The 4 Best Booster Car Seats of 2024 Reviews by Wirecutter

They can be adjusted to keep them out of the way when not in use, which might make them easier to keep clean. However, they are not removable, so you’ll need to take the entire seat out to tip it over to remove crumbs. We were able to get our test water bottle in the holder and not have it fall out. When you don’t have much going on, it isn’t hard to be easier to use.

There isn’t much to this, and even the armrests are attached with just Velcro, which we can’t imagine will last over time. It also doesn’t even install in any way, so if there is not passenger, you’ll need to buckle it in place to prevent it from free roaming in your car. graco car seat As one of the few backless options we tested, it isn’t a huge surprise it didn’t score well for comfort compared to the competition. While it is obvious you won’t have the nice side or support of competitors, what might not be obvious is the discomfort of the seat itself.

The graco car seat is not the most luxuriously padded seat on the market, but it’s soft and padded enough that my daughter seems content in it.Support and SafetyAs I said, I trust the Graco brand and their safety tests. My only complaint is that the seat belt sometimes works its way out of the positioning hook in the seat. It’s easy to thread it back in, so I always check it when buckling my daughter in.Ease of UseThe Graco TurboBooster High Back is easy to use. My daughter can climb in and out herself and it’s easy to buckle her in. The only hassle with the seat is the issue of occasionally needing to re-thread the seat belt through its guide hook.DesignThe design of the Graco TurboBooster is fine. Fortunately, we’ve never been in an accident with them (knock on wood) but for everyday use they’ve been fine.

graco turbobooster

I wish it were just a bit more narrow to accommodate multiple boosters side-by-side together. Parents often look forward to transitioning their kids from one stage to the next. But, as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has pointed out, car seats are one area where delaying a transition is the better thing to celebrate. Each transition—from rear-facing to forward-facing, from forward-facing to booster seat, and from booster to seat belt alone—reduces the degree of protection to the child. Also, a high-backed booster seat is better at keeping children positioned correctly, especially if they frequently enjoy sleeping in the car.

This model liked the TurboBooster a lot, but since he’s at the top of the charts for height and off the charts for weight, I think he would have liked it even better if it offered more room at the hips and shoulders. The RightGuide arrives attached to the backless portion of the TurboBooster Grow via a red tab that folds back into the RightGuide and a black tab at the back of the RightGuide. To release it, press the button on the front edge of the booster and the RightGuide will pop up. The lower anchor connectors are connected to the seat via some webbing that runs underneath the bottom of the baseless portion of the booster. They’re not accessible from outside the seat so if they get twisted, there’s no easy way to untwist them.

It also has expandable cupholders and a built-in handle on one end. We also like that this seat is relatively slender—making it possible to fit three across, depending on the vehicle. The GoFit Plus weighs 6 pounds, so it’s not the lightest option, but it’s about average for boosters with LATCH.

The seat is the same width at the base (17 inches) as our Chicco high-back pick, so it’s possible to fit three across in most cars. This seat is narrow enough for most kids to be able to buckle themselves in. 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. It has a weight range of 40 to 110 pounds and a height range of 38 to 57 inches (the same as for our top-pick Chicco in backless mode). The shoulder belt must fit diagonally across a kid’s chest. And the lap belt must fit over a kid’s thighs, not their abdomen; otherwise the abdomen could be injured by the seat belt in the event of a crash.

I’m so sad to tell you that he passed away this summer and I’m now heartbreakingly free to assemble seats without his dedicated assistance. Indication of whether a seat has an adjustment for the width of the seat back in highback mode. Width of seat base (inches) as measured from underside of seat. A 13.5% Buyer’s Premium will be added to the final Sales Price. All applicable taxes will be assessed based on the sum of the sales price and buyer’s premium.

In-house testing is performed by and under the guidance of our onsite Certified Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Technician, Bob Wofford, father of 7. Bob works with Senior Review Editors, Wendy Schmitz and Jessica Riconscente, Senior Review graco turbobooster Analyst. Wendy, a mother of 2, uses her science background to analyze crash test results and ease of installation. It is essential that your child ride in the type of car seat that is appropriate for their size and developmental stage.

Ensure that the child sits with their back against the seatback and that the seat belt or harness is properly positioned across their chest and hips. The lap belt should rest low on the hips, touching the upper thighs, while the shoulder belt should cross the center of the shoulder without slipping off. The belt guides are fairly large so it’s pretty easy for my kiddo to use. It also includes a shoulder belt guide adjuster that tucks into the bottom of the RightGuide. Small and easy to carry is the name of the game when it comes to finding a boost for travel or everyday carpooling to school or camp.