Parents can use this car seat for kids aged 4 to 11 and under 100 pounds without worry. It’s super lightweight, compact size, and easy mechanism make it an ideal choice to be moved from car to car. Suitable for children aged between 4 and 8 years of age, the Safety 1st Apex is an unharnessed booster seat for use with your lap-sash seatbelt. Lightweight and super easy to install, this is a budget friendly choice that doesn’t skimp on features and with a generous six year warranty it will be sure to last the distance. Booster seats use the car's seatbelt to keep kids safe and strapped in, unlike car seats for younger kids that use a five-point harness. There is limited padding on this seat so it isn’t as plush or comfortable as other boosters, but will be fine for shorter trips. The armrests provided give extra comfort and the generously sized headrest makes a comfy nap on the go. The seat fabric can be easily removed for cleaning.

You can learn more about proper seat belt positioning here, and you can find out how different booster seat models hold up in crash tests using the Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance’s compliance database. Readiness KidsEmbrace is the best bet booster car seat because it is easy to install. It can last for up to 8 years. Why buy KidsEmbrace? The InfaSecure Versatile Folding folds neatly for easy transport and storage. Super lightweight at less than 2kg and with a built in carry handle, it is an ideal booster seat for travelling in a hire car to keep as a spare for guests and carpools. Not forgetting safety, the Aspire features integrated Air Cocoon Safety and Secur-Air Technology which effectively manage side collisions in two stages for superior protection. As a forward facing seat which uses your car’s lap sash belt, the arm rests and base are uniquely designed to keep the seatbelt low and flat and minimise forward movement in the event of a collision.

20 of the best booster car seats in 2023

That’s why you must consider the fabric while choosing a car seat. If the fabric is washable, you would not have to run to professionals every time. #5 Accessories KidsEmbrace is the best-bet booster car seat for growing kids. It features seat belt installation and forward-facing orientation. It is designed for kids over 4 years old. It can handle a maximum of 100 lbs and can be increased from 57 inches in height. Safety 1st Store ‘n Go Sport Booster Car Seat: This Safety 1st booster seat doesn’t feature a LATCH system, so installation and transfer are a breeze. There’s also a storage drawer underneath the seat for small items, like sunglasses, a tablet, and more (which we and the kids loved). On the other hand, adjusting the headrest is challenging because you must take the whole seat out to reach a certain piece for adjustment. Moreover, we felt we might break the headrest when changing its height. From our experience crossing the country with all our tots at various ages and stages, and in many different vehicles, here is our selection of the best and narrowest booster seats. 1. Most Versatile Travel Booster: Peg Perego Viaggio Flex 120 – Booster Seat When do you need to start considering buying a booster car seat? Whilst a harnessed car seat meets the needs of your baby or toddler, from the age of around four your child will outgrow their car seat and that’s when they’ll be ready to move on to a booster seat.

When your five-year-old is too big for a car seat, will it be used by a younger sibling or family friend? If so, this type of car seat will prove useful but if not, you may find the next stage group up to be the best value for money. Why We Like It: With a very cool-looking, compact design, this booster seat also positions the seat belt correctly on kids' legs. Travel car seats are bound to get dirty after a few uses. Unfortunately, if your car seat is not easy to clean, you might have a hard time removing the dirt and dust from it. Also, your kid might not get a clean space to sit all the time. For car seats without LATCH systems, they rely on the seat belts children use to install. So essentially, there’s no installation method. The booster seat sits directly on top of the vehicle seat, and children use the vehicle belt to secure themselves and the seat. Dr. Scott says you should only use booster seats with both the lap and shoulder seat belts, not the lap belts alone.Converts from a rear-facing car seat to a forward-facing car seat with harness to a booster seat as the child grows

Our recommendations below take a look at various different narrow booster seat combinations that will grow with your child’s needs. Every parent wants to protect their children and keep them safe when out and about. Ensuring your kids are safe when travelling in the car is especially important, and your choice of car seat will play a big role in this. But, as your child grows, you may be wondering whether they need to switch to a booster car seat and, if so, which one to buy. Here we will give you the lowdown on booster car seats and share 20 of the best booster car seats for 2023 available to buy right now. What is a booster car seat?Many booster seats, like the Chicco KidFit Zip Air Plus and Maxi-Cosi RodiSport, feature colored seat belt paths so kids know where to put the vehicle belt for a proper fit. For older kids (and insistent young ones), look for a seat lightweight enough to carry from vehicle to vehicle. Lastly, consider a machine-washable seat cover for easy cleaning. Cost If there’s a spill, the seat cover easily zips off and is safe to toss into the washing machine. The seat is equipped with seat belt guides, so you will always be assured your child is securely fastened in. It also has a 10-position adjustable headrest, uses the LATCH system to secure it to the car, and even has pop-out armrest covers. The consensus among the kids who rode in this booster seat during our test was clear: They all thought it was super comfortable—and now we understand why. A seven-position headrest, multiple recline options, padded material, and armrests allow for a better fit and added comfort as kids grow. Like the other booster seats on our list, you push a handle on the top of the headrest to make it move up or down.

can provide added protection for your child’s head and torso. It is also helpful to select a booster seat that has seatbelt guides so that you can ensure that the seatbelt is positioned correctly. What is the legal requirement for booster car seats for children? When it comes to actually choosing the style and design of your child’s booster seat, the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center suggests incorporating your kiddo’s opinion into the process. “Kids who are old enough to ride in a booster seat are also old enough to have an opinion about some of the comfort and style choices. Kids are more likely to ride in a booster seat without complaint if they have had a voice in choosing the seat," a rep from the center tells us. A removable, machine-washable seat pad makes for easy cleanup every time. Unsnap buttons on the underside of the base and unhook tabs on the top of the seat to remove the padding. Wash the seat pad in cold water with gentle soap on a delicate cycle and drip dry. Shake crumbs and other loose debris out of the seat and use a vacuum for the rest. Safety is obviously your priority when choosing a child’s car booster seat. You should always buy a car booster seat new, as a second-hand model may have been damaged in a previous collision.The Safety 1st Solo is a convertible and reclining booster car seat, suitable for use from 12 months firstly as a forward-facing harnessed car seat, and then to a booster seat for use with a lap-sash seat belt from 4 to 8 years of age. One of Australia’s safest car seats, it combines long lasting versatility without sacrificing on comfort and safety, and is also a great budget friendly option. Age limit. Most booster seats are suitable for children up to around 8 years of age, however there are some models available that offer an extended age limit of up to 10 years to ensure your child rides in maximum safety for longer. The Apex features Safety 1st’s exclusive Air Protect Superior Side Protection which provides excellent protection from side impact collisions by reducing force through precise releasing of air. This technology exceeds our tough Australian safety standards for booster seats and has undertaken rigorous testing. Tethered/untethered. Some booster seats are tethered, or anchored to your vehicle, whilst others simply sit on top of the car’s seat and are held in place by your child’s weight and your lap-sash seat belt.