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 Verywell Family. When you first start shopping around, consider how well the booster seat you choose will fit in your vehicle. Also consider whether it’s easy for them to climb in and out of the seat, as well as whether they’re genuinely ready for the big switch. We’ve collected the best booster seats on the market to help you narrow down your search. There are two booster conversions, either highback or backless, and the seat has a 10-position adjustable headrest that you can easily lift up to ensure the right fit as your child continues to grow. We think you’ll love the removable, machine washable cover for easy cleaning, two cup holders, and simple LATCH system for a quick and easy install that doesn’t jeopardize safety. Product Weight: 27.93 pounds | Height Range: Up to 57 inches tall | Weight Range: 4 - 120 pounds (weight ranges vary based on conversion) | Age Range: Not Listed | Convertible: Yes | Price at time of publication: $330 The booster features two cup holders, an adjustable headrest, and height-adjustable armrests to keep your kid comfortable as they continue to grow. Product Weight: 9 pounds | Height Range: Up to 57 inches | Weight Range: 40 - 100 pounds | Age Range: Not Listed | Convertible: Yes | Price at time of publication: $60 The headrest is fully adjustable, so that it can grow right alongside your child, and the seat comes equipped with a cup holder and a snack holder. It has a simple design but will keep your child safely buckled in until they’re ready to sit without any booster. Product Weight: 9.11 pounds (seat) and 1.65 pounds (base) | Height Range: Up to 57 inches (height limit varies by conversion) | Weight Range: 40 - 100 pounds | Age Range: Not Listed | Convertible: Yes | Price at time of publication: $90 It also features two cup holders and a removable cover that is machine washable. Kids between 43 and 57 inches and 40 to 100 pounds are able to safely buckle in using a seatbelt when sitting in this booster seat. Product Weight: 4.41 pounds | Height Range: 43 - 57 inches | Weight Range: 40 - 100 pounds | Age Range: Not Listed | Convertible: No | Price at time of publication: $29 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 for easy installation, and even has pop-out armrest covers. Product Weight: 12.1 pounds | Height Range: 38 - 57 inches | Weight Range: 40 - 110 pounds (weight limit varies by conversion) | Age Range: 4Y+| Convertible: Yes | Price at time of publication: $160 Product Weight: 17.25 pounds | Height Range: Up to 57 inches | Weight Range: 40 to 120 pounds | Age Range: Not Listed | Convertible: No | Price at time of publication: $200 Don’t worry about them creating a permanent crumb coating on the cover as you can easily remove and toss it in the wash. The ClickTight technology makes it super easy to install, while the nine-position adjustable headrest and two buckle positions grow with your child. Product Weight: 25 pounds | Height Range: Up to 65 inches (height limits vary by conversion) | Weight Range: 25 - 120 pounds (weight limits vary by conversion) | Age Range: Not Listed | Convertible: Yes | Price at time of publication: $330 Designed for big kids, this seat attaches easily and securely with the LATCH system. You can easily remove the seat cover using the zipper on the back and toss it into the washing machine whenever it needs to be cleaned. Product Weight: 16.6 pounds | Height Range: 38 - 57 inches | Weight Range: 40 - 100 pounds | Age Range: 6 - 10Y | Convertible: No | Price at time of publication: $180
What to Look for in a Booster Seat
Safety
Once you’re confident that it’s time to make the move, keep in mind that every booster seat sold in the U.S. must meet all federal safety standards, so no matter what, when they are installed and used properly, they will keep your child safe. That being said, specific designs vary and you’ll want to choose the one that is best suited for your vehicle, child, and your family’s lifestyle. Something to consider is the size of your vehicle’s backseat and how many car seats or boosters you’re trying to fit. You may need a seat that is more narrow in order to safely install the seat. Dr. Baer says that one of the features in highback boosters that kids love most is also one that parents may want to skip: armrests. Boosters without armrests help “eliminate [a] very common” safety concern: “Studies show that nearly half of all boosters are misused in one specific way, where the vehicle lap belt is routed over the top of one or both of the booster’s armrests," she explains. “This is particularly dangerous as the lap belt is directly over the child’s soft belly, which is exactly where the lap belt should never be.” 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
The most important thing you will need to consider when choosing a booster seat is your child’s height, weight, and general readiness to transition from a five-point harness front-facing seat to a booster seat. A representative from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tells Verywell Family that parents should “keep your child in a forward-facing car seat with a harness and tether until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer.” However, their maturity also plays a role in whether or not it’s time to transition. “The biggest mistakes we see parents make is switching to a booster seat before the child is ready and moving out of the booster seat too soon,” a representative from the UNC Highway Safety Research Center says. “Booster seats are intended for older kids who have outgrown the limits of their harnessed car seats and are mature enough to sit correctly in a booster seat. For many kids, this may not be until they are 6 years old or older."
Ease of Use for Child
By the time your child is in a booster seat, they’re more independent, so consider how easy it will be for them to climb in and out of the seat and whether or not they can reach the seat belt to properly click it in and out as needed.
Booster Type
There are four different booster seat types, according to the NHTSA: a booster seat with a high back, a backless booster seat, a combination seat, and an all-in-one car seat. Dr. Baer also weighed in on the pros and cons of each design. Highback
Lifts the child up so the vehicle’s seat belt fits properlyProvides head and neck support and can minimize whiplashIdeal for vehicles that don’t have headrests or high seat backsKids sit with less leaning and squirming as opposed to backless
Backless
Boosts the child’s height so the seat belt fits properly Ideal for vehicles that have headrests Does not provide support to child’s neck and head or protect against whiplash Good for any time a child is riding in someone else’s vehicle; taxi, Uber, friend’s parents, family member, etc. Good for kids who have outgrown their highback booster but have not passed the five-step seat belt test The vehicle’s seat is too narrow to fit a highback booster
Combination
Transitions from a forward-facing car seat with a five-point harness to a highback booster seat Good for parents looking for a seat with longevityHas all of the advantages of a standalone highback booster seat
All-in-One
Converts from a rear-facing car seat to a forward-facing car seat with harness to a booster seat as the child grows Some, not all, will convert into a backless booster seatOffers all of the benefits of a highback booster and a combination seatThe best option for longevity
Why Trust Verywell Family
Ashley Ziegler is a full-time parenting writer, mom to a 2-year-old and a 5-year-old, and she has personal experience in researching and using forward-facing car seats and highback booster seats. Key considerations she focused on when selecting these products include personal experience, safety features, longevity, and user reviews. At a minimum, children should be at least 5 years old before transitioning to a booster seat, assuming they haven’t met their car seat’s height or weight limits before then.
