Britax Parkway SG

The Britax Parkway SG is a substantially updated version of the popular original Parkway booster. The narrow profile (a big plus, according to parents dealing with multiple car seats in the back row) is largely unchanged, but the restraint mechanism itself has been completely revamped. CarSeatBlog.com calls the Parkway SG "a very nice booster with a unique safety innovation." This originality, which Britax calls the SecureGuard, is basically a crotch strap that ensures correct positioning and keeps the child from slipping under the seatbelt during a crash (sometimes called submarining). Reviewer feedback on the SG feature has been positive so far, but some parents say their older kids find the crotch strap uncomfortable, especially if they've been out of a five-point harness for a while. The cheaper Graco Highback TurboBooster (*Est. $50) has most of the same features as the Parkway SG (except for the crotch strap), and testers say it's just as easy to use and even more likely to provide a good belt fit in all cars. The newer Britax Parkway SGL (*Est. $135) adds LATCH connectors to keep the booster attached to the car even when it's unoccupied, so you don't have to fasten the seatbelt to keep the booster from becoming a projectile in a crash. The Parkway seats can be used for children up to 63 inches tall and 120 pounds.

The Britax Parkway SG is included in the latest fit-testing report by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, as well as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's ease-of-use tests. CarSeatBlog.com has a full review of the Parkway, with particular focus on the SG (SecureGuard) feature. Amazon.com is also worth a visit for its collection of user reviews capturing parents' perspectives. Robert Glazer at BobbysBest.com recommends the Parkway SG based on his own experience as a parent.