Last year, we discussed the science behind why rear facing is safer than forward facing for toddlers and children through four years of age. In this edition of the Science Junkie’s Guide, we will look at booster seats and why they are important for children all the way through puberty. We have also briefly touched on how boosters provide a better fit for children who are nearing the legal age or height to no longer need a booster seat.
Ilana has a long torso for her age and doesn’t have much room left in her other boosters. She needed something taller (the third row of the Town and Country doesn’t work for backless boosters and with five kids in seats, moving her isn’t an option). The van has had problems with Safety 1st boosters in the past, but it was a good price and super cool, so decided to give it a shot.
Let’s be honest, all day at a dealership trying car seats in all the vehicles would be a dream come true. Ain’t nobody got time and well, the dealership wants to sell those cars without us in them. So, we are just going to make do with a 2007 Chrysler Town and Country and a 2012 Dodge Journey. My CSFTL colleague, Jess, and I both have three kids, in seats, in one row. This is our reality and we know it’s many other’s reality as well for many reasons.
My daughter rode in a harnessed car seat until right around her seventh birthday. Once she’d outgrown all of her harnessed seats by height, the best option for her became a high-backed booster.
Once your Little has outgrown a harnessed seat and is ready for a booster seat, the choices can be a bit overwhelming. There are a wide variety of booster seats on the market, high back, backless; with large belt guides, lots of padding; small belt guides, minimal padding, the options seem endless. At CSFTL, we know how challenging it can be to choose the right booster for your Little. Peg Perego, an Italian children’s product company, makes the luxurious Viaggio HBB 120 booster, the star of this post.
*This seat has been discontinued* Looking for a lightweight booster or one that fits bigger kids? The Harmony Olympian booster may be for you!
Finally a booster for big kids that doesn’t look like a booster! Safety 1st hit it out of the park with this one. With the minimums to use this booster being 6 years old, 47 inches and 60 lbs., this is not a seat for the Littles.
It is well-known on the CSFTL website that kids need to be in boosters until 10-12 years old, but finding the booster that fits your child well, fits your vehicle well, and will last can be tough. Evenflo has finally brought their E3 technology into the booster world and their new booster might be that perfect one for you! Check out the RightFit that Evenflo so generously provided for this review!
Ready for a backless booster for your not so little Little or maybe you need to have spare boosters on hand for friends or when your child travels with others? The price of the Harmony Youth booster and compact size make it a great option for many reasons. Let’s check it out!
The Graco TurboBooster is likely the most popular booster seat on the market today. It has so much going for it — it’s light weight, easy to use, and fits most children well. The same basic design has been available for well over a decade. Child Passenger Safety Technicians and caregivers alike are fans of the TurboBooster because of its simplicity and excellent belt positioning. At the very reasonable $50-$60 price for the highback version, and $30 or less for the backless version, it’s an excellent option for many families.
