For quality, we consider the materials and construction of the final seat. We analyzed our purchased competitors’ padding, foam, fabric, and attention to detail. Each component influences the longevity and stability of the booster. We checked the weight and width of each seat at its widest point. The booster’s weight can be crucial if you use it on travel or carpooling. The test dummies include sensors that measure impact forces in the chest.
As we explain in this post on how to clean a car seat, it’s important to follow the instructions; failing to do so can compromise the safety of the seat and/or its textiles. The Britax Skyline is a high-back booster seat with push-button alligator LATCH connectors that can convert to backless. It worked fine, but one of our 8-year-old testers had a hard time getting a proper seat-belt fit. The pretensioner activates after the belt is already locked, to take even more slack out of the harness. While pretensioners and force limiters have been standard in the front seats of vehicles since 2008, they are not standard in the back seats of most cars. Airplane seats have lap belts only, so the TurboBooster LX and all booster seats are not approved for use on airplanes.
Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time). In a sea of similar models, this seat stands out for its superior LATCH and other convenient features. I was able to assemble it without too much trouble — the biggest trick was pushing the little button on the side of the headrest to ease it down into the back portion of the seat.
A backless booster doesn’t offer the support required to keep little ones correctly positioned if they should fall asleep and slump or fall forward. We believe this theory makes sense, and it is why we recommend using a booster with a back whenever possible. However, we think any belt-positioning booster is safer and, therefore, preferable not to use a booster at all. This Graco TurboBooster High Back Booster Seat is a great seat to transition to for my “big kid’s” needs. Every now and then, if I have to stop suddenly, my child moves a little bit forward as well, but with the seat belt.Ease of UseThis seat is great, but its slightly annoying when the bottom unhinges from the top.
The TurboBooster is pretty straightforward and earned a slightly higher-than-average ease of use score. Indicates whether seat offers the ability to attach using the LATCH connectors.
The Diono Monterey 2XT Latch is similar to our top pick in terms of function, but it’s covered in a plusher fabric and has the option of extending the sides through the shoulders. This makes it a good choice for kids who have a wider frame and parents who want bigger children to stay in a high-back booster seat longer. This seat received a Best Bet rating from the IIHS for its ability to provide a proper seat-belt fit. She’s got plenty of room to grow in the TurboBooster LX with True Shield and it offers a good vehicle seat belt fit. She climbed into the TurboBooster LX without any trouble and was able to buckle herself in properly. She reports that the armrests are too short for her tastes — she’s got a fondness for car seats with higher sides around the thighs so I’m not surprised at this.
This was followed closely by the Chicco KidFit Zip Air Plus 2-in-1, Chicco KidFit, and the BubbleBum. All of these options offer features that are easy for parents and kids graco car seat to use and installation methods that are straightforward. The hardest-to-use boosters are the Clek Oobr, Evenflo Maestro Sport 2-in-1, and the Safety 1st Grand 2-in-1.
Press the button or pull the lever upward while simultaneously moving the headrest to the desired height. Release the button or lever to lock the headrest into place. My model is very much her graco car seat own person and she’s not a fan of this guide so we went back to high back mode for the rest of the review period. C-Grade Pallets marked C Grade have been sorted by one of our sorting teams.
The Graco company that creates baby gear launched din 1953, when they hired a new engineer to help create baby-centric products. With the launch of the first baby swing, Graco put itself on the map in the juvenile product world. They continue to make popular strollers, car seats, and more products that families are familiar with. The highest scorer for the quality metric is the Britax Grow With You ClickTight+, followed closely by the Chicco KidFit Zip Air Plus 2-in-1, Chicco KidFit, and the Peg Perego Viaggio Flex 120.
Overall score is based on crash protection, ease of use, and the booster seat’s potential to fit a vehicle and child. The Chicco KidFit Zip Air Plus 2-in-1 and the Maxi-Cosi RoadiSport come in second place for comfort in this group. The most uncomfortable options are the Graco TurboBooster Backless and the Clek Oobr. The lack of a back and napping headrest hurt the score for the backless option, while neither offered suitable padding that was supportive and compressed to avoid pressure points. Boosters are positioning devices, meaning the car’s seat belt is responsible for restraining the child.