Our child development expert, Jonas, has this to stay on the subject: “Consider the recall history of a brand before making a purchase. That said, high-back models without harnesses are often slightly wider and taller than forward-facing car seats to accommodate larger children.īefore you make your purchase, check whether your chosen brand has had any recent recalls. If you're in the market for a booster seat because your little one has outgrown their forward-facing car seat, then this type might not be for you.

Some, however, are just designed for seat belt use. These types of seats may have a three- or five-point harness but can also be used with a seat belt once your kid outgrows the harness. Some forward-facing car seats can also be used as high-back boosters, in fact. High-back booster seatsĪ high-back booster seat is similar to a forward-facing child car seat. They're also much more affordable than high-back booster seats.

Backless booster seats are great for older kids who wouldn't fit comfortably in a high-back model. Since the car’s own seat provides back support with this kind of booster, it’s not recommended for use in cars with low back seats and/or no headrests. Backless booster seatsĪ backless booster seat is a basic model that boosts your child up but doesn’t offer any side or back support. Generally speaking, backless booster seats are better for older kids and high-back booster seats are better for younger children, but there are some exceptions. Two basic types of booster seats exist: backless boosters and high-back boosters. But in many parts of the U.S., it's required by law that children under eight years old use a booster seat. Exact age, height, and weight limits vary from state to state. A booster seat 'boosts' a child up so he’s at the right height for the seat belt to work properly. If a child gets into a car accident without a booster seat, his seat belt could injure them instead of restrain them. Seat belts are designed to work properly on people of average adult height.

Gone are the days when a child could sit in the back seat of a car without even a seat belt to secure them – and rightly so. Does your child need a booster seat?Ĭhild car safety has come a long way since most of today's parents and grandparents were kids. Children are safest in the back of the car until at least age 13 and in a booster seat until they reach 4’9” in height.

Booster seat