-backed go-to option isn't feasible or practical. Got feedback? The higher ranked UPPAbaby Alta is one of the lower-priced options in the review, and it has one of the highest overall scores with a better-than-average crash test analysis. While parents love marking milestones as their little ones grow, transitions from one level of safety seat to another should not occur until your child has reached the maximum limits of the seat as defined by the manufacturer. We have the Graco TurboBooster and Graco Affix backless booster seats on our list. I find it easier to move the Cambria 2 between cars than the 4DXT because its not nearly as bulky or heavy. The KidFit is technically a booster seat that reclines in that it has two positions, and thatll work best if your car has back seats that recline (which is thankfully getting more common). Our experts love that it installs easily with LATCH connectors and is highly adjustable with a 10-position headrest, six-position recline and a no-rethread harness. Are you confused by the high-back vs. no-back options? The analysis and opinions are our own. That lets your child use this car seat from infant to up ro 10 years old. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Leader, members of Arizona-based cult indicted on child sex crimes My favorite feature is the Cool Flow ventilated fabric, which will keep your kids from getting sweaty backs during summer vacation. This seat transitions from a rear-facing car seat to a forward-facing car seat to a highback booster to a backless booster, allowing your child to fully utilize the 10-year lifespan of the product. It also has a removable cup holder and a removable seat cover for easy cleaning. We pick booster seats that work for a variety of lifestyles and budgets and flag any that are too costly. In her role as Parenting & Pets Reviews Analyst, Jamie Spain brings years of experience to the Institute, having reviewed a variety of parenting products for Good Housekeeping from tricycles to toy organizers. If you have taller or broader kids, the seat may not be wide enough to hold them until the end of their booster days. Children can move to a booster as young as four years old. Injury Center Transportation Safety Child Passenger Safety Booster Seat Planning Guide CDC's Booster Seat Planning Guide can assist States, Tribes, Localities, and Territories with assessing, planning, and implementing improved booster seat laws to reduce crash injuries and deaths among children. Enough padding is obviously subjective and different kids have different preferences. We updated this article in January 2023 to make sure our picks based on extensive testing done by the .css-1me6ynq{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:#125C68;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#125C68;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-1me6ynq:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:#595959;}Good Housekeeping Institute reflected the correct pricing of each booster car seat. While most manufacturers allow a 4 year old to ride in a backless booster seat, no safety advocate recommends it. We've been testing safety seats for over six years, including commissioning crash testing with the same facility (MGA Research) that works with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) for their car seat tests. We like the simplicity of the BubbleBum and think it is tough to beat for children who do a lot of carpooling. Editor's Pick: Evenflo Big Kid High Back Booster Car Seat This isn't just the one I'm recommending for you, this is actually the one I bought for my daughter several years ago and then bought. If your child is shorter, then the back of the booster should still be used. Ready to roll? I'm Melissa, a real-life mom of two, world traveler and Child Passenger Safety Technician (aka "car seat tech"). 13,466. The UPPAbaby Alta, Diono Monterey XT, and Peg Perego Viaggio Flex 120 all came in second. What do you get for all the extra size, weight and money? Amazon.com: Booster Seat Headrest For Kids As a highback booster, it offers both height and width adjustments as well as two recline positions, helping to achieve a more custom fit than other options. Diono has made a bunch of improvements with the latest version! It transforms from rear-facing to forward-facing to high back booster to booster as your child grows. I appreciate that the height and width adjust independently, unlike some other booster seats on the market (including the others in these high back booster reviews). To assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. Check your local regulations to ensure your child meets height, weight and age requirements before transitioning them out of a booster. It makes sense, since kids generally wider as they get taller. It safely accommodates children up to 120 pounds and 63 inches tall, both noticeably higher than the upper limits of most booster car seats. A backless booster seat is simply a reinforced seat cushion that is not secured to the vehicle seat. Best Convertible Car Seats 2023: Crash Tested, tested thousands of baby and kids products, Great crash test results, high quality, rigid LATCH, Reasonable price, better crash test analysis, super comfy, high-quality, Better crash test results, price, lighter, Easiest to use, better crash test results, price, Higher price, higher HIC crash test result, Impressive crash test results and quality materials make this a great choice, This high-quality booster is super comfortable, with better crash test analysis and a reasonable price, Budget-friendly choice with better crash test results, Nicely priced, easy to use option with better crash test results, Expensive, quality seat that is narrow and easy to use. Installing the booster seat with LATCH is just as easy as with all of our other Chicco car seats. It features a reclining seat with a heavy foam padding for extra protection and comfort. 2023 Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. However, the Bubble Bum is better than forgoing a safety seat and will do well in a pinch. This booster is great for older kids who aren't quite ready to transition to sitting unaided in the car. For under $45, this high-back booster seamlessly transitions to a backless booster when your child is ready. This is the last type of car seat a child needs before theyre ready to belt in on the vehicles seat. It is frustrating to sift through all this stuff and then to find out something isnt even comfortable when the title says most comfortable. Thanks! The UPPAbaby Alta is a high-quality booster seat with better than average crash test results and some useful features for kid comfort. With a relatively compact design, the UPPAbaby Alta features a sleek look without compromising functionality. A car seat is a seat the child sits in and uses a 5-point harness (car seat straps) as their restraint. The back also removes completely for bigger kids to add an additional 10 pounds to the weight range. Added bonus: two cupholders for snacks and drinks. Some booster seats have lots of recline options, while others just have a little bit of recline available to make them flat against the cars seat back. Theres also a one-pull tab to make sure the seat is positioned properly in your car. But something about the design makes it hard to buckle the belt while sitting in the right position. But the brilliant design means that you can still use the seat because theyre another layer of padded seat cover underneath! Key stats:-Weight 19lbs-Highback booster size limit 4yo/40lbs/38 to 100lbs/57; max belt guide 20.5-Backless booster size limit 40lbs/40 to 120lbs/57, Pros: Great padding, including arm rests Supportive head wings Reclines for sleeping (when installed with LATCH) Narrow enough to fit 3-across 9 year expiration, Cons: The 57 height limit means tall kids might need another backless booster down the line Seat is a little shallow in high back mode. Im also a juror for the North American Car, Truck and Utility of the Year. It feels like just yesterday you brought your child home from the hospital, and now you're transitioning to a booster seat. This booster is the lightest product with a back in this review, which may make it an option for carpooling despite its wider size. The 4 Best Booster Car Seats 2023 | Reviews by Wirecutter We researched over 50 booster car seats and tested 12, and we found the Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus performed the best and is. It sits fully upright, so younger car sleepers might not love it. If you are looking for other baby gear, we've compiled a list of award winners for easy browsing. It has a few recline options, but those are more to make it align properly with your vehicle seat back. Many booster seats transition from highback to backless, which usually means they have a larger height or weight range and can be used for longer. If your child returns to school or group activities, you might also want to read our review on a mask for kids. Booster seats help keep kids. A detailed analysis of automobile crash injuries for children indicates that head and chest injuries are the cause of the most significant risks of severe or fatal injuries. 4. It provides head and shoulder protection with 10 positions so you can adjust for comfort and safety as your child grows. The five-point harness holds up to 50 pounds, and once your little one outgrows that, the booster holds up to 110 pounds and kids up to 57 inches tall. Highback booster seats offer shoulder and head support similar to a car seat. Height and weight limits: All booster seats come with minimum and maximum height and weight specifications. That's a huge milestone! car seat! The best chest clip score for the group is 39 for the Peg Perego Viaggio Flex 120. The new Britax high back booster seat family isnt quite as universally beloved as their older models like the Parkway. The Good Housekeeping Institute provides expert reviews and advice on everything a parent needs, including booster seats. Like the Chicco KidFit, the Oobr tops out at 57. This car seat will cater to them for many years, eventually transforming into a booster seat when they are old enough. Many younger kids also find high back booster seats more comfortable than backless booster seats since they can rest against the sides when theyre tired. During her 15 years at Good Housekeeping, Rachel has had the opportunity to evaluate thousands of products, including toys and cars for GHs annual awards programs and countless innovative breakthroughs in consumer tech and home improvement. We also considered price and kept our picks as affordable as possible, with some options under $100. How can I help my kids to sleep comfortably (and safely) on an No sponsored content. A high-back booster provides extra side impact protection that is not available with a backless booster. This roundup of the best booster seats for your car is based on Lab-tested picks, category expertise and real-life consumer feedback. If you have an older booster rider or one whos topping the growth charts, take a look at the new Diono Solana 2 backless booster seat. Some booster seats transition from a harness booster seat to a non-harness booster seat and grow with your child. It comes up between the legs and pulls the lap belt down a little to keep it properly positioned. Your little big kids will ride safely in these high back, backless and combination booster seats. My son has been riding in the Monterey 4DXT for several months now and it has enough padding for him, but *some* kids may not find it to be enough. Each booster must obtain a HIC score equal to or below 1000 to pass the federal requirements. This reclining car seat features the EasyClick LATCH system . Key stats:-Weight 6.5lbs-Backless booster size limit 40lbs to 120lbs/63, Pros: Great padding LATCH to secure it when unoccupied Huge seating area for bigger kids 8 year expiration, Cons: May be too wide for some seats or for 3-across. Key stats:-Weight 13lbs-Highback booster size limit 40lbs/40 to 120lbs/57; max belt guide 22, Pros: Great padding Supportive head wings Excellent fit for smaller kids Easy rigid LATCH installation Narrow enough for some 3-across needs 10 year expiration, Cons: The 57 height limit means tall kids might need another backless booster down the line Does not convert to backless booster seat. Since its fairly narrow and our middle seat isnt usually occupied, Id consider folding down the vehicles built-in center arm rest just to allow access to its cup holders. Diono pioneered the idea of booster seats that expand through the torso. The Clek Oobr also has impressive results for HIC with a 493. Theres a lot to love. The recommendations from both the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and NHTSA are that babies stays rear-facing as long as is allowed by the seat, and at the very least until they are 2 years old. Sitting in a booster seat ensures the seat belt is correctly positioned so the belt rests across a childs body the same way it does for an adult, rather than crossing too high on their smaller frames. If thats not as important to you, the Drift fabric is still nice and quite a bit cheaper. There are a few options for booster car seats including highback or backless. The Chicco KidFit is inexpensive and offers much for families on a tight budget. This unique booster deflates and rolls into its carry bag that can fit inside most backpacks or airplane carry-ons. The Clek Olli gets excellent reviews for comfort thanks to Cleks no numb-bum design. The mifold is the most uncomfortable seat in the review. Youre not required to use LATCH, so I kept the clips retracted for the tight 3-across I mentioned above and that allowed me to scoot the RodiFix closer to the door for more space. Theyve done a great job designing a booster seat that will last forever really, it can go for a whopping 12 years! This seat is heavier and unlikely to be a good fit for travel or the carpool group. Once again, a lower number is desirable. Learn all about the most common car seat mistakes - and how to fix them. Some parents might even be tempted to forgo them (Do not do this!) Our testing puts each booster seat through a multi-point performance analysis that considers everyday functionality and more. For this type of gear, one of the most important regular activities is buckling in and whether or not little ones can do it for themselves. The Nuna AACE may not be easy to find in local stores, but its definitely worth checking out! If you are unsure which kind of car seat is right for you, check out our Best Car Seats Review to get more information. The Alta has a rigid LATCH system that lets you secure it to the car so it isn't free-floating in your car. Its also worth noting that the lap belt in backless mode is too far forward for all but the biggest kids, probably because the back is so robust. It features side-impact bolsters for added protection, washable seat fabrics, two cupholders and seven adjustable height positions for a growing child. 9 Best Booster Seats for Toddlers 2020: High Back & Backless - Parenting The lack of cup holders is the biggest drawback to the Maxi-Cosi RodiFix booster seat for road trips. Its one of only two true reclining high back booster seat options on the market currently. Yoocaa Car Headrest Pillow, Road Pal Headrest, Adjustable Car Seat Head Neck Support, U Shaped Car Sleeping Pillow for Kids & Adults (Black) 1 Count (Pack of 1) 2,484 $2999 List: $32.99 Save $5.00 with coupon This metric's overall result is derived from the crash test results from the crash test dummy's head (HIC) and chest (G) sensor data. Theres also a dial on the back that lets you adjust the width to a maximum of 20 inches. If youre shopping for the most comfortable backless booster car seat for long trips, chances are youve been in the car seat world for looong time. These booster seats are all comfortable, but each product is lacking in some way; the Clek Oobr has a shallow seat bottom which can leave longer legs dangling, the Diono Monterey has less padding than competitors, and the Peg Perego Viaggio Flex lacks armrests, and the headrest isn't suitable for napping. It offers excellent padding and the option to expand the sidewings a little as your child grows. Our reviews also utilize research and observations from various testers to compare each seat's performance. First, the side wings are extremely supportive to remind them to stay in proper seating position. To find the best booster seats, we consider ease of installation, angle and harness adjustments, ease of cleaning, dimensions and fit. My work has appeared in numerous publications including the Boston Globe, Kelley Blue Book, Autobytel, TrueCar and iSeeCars. It is easy to see that the depth and width of the Spectrum headrest would be supportive for napping and help avoid the dreaded floppy head. Some of the premium fabrics offer serious stain protection to make clean-up easy with the inevitable spilled milk after the drive through. Most tweens and teens have their own phone. All Rights Reserved. A convertible car seat accommodates children who are too large for an infant carrier and can be used rear-facing or forward-facing as your child grows. If your family is flying somewhere and then going on a road trip, you might want to consider one of these travel booster seats instead. We contracted with the same crash test facility used by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) to conduct our booster seat crash tests. Look into the Clek Oobr or Nuna AACE. Best Booster Seats (Review & Buying Guide) in 2023 | The Drive When your child is big enough that they no longer need the shoulder guide, they may be ready for a backless booster seat. Convertible seats can be used as an infant back-facing car seat, forward-facing car seat and finally a booster seat. Best lightweight booster seat: Cosco Finale DX 2-in-1 Combination Booster Car Seat. It actually expands in three directions. Thankfully the booster seat itself is low enough that kids will still have the cars headrest behind them for support. The AACE has some awesome features you wont find elsewhere. While testing, our experts found this seat to be easy to install, lightweight and a great value for its low price point. Why would you talk about the diono Monterey in an article about the most comfortable boosters when the kids are complaining it doesnt have enough padding in it?? This scoring method guides our assessment of the products that we believe offer an additional margin of protection above and beyond the basic level of protection present in every other seat on the market (as outlined by US federal guidelines). The deep headwings offer great support if your kid still likes to sleep in the car during those long drives. word! If you have a bigger, older booster rider then the Peg Perego Viaggio Shuttle 120 might be a great choice. While testing, we found it easy to install and were pleased to find it to be made of durable, high-quality materials. 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. The machine-washable seat pad makes it easier to clean up those crumbs and the easy-to-install cupholder is great for storing drinks and snacks. Why New Vehicles Should Have Apple CarPlay Or Android Auto, How To Prepare Your Vehicle For A Road Trip, Conversion capability (height levels or to backless, etc.) Chicco KidFit 2-in-1 : Best Booster Seat for Comfort. We perform tests to evaluate car seats based on their ease of installation, perceived kid comfort, ease of getting kids in and out of the car, advanced features, harness adjustments, height and weight limits, stability and more.