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Best booster seats

Chaunie Brusie, R.N.
Written by Chaunie Brusie, R.N. | Oct 23, 2022
BabyCenter selects products based on the research of our editors and the wisdom of parents in the BabyCenter Community. All prices and details are accurate at the time of publication. We may earn a commission from shopping links.
Best booster seats

When your child outgrows a convertible car seat, it's time to choose a booster seat. These keep kids safe by boosting them higher so the car's lap and shoulder belts fit correctly, and your child will need one until age 8 to 12. We analyzed reviews in the BabyCenter Community and sought the expertise of a trained Child Passenger Safety Technician to uncover parents' and safety professionals most-recommended booster seats. Read on to find out which booster seats parents think are best for comfort, adjustability, and more.

Best booster seat overall

Graco Tranzitions 3-in-1 Harness Booster Seat

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This booster is actually three seats in one, making it ideal to grow with your child. It converts from a car seat with a five-point harness to a high-back booster to a backless booster, and can be used for kids up to 100 pounds. Many parents appreciate the seat's light weight and narrow design, which is helpful for fitting three car seats in the back of cars with limited space.

Heads up

Some parents say the Tranzitions is hard to install, so be sure to visit a car seat installation specialist if you have any trouble installing it correctly.

Parents say

"My 4-year-old is in the Graco Tranzitions. It's a good seat, we've been happy with it."

"Tranzitions has some install quirks, but it's narrow and great for when you need to put three car seats across the back seat."

Specs

  • Booster seat dimensions: 19 x 17.40 x 26.50 inches
  • Booster seat weight: 20 pounds
  • Car seat with harness for children 22 to 65 pounds
  • High-back booster for children 30 to 100 pounds
  • Backless booster for children 40 to 100 pounds
  • Machine-washable seat pad

Best long-lasting booster seat

Britax Grow With You ClickTight Harness-2-Booster Car Seat

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This booster uses Britax's ClickTight technology, which makes installation simple. It starts as a car seat with harness and converts to a high-back booster for kids up to 120 pounds, so you'll get a lot of use from this booster. There are two layers of side-impact protection for safety, plus two recline positions to keep your child comfortable.

Heads up

The Britax Grow With You has a steel frame, which is great from a safety perspective but makes it heavy. It's not a seat you'll want to move from car to car. Also, this booster is the most expensive model on our list.  

Parents say

"This ClickTight feature makes installation a breeze – just thread your car's seat belt through, close the ClickTight compartment, and the seat's in tightly."

Specs

  • Booster seat dimensions: 26.50 x 17.75 x 25 inches
  • Booster seat weight: 25 pounds
  • Car seat with harness for children 25 to 65 pounds
  • High-backed booster for children 40 to 120 pounds

Most comfortable booster seat

Chicco MyFit Harness + Booster Car Seat

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The sleek-looking Chicco can be used as a car seat with a five-point harness or as a high-back booster. It has LATCH connectors for added safety and ease of installation. This is an extra-plush, comfy seat with a four-position recline and two removable cup holders to keep your child happy in the car.  

Heads up

Like the Britax, the MyFit is relatively heavy. Also, though the cup holders come off easily so you can wash them, some parents report that kids pry them off when you don't want them to.

Parents say

"We recently moved our 5-year-old to the Chicco, and he loves it. I like that it still has a five-point harness, and it's better cushioned than other seats we looked at."

"We just got our MyFit last week and we absolutely love it. Installation was no problem and very secure."

Specs

  • Booster seat dimensions: 24.5 x 20.5 x 26.2 inches
  • Booster seat weight: 25 pounds
  • Car seat with harness for children 25 to 65 pounds
  • High-backed booster for children 40 to 100 pounds

Best lightweight booster seat

Cosco Finale DX 2-in-1 Combination Booster Car Seat

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An ultra-lightweight and affordable option, the Cosco Finale DX is a favorite with families who travel or need to frequently switch seats into different vehicles. It can be used as a forward-facing car seat with a harness, and later as a belt-positioning booster seat. It's narrow enough to fit three across in most cars. Another plus? The cover comes off easily and can go in the washing machine and dryer.

Heads up

The Cosco is lightweight and affordable, but it's not the comfiest. If plush padding for long rides is what you're after, this isn't the seat for you.

Parents say

"We traveled with a Cosco Finale DX and it was relatively light and easy to install."

Specs

  • Booster seat dimensions: 18.2 x 19 x 29.8 inches
  • Booster seat weight: 11.5 pounds
  • Car seat with harness for children 30 to 65 pounds
  • High-backed booster for children 40 to 100 pounds

Easiest booster seat to adjust

Evenflo Maestro Sport Harness Booster Car Seat

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The Evenflo Maestro is similar to the Cosco Finale DX – it's a lightweight and more affordable option. It works as a forward-facing car seat with a harness, then as a high-back booster. Parents appreciate the up-front harness adjustment capabilities, as well as the shoulder belt guide to help you get the seatbelt in the correct position. The cover is removable and machine-washable.

Heads up

Some parents say this seat doesn't have enough padding and feels flimsy, and that they would only use it as a backup seat for travel or for car rides with occasional caregivers.

Parents say

"The Maestro is very lightweight and convenient. My kid is 4 and a half, and he rides in a Maestro in my mom's car."

"Maestro is light and easy to install."

Specs

  • Booster seat dimensions: 19 x 17 x 27.50 inches
  • Booster seat weight: 9.6 pounds
  • Car seat with harness for children 22 to 50 pounds
  • High-backed booster for children 40 to 110 pounds
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What is a booster seat?

A booster seat is a necessity to keep your child safe in the car after he or she outgrows the car seat. Booster seats raise your child up so that your car's seatbelts fit your child properly and don't cause injuries in a crash.

Booster seats come in a few configurations: High-back, backless, and high-back-to-backless (these have a removable back). All are good choices, but the best type for your child depends mainly on the type of seats you have in your car. (Learn more about choosing a booster seat.)

You use the booster seat with your car's lap and shoulder belts, and the booster positions these belts so they fit your child safely. Though some boosters secure to the car with lower anchors and tethers, many are just held in place by the seat belt when you fasten your child in.

Note: Some boosters can be used like a car seat with a five-point harness, then convert to a traditional booster when your child outgrows the harness. And some convertible car seats known as a 4-in-1, 3-in-1, or all-in-one convert from a car seat to a booster that holds kids up to 120 pounds. If you have one of these, you won't need to buy a separate booster seat.

When to switch to a booster seat

Experts say to hold off on moving your child to a booster seat until you have to. A car seat with a five-point harness is the safest way for your child to ride in the car – so wait until your child exceeds your car seat's forward-facing height or weight limits to make a switch.

When to stop using a car seat

Do some research into your state's booster seat laws so you know how long to use one. Some states require that kids use a booster until they're at least 8 years old and 4 feet 9 inches tall. Other states are more lax – but that doesn't mean you should be, too. To keep your child as safe as possible, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that kids use boosters until vehicle seat belts fit properly, typically when kids are at least 4 feet 9 inches tall and 8 to 12 years old. 

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Chaunie Brusie
Chaunie Brusie
Chaunie Brusie is a health and parenting writer, and a former labor and delivery nurse. Her work has appeared in publications ranging from Glamour to The New York Times to Parents magazine. Brusie lives with her husband and five young kids on a small farm in Michigan that’s in the middle of an actual hayfield.
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