(The Chicco GoFit is identical to the GoFit Plus, but without LATCH; it costs about $10 less. Side-impact safety tests revealed that catastrophic head, neck, spinal injuriesand even deathcould occur in those under 40 pounds involved in a crash. And since the majority of caregivers we surveyed declared a strong preference for boosters with LATCH, we considered the presence of LATCH to be a plus. Deep design with overlapping head and body sides It also has a narrow, space-saving frame, at 17 inches across at the base and 19 inches at the widest part of the backrest; this should allow for fitting three seats across in many vehicles. Passenger weight and height limits for high-back mode: 40 to 100 pounds; 43 to 57 inches, Passenger weight and height limits for backless mode: 40 to 100 pounds; 43 to 57 inches. With that said, there are potential advantages to getting a booster with LATCH. The biggest compromise with the TurboBooster LX is that it has hook-style LATCH connectors; theyre the least user-friendly type of LATCH. The cover on the GoFit Plus is made from a polyester knit fabric thats different from the material on the KidFit ClearTex Plus (the latter has a Greenguard Gold Certification, ensuring low VOCs; the GoFit Plus does not); the fabric still has a nice feel to it. (We have not tested any of those for this guide. The seat can be reclined, and it converts from high-back to backless. Given the effectiveness of pretensioners and force limiters, why havent they become more common in back seats? The KidFit ClearTex Plus has a sporty, modern look and satisfying curves. So the most effective strategy for keeping your kids safe on the road is to choose a car seat that works well for your family, and to use it correctly. You could save your child's life. (If your child must ride in a vehicle that doesnt have a shoulder belt, youll ideally want to find a five-point harness that can accommodate their height and weight.) All of our background research and information gathering led us to conclude that the ideal booster seat would: Be easy to use safely: A boosters ability to deliver a proper belt fit is what makes it safe, and several factors contribute to achieving that fit. Kids said the KidFit ClearTex Plus was comfortable to sit in, or, as one kid put it, It feels fine. If money is no object: The Clek Oobr is an astonishingly expensive high-back booster seat. This seat is relatively slendermaking it possible to fit three across, depending on the vehicle. Everything we learned in no way diminishes our faith in the mandatory, regulated crash testing that the government requires of all car seat manufacturers; it is essential to maintaining high safety standards and accountability. The Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus weighs about 10 pounds and is easy to install and remove, thanks to a cleverly designed LATCH system. But for those times you want or need a backless booster (carpooling, traveling, going to Grandmas house), we wanted to be able to recommend a great option. This seat converts from high-back to backless mode. (Collapsing the cup holders saves a bit of space.) If youd prefer to use this seat without LATCH or are in a circumstance where LATCH anchors are not available, such as a third row, the RodiFixs LATCH connectors can be retracted so theyre out of the way. The KidFit ClearTex Plus converts from a high-back to a backless booster. Pretensioners and force limiters have been standard in the front seats of vehicles since 2008, and, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), they can lower the risk of death by 12.8% (PDF). You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. Youll find instructions and diagrams on the ProPublica website here. Theyre larger than those on the Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus, so some kids might not be able to see as well around them. A carrying handle makes the GoFit Plus easier to transport. It is the only one of our picks that has rigid LATCH (meaning the seats LATCH hooks are on adjustable metal bars rather than dangling straps, making them easier to line up and attach to the cars anchors). The KidFit ClearTex Plus seat in backless mode. When we began working on the update to this guide, in late 2021, we were open to pursuing independent crash testing once again, eager to take a thorough and comprehensive approach that would arm us with information to inform and improve our decision-making. Passenger weight and height limits: 40 to 120 pounds; 40 to 57 inches. There are lots of really solid backless booster options out there, but the GoFit Plus has a winning combination of essential features and thoughtful touches. Well be interested to see what type of LATCH the new seat employs, as well as how much it costs. drinks close by, allowing you to stay focused on the road while driving. Our main gripe is that it has hook-style LATCH connectors, the least user-friendly type of LATCH. She pointed out that the boosters padded areas have a noticeably firm and stiff feel, which her son didnt mind, but some kids might prefer more cushioning. The kids also reported on how well they were able to see out the window and whether they were able to get and stay buckled in comfortably. As my 8-year-old explained to me, it has the look and feel of a more-grown-up seatless like a five-point harness seat and more like something an older child would want to sit in. Be versatile: The best booster seat is the one that will get used, so we sought out seats that would work for various lifestyles. The seats relatively narrow footprint may allow for three across in the back row, depending on the vehicle. For this update, we tested 12 models of high-back and backless booster seats, and weve made new picks. The back of the seat is deeply curved, creating a pleasant, almost hug-like effect. A graduate of Syracuse University, Nicole currently lives in New Jersey with her husband. Once theyre ready, the back quickly removes for a These seats are for school-age kids who are generally at least around 40 pounds and 40 inches tall, and who are readyboth physically and developmentallyto graduate from a five-point harness seat. If your primary goal is a compact backless booster for travel, you may prefer an ultralight model, like the 2.2-pound Cosco Rise. It has the main features that matter in a high-back booster and costs less than our top pick, the Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus. This article was edited by Ingela Ratledge Amundson and Kalee Thompson. For the first version of this guide, published in 2018, we elected to do independent crash testing on the booster seats that we considered as our top contenders. But LATCH is not actually required for a booster seat to function safely. And the GoFit Plus is not inexpensive; there are cheaper backless boosters to be found (particularly if youre willing to forego LATCH), but we found its a good value for the quality. When you are considering booster seat safety and where youll be placing the booster within the car, its important to find out which safety features your car has and where theyre located. It also has expandable cup holders and a built-in handle on one end. But multiple experts told us that, as advanced as todays crash-testing tools are, they arent advanced enough to reliably differentiate among a set of well-engineered seats or to tease out an A+ from an A-. Also, the addition of LATCH to a booster almost always translates to a higher price tag. machine-washable for easy cleaning. After researching dozens of seats and testing 12, weve concluded that the Graco Extend2Fit Convertible is the best convertible car seat for most families. It feels smooth and substantial to the touch. In fact, in some cases, the data that crash testing yields can actually be misleading, and it might encourage us to draw the wrong conclusions, experts advised. Infant, convertible, and forward-facing five-point harness seats require a child to weigh under 40 pounds to use LATCH as the sole method of installation; once a child is over 40 pounds, the car seat must be secured using a seat belt. Its heavier than the other high-back picks, which may not be ideal if its being moved around a lot. Comes in a choice of fun colors and patterns to let your childs individuality shine. You can continue to use a seat after a minor crash if all of the following criteria are met: Youre able to drive away from the crash site; airbags did not deploy; the passengers are uninjured; the car seat has no visible damage; and the vehicle door nearest the car seat is undamaged. 2022 Evenflo Company, Inc. She joined the team in 2018 as a Staff Writer and was promoted to SEO Editor in 2021. The seat is covered in a 100% polyester fabric thats easy to spot-clean; when we covered it in juice and crackers, they wiped right off with a damp rag. The KidFit ClearTex Plus is easy to install and remove, thanks to its alligator-style LATCH connectors, which are equipped with a clever tightening mechanism called SuperCinch (you just clip them to the vehicles anchors, and then pull on a center strap at the front of the seat to tighten and snug the seat into place with one tug). Weve tried scores of seats with our own kids, enlisted multiple families to put our top contenders to the test in the real world, and carefully considered the feedback of opinionated 4- to 9-year-olds. For the 2022 update, I consulted representatives from Chicco, Graco, Diono, Maxi-Cosi, Evenflo, UPPAbaby, and Britax. The armrests, cup holder, and seat pads need to be attached, and it takes a moment to connect the top and bottom half of the seat. The Chicco GoFit Plus backless booster is the best of all the backless-only boosters we tested. Tops of the childs ears are at or below the top of child restraint headrest, Minimum age 4 years old. Some storesincluding Target, which holds an event twice a yearsporadically offer trade-in events; bring your old seat to the store, and the store will get rid of it for you responsibly, typically offering a coupon toward your next purchase. The seat adjusts quite easily between Position 1 and Position 2, tilting back by about 8 degrees (or 2 inches). The Britax Skyline is a high-back booster seat with push-button alligator LATCH connectors that can convert to backless. Since younger kids have small frames that are not well matched with adult seat belts, it is the job of the booster to raise and position a kid so that the lap and shoulder belts fit properly across their body. Due to availability issues for the Highpoint, we were unable to test it for this guide. To make the conversion, you detach the top half from the bottom part by pulling on a lever and lifting up. Its 17 inches wide at the base and 21 inches across on the backrest at its widest point. Attaching the booster to the car will help prevent the seat from shifting around when a child is getting in or out, and it will keep the seat securely in place when unoccupied and prevent the seat from becoming a projectile in the event of a crash or sudden stop. The seat cover can be removed by detaching a series of elastics from their loops; the cover should be machine-washed in cold water on the delicate cycle with gentle detergent, and then air-dried before being put back on. Dispose of your seat when the time comes: Car seats expire; booster and convertible car seats generally have a longer usable life (around 10 years) than infant seats do (five or six years). As we explain in this detailed post on how to clean a car seat, its important that you follow the instructions carefully; failing to do so can compromise the safety of the seat and/or its textiles. The KidFit ClearTex Plus was better than any other seat we tested at securely and comfortably positioning the strap on the correct part of a kids shoulder. Learn more. The LATCH system on the KidFit ClearTex Plus, which Chicco calls SuperCinch, can be tightened and released with one hand, and it actually delivers on its name. The weight range for the seat is 40 to 120 pounds (20 pounds more than the Chiccos and Gracos weight maximums in high-back mode). We do not ship to PO Boxes or US territories. My reporting on policy and parenting has appeared in outlets including The New York Times, Slate, The Washington Post, Health Affairs, and Marie Claire. But a Wirecutter editor who has had it for nearly three years can attest to its ease-of-use and overall quality. Schedule a live video call with us and we'll walk you through Provide a good value: We considered seats that cost well over $200. This seat also has some unique advantagesits the only one of our picks with rigid LATCHthat could justify its higher price, depending on your priorities. Maintenance matters, too: The headrest should be easy to adjust, and if a seat converts from high-back to backless, that process shouldnt be a headache. I have three kids (ages 8, 6, and 2), and Id be confident placing my older two in any of the booster picks within this guide. She now covers everything from children's health to parenting trends. The Chicco KidFit Zip Air Plus also has the extra zip-on and zip-off padding and the console compartment, plus an extended leg rest (which makes it look kind of like a lawn chair); our testers didnt find this useful when they tried out a previous generation of the seat, but some kids might like it. Every seat belt locks in a crash; the pretensioner activates after the belt is already locked to take even more slack out of the harness. Press the red button several times while the buckle is in the water. An improper fit could encourage your child to move the belt to a dangerous position, such as behind the back or under the arm. Force limiters kick in later during a crash, allowing a controlled amount of slack back into the seat belt to prevent a too-tight hold that could cause chest injuries. The KidFit ClearTex Plus features environmentally conscious Greenguard Goldcertified fabric, two collapsible cup holders, and the best seat belt threader of any of the high-back boosters we tested. A tester who had been using this seat for several years noted that the headrest had a tendency to slide down after being adjusted; it pulled up as it should, but it would sometimes inch down on its own. But it doesnt have cup holders. However, in February 2022, the IIHS raised concerns about the safety of inflatable boosters; a study using a computerized model determined that an inflatable booster may not have the stiffness required to keep a child from sliding out from under the lap belt upon impact. If you like our favorite Chicco backless booster, but you dont want LATCH: The Chicco GoFit is identical to our backless Chicco pick, the Chicco GoFit Plus, but without the LATCH option. Despite its high price, the RodiFix does not have cup holders, and it also cant be converted from high-back to backless, which may be a no-go for some people. How could they make this claim? The seat also has a quick-release feature that detaches the LATCH connectors with a single (one-handed) pull of a front handleno need to jam your hand between the vehicles seat cushions, fishing for a clip to unhook. When can a child sit without a booster seat? A spokesperson for Chicco confirmed that the issue had been addresseda new, stronger catch to join the two parts was added to all KidFit models made from 2020 onward. (The guidelines related to machine-washing, drying, and appropriate detergent and soap types vary widely from seat to seat.) This seat has a hook-style LATCH mechanism; the hooks are positioned upside down and can be difficult to maneuver, making the seat harder to install and take out. So the RodiFix is the simplest of all the seats to install, and it offers the strongest, most secure connection. (Note: There are many variables that factor into whether its possible to fit three acrossincluding the types of car seats, curvature and dimensions of those seats, and shape and layout of the vehicle itself. We gave extra points to seats that were notably comfy and had qualities that kids would find cool or features that would improve their overall experience, such as cup holders, high-quality fabric, or a recline option. It did not seem to offer any added functionality compared with models that cost less than half as much. High-back boosters are safer because of the additional head and neck protection they provide. These conclusions were made based on the movements of child-size crash dummies during testing. My kids liked sitting in it, as did the other testers. We made sure that our picks would work well in a wide variety of vehicles and circumstances. We read the reviews of booster seats by other media outlets including BabyGearLab and Car Seats for the Littles. The GoFit Plus weighs 6 pounds, which is more than some of the ultra-lightweight boosters we tested (such as the Cosco Rise, at 2.2 pounds), but its weight is similar to that of other backless boosters with LATCH. They responded to detailed questionnaires about what it was like to install and move the seats into various cars, the buckling-in process, whether their kids were able to get a proper seat belt fit once buckled in, the overall look and feel of the seats, and how easy the LATCH system was to use (if applicable). We expected pushback on this, but it wasnt a dealbreaker for our testers, who ended up using their cars cup holders instead. A similar seat in most ways, the Affix is slightly less padded and has a different cup-holder style.). Its lightweight (6 pounds), and it is a very good option for caregivers who want to keep an extra high-back booster in their car or garage in case of carpools. Do not submerge the harness strap. However, there comes a time when a child outgrows the height or weight capacity of a five-point harness seat and develops the emotional maturity to shift to a booster seat. The AAP recommends that kids stay in a belt-positioning booster seat until they are at least 4 feet 9 inches in height and are 8 to 12 years old. Dual-integrated cup holders keep snacks and And it comes with a Best Bet rating from the IIHS for its ability to provide a proper seat belt fit. They are able to keep their back against the vehicle seat. The seat had hook-style LATCH connectors, which are not as easy to use as the LATCH connectors on our current top pick, the Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus, or the rigid LATCH connectors on our upgrade pick, the Maxi-Cosi RodiFix. Width of seat base (at widest point): 17 inches, Passenger weight and height limits for high-back mode: 40 to 100 pounds; 38 to 57 inches, Passenger weight and height limits for backless mode: 40 to 110 pounds; 38 to 57 inches. We looked for seats that, though narrow, have generous height and weight limits that kids wont outgrow too quickly, and for those that can be adjusted or expanded to accommodate older and larger kids. A November 2003 study by the NHTSA found that seat belt pretensioners and force limiters were able to successfully reduce the amount of distance that test dummies moved in a crash, including in the back seat. Booster seats work by enabling your vehicles seat belts to do their job, and the presence or absence of LATCH plays no role in that process. A 2003 study of children ages 4 to 7 found that booster seats are more than twice as effective in reducing risk of injury than seat belts alone. Rigid LATCH creates an extremely secure connection between the seat and the car, preventing any movement or shifting. The RodiFix is as comfortable as it is stylish. (This is no big deal when youre moving from car to car, but it could be annoying when youre traveling or walking through an airport.) Those holders cannot be removed and cleaned in the dishwasher like the Chiccos cup holders. If you like our runner-up high-back booster, the Graco TurboBooster LX, but you dont want LATCH: The Graco TurboBooster high-back booster is identical to our runner-up pick, the Graco TurboBooster LX, but without a LATCH option, and it costs about $20 less. The RodiFixs side wings are adjustable and well cushioned. But if those cases dont apply, then the crotch buckle is likely to be a drawback; several of the older children who tested the Alta found the buckle annoying to use, and it can be a particular nuisance to fasten over a skirt or dress. The seat belt threader on the Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus is similar, but it has more of a diagonal at the entry point, which we prefer. The headrest on the RodiFix adjusts to 12 different positions (more than our other picks) with minimal effort; you just pull upward on a handle. In the event of a crash, its the vehicles safety belt that holds the kid in place. The new test, launching in 2022, could encourage automakers to make these safety devices standard in the back seat and promote other safety improvements to rear-seat restraint systems. I formed my own opinions on the pros and cons of every seat, including install, fit, aesthetics, and ease of use. Most booster seats have an upper size limit for kids thats often 100 pounds (or more) and 57 inches in height. They can do all of the above for the whole trip. 17.5 in. So if youre presented with a LATCH-less booster seat, rest assured that its fully equipped to do the task at hand. To protect the child restraint from damage caused by weather, rodents, and other elements common to garages, the outdoors, and other storage locations, remove the seat pad and thoroughly clean the restraint and pad prior to storage. Our plan had been to crash test the four to six booster seats that had already performed the strongest in our field testing, based on criteria like accessible installation, ability to provide a proper belt fit, and ease of use. Our 2018 testers who tried out the previous generation of the KidFit observed that when they transferred the seat in and out of a car in high-back mode, it had to be held at an angle to prevent the two seat halves from coming apart. The Peg Perego Viaggio HBB 120 is an expensive high-back booster seat with rigid LATCH; it can be converted to backless mode. (A rep for the company was not able to identify any other differences.) Both pieces should be washed in cold water on the delicate cycle with gentle detergent, and then drip-dried before being put back on. Like a regular seat. Our kid testers enjoyed the removable double cup holders, which are dishwasher-safe and made from a flexible material that can be pushed in and out. The BubbleBum performed well in our tests, and we made it the booster pick in our guide to the best travel car seats. keeps your child supported. Meanwhile, the safety needs of the back seat have taken, well, a back seat. Thats why were big fans of seats that can convert from high-back to backless, like our top picks from Chicco and Graco. For a more-thorough wash, the entire cover can be removed; to do this, you partly disassemble the seat and peel off the fabric elements, as detailed in this step-by-step video from Chicco. The RodiFix has a seat belt threader that we like almost as much as the Chicco KidFit ClearTexs. The included belt clip helps safely position the vehicles This system allows you to install a car seat by attaching a pair of metal hooks or clips that are built into the seat to a set of anchors that are built into the car. 15.2 in, 13.25 x Be convenient for adults: By the time a family reaches the booster stage, most caregivers have developed a familiarity with the inner workings of car seats. Youll find instructions and diagrams on the ProPublica website here. Machine wash the seat pad separately in cold water, delicate cycle. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is an independent, nonprofit scientific and educational organization dedicated to reducing deaths, injuries and property damage from motor vehicle crashes through research and evaluation and through education of consumers, policymakers and safety professionals. For the seats that convert from high-back to backless, we asked families what they thought of that process. (All in all, it comes out to just a few minutes extra.) The Aace comes with one cup holder, which is not permanently attached to the side of the seat and falls off easily. Butsurprisinglythey are still not standard in the back seats of most cars. Youve passed the test of carefully checking (and rechecking) the infant seat that carried its impossibly tiny passenger, and you sweated over the umpteenth install of a well-worn convertible seat. Much to our surprise, the more we learned about independent crash testing, the less certain we became that it made sense for us to commission our own lab tests. No one is calling them out on the absence of pretensioners and force limiters in the back seat, Baer said. But we think the price is just way too much to pay for a backless booster (though Clek products do occasionally go on sale). We break down when its safe to make the switch. Subscribe now for unlimited access. I also interviewed representatives from car seat manufacturers Chicco, Diono, Nuna, Graco, BubbleBum, and MiFold. We independently review everything we recommend. Some of us who have worked on Wirecutters car seat guides have opted to keep our own kids in a convertible car seat through kindergarten and beyond. If its a high-back seat with side wings, the shape and size of the side wings should allow for good sight lines and peripheral vision, so that a kid wont be tempted to constantly lean forward to see around them. There are two types of booster seats: backless boosters, which simply raise a kid up to put them in the correct position for the vehicles seat belt, and high-back boosters, which both raise the kid up and offer some support and protection to the head, neck, and upper back. Like our top pick and runner-up, this seat has a Best Bet rating from the IIHS for its ability to provide a proper seat belt fit. Also, by the time the editors (very tall) son was 8, he could no longer sit comfortably in the seat in high-back mode (the lower seat cushion wasnt deep enough), so he had to transition to backless mode. The Institute puts the booster seats it tests into four categories: Our ratings identify boosters most likely to provide good lap and shoulder belt fit. And the lap belt must fit over a kids thighs, not their abdomen; otherwise the abdomen could be injured by the seat belt in the event of a crash. Jermakian said, Im not sure that crash testing would give you meaningful results. Need some real-time help? much time as So when you are considering booster seat safety and where youll be placing the booster within your car, its important to find out whether the car has these features and where theyre located. The Clek Olli is a backless booster seat with rigid LATCH that weighs 5 pounds. In addition to meeting the minimum size requirements, to safely ride in a booster, a child must also be able to sit still in the seat without slouching or leaning over. The Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus is easy to use and nice to look at. This seat has a Best Bet rating from the IIHS for its ability to provide a proper seat belt fit. Take care not to damage any labels. Like our other picks, this seat has a Best Bet rating from the IIHS for its ability to provide a proper seat belt fit. The headrest adjusts to 10 different positions to accommodate a range of different-size kids; the side wings are ample and comfortable, but arent so big that they block kids sight lines. But we aimed for seats that would be strong candidates.) This seat weighs more than our other picks. The seat belt inserts into the threader from bottom to top at a diagonal angle. Unfortunately, cars either have pretensioners and/or force limiters or they dont; its not a modification that can be added on. The seats LATCH connectors, which look like small staplers, project out directly from the back of the seat, making them very easy to connect to the cars anchors. Theres a handle attached to the side of the seat that lets you carry the GoFit Plus like a briefcase; this is a small touch, but its one we appreciated. The seat belt threader on the TurboBooster LX is well designed; the belt slides into the opening smoothly from bottom to top, easily enough for most kids to manage it on their own. Nicole's writing has appeared in Martha Stewart Weddings, Good Housekeeping, The Knot, BobVila.com, and other publications. (However, we wish there were a place to store the connectors when not in use; if youre carrying the seat around, they flap.) Finally, we do think the price for this booster seat is reasonable, considering the quality. As we were working on the update to this guide in late 2021 and early 2022, this seat was being updated, and there was no sample available for us to review. It has a Best Bet rating (which applies only to the high-back mode) from the IIHS for its ability to provide a proper seat belt fit. Federal regulations do not currently require vehicle manufacturers to publicly release crash-testing data. Our kid testers found it comfortable. (Our family has been using the previous version, the Big Kid, for several years, and its my 6-year-olds booster of choice over the higher-priced options that we have on hand.). The included belt clip helps safely position the vehicles belt on the childs shoulder. We researched which seats have received the highest independent ratings for providing a proper belt fit. Both organizations are wholly supported by these auto insurers and insurance associations. The alligator-style (see the mouth shape?) And to identify trends and themes, we combed through consumer reviews on sites like Amazon, Walmart, and Target. The Maxi-Cosi RodiFix has a luxurious look and feel. Because of the additional protection they provide, we recommend high-back boosters for regular use until a kid outgrows the height limits of the backrest. Since kids in boosters are often able to clearly articulate their opinions, their feedback was extremely valuable; we were curious to get their thoughts on everything from cup holders to cushions to armrests. But a booster thats well engineered, with thoughtful features, can help provide a safer fit, a comfier ride, and a more pleasant overall experience for you and your kids. Parents often look forward to transitioning their kids from one stage or milestone to the nextand plenty of junior passengers may try to cajole adults into letting them graduate to a big kid seat.