Different booster seats for different ages

Confused about child safety seats? If your infant is under a year old but has exceeded the maximum rear-facing infant seat weight or height (from 22 to 35 pounds and 29 to 32 inches, depending on the seat), a convertible car seat should be used. Convertible seats allow a heavier baby to ride facing rearward until he is at least 2 years old -- the new recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics. When your child hits the seat's height or weight limit for rear-facing, you can turn the seat front-facing. See our separate report on convertible car seats for more information. Although few parents like the idea of cycling through three different safety seats during a child's early years, experts say keeping your baby in a properly sized seat is essential for safety. ConsumerReports.org warns: "Don't be in a rush to transition your child to the next child seat type. Each step forward may actually prove to be a step backward in terms of overall safety."

Combination car seat/booster seats are designed for older children who have outgrown their infant car seats but aren't yet ready for a belt-positioning booster. These seats typically feature a five-point harness (two shoulder straps, two hip straps and a crotch strap, which clip together for extra security) for children typically weighing up to 50, 65 or even 85 pounds in some higher-capacity models. After that, they work with the vehicle's safety belt, positioning the belt low on the child's hips and across the shoulder to protect their delicate abdominal area and neck.

Experts say a five-point harness is safest for children, and that you should keep your child in one as long as the seat allows -- longer than the old recommendation of 4 years and 40 pounds, if possible. But once your child graduates from the convertible car seat (most hold at least the required 40 pounds, but some can hold up to 80 pounds), you can choose to skip the combination seat and go directly to a belt-positioning booster seat. Both high-back and backless booster seats are available, and some seats with removable backrests can function as both. High-back booster seats offer more support for the child's upper body, and many offer foam-padded side wings and headrests for additional crash protection. Backless booster seats are usually cheaper and more portable, but recent studies show that children in backless booster seats are more likely to suffer injuries in a side crash than children in high-back boosters (see Introduction for more).

While more money generally buys more features, that doesn't necessarily mean a better child safety seat. Cup holders, flip-up armrests and plush or easy-care fabrics can offer more comfort and convenience, but they don't affect the booster seat's performance. Reviewers say some extras are worth paying for, though, like the expanded polystyrene (EPS) and expanded polypropylene (EPP) crash-protection foam designed to absorb some of the impact in a collision. Most higher-end booster seats come with side-impact protection wings and headrests containing either EPS or EPP foam. EPS foam is the type most commonly found in bicycle helmets, while EPP is the stronger and more flexible material used in car bumpers. Experts say both offer good crash protection. Features aside, the most important factor in the safety of any type of booster seat is how well it fits your vehicle and your child. Put the below practices to work to insure that you are buying a car booster seat that will keep your child safe:

  • Never buy a used booster seat. Secondhand products can be unsafe because the original owner may have been in an accident, and experts say even a moderate car crash can cause internal damage to a booster seat. Because these flaws may not be visible, a secondhand seat that looks fine can actually be unsafe. Additionally, because products aren't registered in your name, you won't receive recall notices.
  • Note the expiration date. All child booster seats are stamped with an "expiration date," usually of about six years. That's because, over time, plastic products can dry out and degrade, increasing the possibility of cracks and structural flaws in the unit.
  • If your child needs a booster seat before he/she weighs 40 pounds, select a model with a five-point harness. Five-point harnesses possess straps at each shoulder and each hip, which then clip together into a crotch strap to offer optimal security. Their design effectively prevents children from wiggling out or slipping under the safety belt during a crash. Experts say five-point harnesses are safer than seatbelts, and high-capacity booster seats with harnesses that can hold 65 to 85 pounds are becoming increasingly popular.
  • Front harness adjustments are easier to use. Experts say that the easier the harness is to adjust, the more likely you'll make sure it's adjusted properly every time.
  • Check the return policy and keep the receipt until you're sure the seat is compatible with your vehicle. Not all seats fit perfectly in all cars. CarSeatData.org offers a compatibility database to match makes and models of cars with appropriate child safety seats.

Back to top