Booster Seats: Reviews

Once your child has outgrown the five-point harness, experts say the next-safest car seat is a high-back booster that works with your car's own seatbelt. The Graco Highback TurboBooster is the best booster seat overall --… expandit's one of the few booster seats that fits well in almost any vehicle, and it boasts the same kind of padded, adjustable head support and reclining backrest that you'll find on more expensive booster seats. At $50, parents and experts say this comfortable, easy-to-use booster seat is an excellent value. It works for children up to 57 inches tall and 100 pounds. You can remove the backrest and use this as a backless booster (a Graco Backless TurboBooster (*Est. $25) is also sold on its own), but government experts say you must use a booster with a high back if your backseat has a low back or no headrests. Recent studies also show that high-back boosters provide more protection in a side crash than backless car booster seats. collapse

If your child has outgrown his/her convertible car seat, experts say the safest next step is a booster seat with a built-in five-point harness (with straps at the shoulders, hips and crotch) to keep kids secure. The Graco… expandNautilus 3-in-1 can keep kids in the full harness until they weigh 65 pounds; it then converts to a belt-positioning booster seat for kids up to 57 inches and 100 pounds. Parents appreciate this child booster seat's versatility, and reviewers say the Nautilus is comfortable for kids and easy to use. Experts also like the Nautilus' side-impact protection wings, energy-absorbing EPS foam and supportive headrest, and the Nautilus car booster seat gets top scores in an independent crash test. This isn't a highly portable seat, though. Its 26-pound weight and bulk make it a less attractive alternative for moving in and out of cars. If your child is ready to use a regular booster seat, reviewers say the Graco Highback TurboBooster (*Est. $50) and fold-up The First Years Compass B570 Pathway (*Est. $95) are lighter and slimmer. collapse

Experts say high-back booster seats protect children much better in a side crash than backless boosters do, and parents say high backs provide head support for naps, too. But if you decide to use a backless booster seat,… expandthe Graco Backless TurboBooster gets the best ratings. It gets high scores in frontal crash tests, although it doesn't always provide the best seatbelt fit in all cars (check it in your car with your child to make sure). The Graco Backless TurboBooster is rated for children from 40 to 100 pounds and 40 to 57 inches tall. For $25 more, the Graco Highback TurboBooster (*Est. $50) provides a good belt fit in almost all vehicles, boasts better side-crash protection and can be converted to a backless child booster seat. collapse

The First Years Compass B570 Pathway's fold-up seat and carrying handle make it a good choice for parents who frequently change cars and want to use the same child booster seat. This model features flip-up armrests, a… expandheight-adjustable backrest and an EPS foam headrest with side wings for extra protection. It also has LATCH connectors to keep it anchored to the car even when it's unoccupied (with other booster seats you're supposed to buckle it in at all times to keep it from flying around the cabin in a crash), and its adjustable shoulder-belt pathway ensures a good seatbelt fit in almost all vehicles. Still, if you don't need a fold-up car booster seat, the cheaper Graco Highback TurboBooster (*Est. $50) delivers an equally good seatbelt fit in tests. The B570 Pathway can be used for children who weigh 30 to 100 pounds and are up to 57 inches tall. collapse