The Monterey XT is a great booster for any booster-ready child, especially those with larger builds. It is easy to install and use. The lower anchor connectors, cup holders, and adjustable width are all very nice features that make this seat uniquely customizable. While it is bulky and won’t work well in a three-across situation, the Diono Monterey XT is definitely a great seat for bigger littles.
Graco already has an impressive lineup of long-lasting convertible car seats. The 4Ever Extend2Fit is a combination of two other popular seats: the Extend2Fit and the 4Ever.
The 4Ever Extend2Fit combines the 4Ever’s four modes of use: rear facing, forward facing, high back, and backless booster with the Extend2Fit’s 50 pound rear facing weight limit and extendable foot tray.
Nuna staked their claim in the car seat market with the Pipa rear facing only car seat and has expanded their easy-to-use offerings to include the RAVA convertible car seat and AACE booster seat. Their latest addition to their lineup took the popular Pipa rear facing only car seat, removed a staggering 2 pounds of weight, and created the ridiculously lightweight Pipa Lite.
The Idan is a very stylish addition to the gb lineup. Unfortunately, it has too many flaws for us to be able to recommend it. Here’s a quick summary: the headrest positions the baby with the chin against the chest, the straps are virtually impossible to tighten, the manual gives unclear instructions about the infant insert, and the straps twist almost every time you use them.
Combination car seats fill an important gap in the car seat market — forward facing only seats that allow children to remain in a harnessed car seat until they’re truly ready to move to a booster seat. We’d like to introduce the Cosco Finale, which comes in at the staggeringly low suggested retail price of $49 for the base model and $59 for the more plush cover.
If you’re looking for a lightweight, relatively narrow, inexpensive booster, cast your gaze towards the Evenflo Big Kid Sport.
The Graco TurboBooster has been a solid, well-fitting, popular booster seat for many years for good reason! It is lightweight, very simple to assemble and use, and fits a wide variety of children well. It’s also budget friendly, making it a good choice for many families.
We’ve all been there. You’re driving down the road, everything is going fine and then all of a sudden you have to slam on your brakes. While you’re working hard not to hit the car in front of you that stopped so suddenly, your purse on the seat next to you hits the floor, your child’s backpack on the empty vehicle seat next to them hits the back of the driver’s seat, and the stack of mail on the center console goes flying.
Don’t leave a tether strap hanging! A tether strap may have a long tail to accommodate anchors that are far from the vehicle seat. Be sure to appropriately bundle and store the excess so it doesn’t get caught hanging outside of the vehicle or create a strangulation hazard for a child.
Installing three car seats in one row, also known as three across, is one of the biggest challenges a growing family can face when it comes to car seats. The words “three across” might send fear down the spine of any caregiver or CPST, but they don’t have to!
