Safest Booster Seat Guide: Helping You Choose the Safest Booster Seat

Car accidents are the leading cause of death in children under 3. When your child outgrows his or her baby car seat, they are still not ready to sit in a regular adult seat and it is essential to use a booster seat to protect their lives.

You will know your child needs a booster seat when one of the following occurs: Your child has topped the height or weight limits of the current car seat. Your child's shoulders are above the car seat's harness slots. Your child's ears have reached the top of the car seat.

Usually children start using a booster seat at age 4 or when they reach 40 pounds, whichever comes later. A child should keep using the booster seat until age 8.

Since booster seats are needed for safety reasons, safety should be the top consideration when buying a booster seat.

So what is the safest booster seat for your child?

There are 2 types of booster seats - with and without a back. The type of seat that is best for you depends on the kind of car that you have.

If you have a car with low back rear seats - the safest booster seat for your child is one with a back to support his or her neck and head.

If your car's rear seats have a high back but the seats are very contoured, the safest booster seat will be a backless model because it will fit better in your car. The safest booster seat comes with a positioning guide that lets you guide the seat belt to the proper height on your child's chest. The guide should allow the belt slide freely and retract fully.

If you are not sure which kind of seat you need, get one with a removable back, such as the Graco Turbo Booster Youth Booster Seat below.

For a high back booster seat I recommend Graco Turbo Booster Youth Booster Seat. The reason I recommend it, is as follows: Scored high by Consumer Reports Easy to assemble and easy to use Adjustable head support and armrests Removable back Allows seat belt to slide and retract easily Washable covers

If your child is very large you might need to get a wider booster seat such as the Compass Premiere Folding, Adjustable Booster. I am not sure if it is considered to be the safest booster seat, but it is comfortable and recommended by parents who use it. Extra wide seat with triple layer padding Larger headrest and deeper side wings 6 position height adjustment folds for easy transport well padded lightweight

For a booster seat without a back I recommend Graco No BackTurbo Booster Car Seat Rated as the safest booster seat without a back by Consumer Reports comfortable lightweight Washable cover

Getting the safest booster seat is not enough. Please remember the following safety tips when you use it:

• Always make sure the booster seat fits in snugly in the car
• Always make sure your child is buckled in properly with the should belt across his chest
• Never leave your child in the car unattended - even for a minute

Wishing you a safe trip,

Sara


Other reviews