The most important consideration when driving with kids is safety. The booster seat is one important piece of safety equipment that helps make sure your child is seated securely and in the right position so the seat belt works.
The age, weight, and height of your child are just a few of the variables that determine which booster is best for them. It’s critical to understand the various booster options and how to select the one best suited for your child’s requirements.
It’s important to know how to use a booster correctly in addition to making the appropriate choice. This involves ensuring that it is correctly mounted in your vehicle and that your child is always securely buckled up. Learning these facts in advance will help keep your child safe on all travels.
| Criteria | Description |
| Age and Weight | Select a booster that matches your child"s age and weight, usually for kids aged 4-12, weighing 40-100 lbs. |
| Seatbelt Positioning | The booster should position the seatbelt across the chest and pelvis, not the neck or stomach. |
| Comfort | Ensure the seat has enough padding and support for longer rides. |
| Backless vs. High-back | High-back boosters offer more support, while backless options are more portable for short trips. |
| Installation | Check that the booster can be easily and securely installed in your car. |
| Safety Standards | Make sure the booster meets current safety regulations and standards. |
What is it?
Children under the age of twelve must ride in cars with special restraints, per traffic laws. Furthermore, if car seats are universally known to be reliable, then many parents may have some reservations about an accessory like a booster. For instance, what age range is it suitable for and does it offer complete safety for a small passenger?
A booster is a chair design that is lighter. With its soft armrests and lack of a backrest, this compact seat puts the child in a more comfortable position than a typical passenger seat. With a booster, the child can ride in the car in comfort and experience no pain when using a seat belt. Furthermore, the child can gaze out the window alongside adults due to the slight elevation even above the standard passenger seat.
The standard seat belt for a small passenger, in the absence of an extra seat, is at the level of the face and neck. Furthermore, the child experiences more discomfort from the seat belt than safety because the car cannot adjust the belt to the height of the passenger. There is a lot of risk if the belt is at neck level. Additionally, the child sits slightly higher in a booster than in a typical seat and is correctly belted in.
A booster is not an extra or secondary child transportation tool. It offers safety—with some caveats less than a fully functional car seat—and is more than just a minor factor in clearing up confusion with traffic cops.
Additionally, if you frequently use taxi services instead of owning a car, invest in a basic, lightweight booster for lengthy journeys. For you, this is truly a great find.
Recall that a small passenger’s 25% chance of injury increases in the absence of a designated child seat. The onus of ensuring a high standard of child safety is squarely on the parents.
Features and device
Different materials are used by child seat manufacturers during production. The caliber of the materials utilized determines the caliber of the final product. Pressed foam, metal, or plastic can be used to make the booster’s frame.
Children’s booster seats with metal frames are thought to be the most dependable and long-lasting; your child will be extremely safe in one of these seats. These models weigh more and are significantly more expensive. These could be the primary drawbacks of this design.
Families who travel frequently might find the plastic frame to be a great choice because it is lightweight compared to its metal counterparts while still offering a high level of protection. But you ought to consider the product’s thickness before purchasing a plastic booster. Minimal load can easily shatter thin plastic.
Parents who are frequently compelled to use taxi services are big fans of pressed foam models. These models are incredibly inexpensive and light. These kinds of gadgets are widely available. However, their strength and dependability are equal, and because the seat structure is brittle, there is little protection for small passengers. Furthermore, these boosters cannot be deemed comfortable.
The device’s frame is covered in soft fabric and has pads that improve the baby’s comfort and convenience in the seat. Consequently, it could appear that all boosters are essentially the same at first glance. However, they may also use various kinds of fasteners. You also need to pay attention to the instructions so that the small passenger in the booster is fixed appropriately and safely.
Install the booster on the back passenger seat if it is fastened to the seat with a regular belt. The small passenger should sit.
The diagonal strap secures the child to the back of the seat when the lower strap of the standard seat belt is drawn to place it at the baby’s feet and through the booster’s armrests.
Ensure that the child’s face and neck are below the level of the diagonal strap.
Complete safety is not guaranteed by this fastening technique. The infant may flip sharply and tumble out of the seat. It is thought that the Isofix system is a more dependable approach. Since the seat is fastened directly to the structural components of the car, this system offers a booster attachment to the car seat with several times the rigidity and reliability. In this instance, the secondary task of fixation is assigned to the standard seat belts.
The guides must be inserted into unique mounts that are situated between the seat and the back of the rear seat in order to install the booster. However, not every car has these extra brackets. The only solution, if your vehicle belongs to this category, is to use regular seat belts to secure the booster.
Selecting the appropriate booster seat for kids is crucial to their safety when traveling in vehicles. To guarantee optimal protection, it’s critical to comprehend the various kinds of boosters, the weight and age restrictions, and the correct installation techniques. Longer car rides will be easier with the correct booster, which not only satisfies safety requirements but also makes your child feel comfortable. Safe operation depends on routine maintenance and fitting inspections.
For what age is it suitable?
According to traffic regulations, kids under the age of 12 must ride in special restraints that guarantee their safety. As a result, a lot of parents are curious about what age children can be transported in booster seats and what age all restraints are intended for.
Every restraint device is broken down into distinct groups:
- For transporting newborn babies, it is necessary to use infant car seats, designed for a weight of up to 10 kg. This model can be used from 0 to 6 months.
- Car carriers designed for transporting children up to 13 kg. These devices can be used until the baby is 1.5 years old.
- Car seats – models designed for different heights and weights. Such devices can be used from 1 year to 3 years. The weight for which car seats are designed is from 9 to 18 kg, depending on the model.
- Devices for children from 3 to 7 years old – they can withstand a load of 15 kg to 25 kg.
- Seats for children from 6 to 12 years old designed for a load of 22 to 36 kg.
As the child grows older, the car seat needs to be replaced with a more appropriate model because age and height-weight indicators are used to choose restraint devices.
When a child outgrows a regular full-size car seat, boosters can be used, per traffic regulations. Children aged three to twelve years old can purchase it, per the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate and the manufacturers. It is appropriate if the child is under 120 cm tall and weighs no more than 36 kg. Additionally, don’t rush to convert to a lighter car seat if your child is still comfortable in a full-fledged one. Furthermore, this freedom of choice is inappropriate when a booster is involved if the car seat can be placed in the front or back passenger seat.
The rear seat of the vehicle is the only place a small passenger on a booster seat can be carried.
However, belts must be fastened differently for children of different ages. Therefore, the lower and diagonal straps of a standard seat belt, for instance, should be tucked under two armrests at the age of three to seven years. The diagonal seat belt must also be drawn out over the armrest once the small passenger weighs 22 kg.
Varieties
Customized cushions and various types of pads do not fall under the category of restraints because they cannot completely ensure the child’s safety. As a result, you can only buy car seats and boosters at specialty auto stores or kid-friendly supermarkets.
During a lengthy drive, a frame car seat offers increased comfort and safety. With extra support and protection for the head and back, a child riding in such a car seat is more likely to survive a lengthy trip. Additionally, some manufacturers in this category offer seats with backrests; these are actually standard car seats that can be made into convertible models. However, these designs work better for lengthy travel.
Additionally, think about models with a table or a cup holder if you intend to drive your child long distances. Perfect for someone who fidgets. Your baby will find it easier to travel long distances and on lengthy car trips as a result. Additionally, a small cup holder that can be concealed in the seat structure is included in some models.
A terrific alternative for parents who don’t own a car and frequently take the public transportation or taxi would be a booster backpack. This incredible device includes everything a parent could possibly need: a cozy seat for the safe transportation of kids, a spacious backpack that can hold a lot of gear for a long walk, and, of course, an orthopedic back support. The manufacturer not only considered comfort and safety, but also health.
Crucially, the booster backpack is lightweight enough that even a child can carry an empty backpack on his shoulders. It also possesses all the required European quality and safety certificates.
A folding booster is another technologically advanced novelty that was just introduced to the market. It is far more advantageous than traditional models in many ways. It is possible to carry the booster in a backpack due to its lightweight and compact design, which makes it simpler to securely and comfortably fit three kids in the back seat. With this gadget, older kids won’t feel like babies. Children from 4 to 12 years old can be transported with a folding booster. This device won’t raise any questions for traffic police officers.
Naturally, inflatable models are also useful for travel. Such a booster folds up easily, even when placed in a bag with kid’s belongings. Although inflatable devices lack the safety indicators of frame models, they still have the following advantages:
- compactness and light weight;
- the ability to take with you;
- low price.
However, a child’s safety is not negotiable, so before making a purchase, weigh the benefits and drawbacks of several well-known models to determine which is best for your child.
Advantages and disadvantages
Boosters have benefits and drawbacks, just like any other product used to transport kids in vehicles. The indisputable benefits are associated with the following traits:
- optimal value for money – undoubtedly, boosters may be inferior to some models of full-fledged car seats in terms of safety, but they are still much cheaper than their counterparts;
- the booster can be used during short trips around the city;
- compact dimensions – these devices do not take up much space in the trunk of the car;
- light weight – also an advantage of all models;
- easy installation – the booster can be attached to the car seat using the Isofix system or using standard seat belts;
- the child is not limited in movement – seats for transporting children do not have additional corners that can restrict him;
- suitable for small cars;
- the booster can be taken with you if you need to go by taxi.
Because the booster doesn’t appear to be a car seat for small children, it will give your little passenger the impression that they are older—something that all kids, naturally, want.
However, there are some issues with the design.
- undoubtedly, in terms of reliability, the booster is inferior to a full-fledged car seat;
- the child is not protected from a side impact;
- since the booster raises the child several centimeters above the level of the car seat, there is a risk of hitting his head on the side window, and not on the door trim.
Parents review these devices in a variety of ways on online forums. While some parents are pleased with their purchase and tell their friends about it, other parents only like big frame car seats. On the other hand, the booster will still be essential for your family if you value portability or compactness in a child transportation device.
How to choose?
When purchasing a booster, the following are the primary considerations:
- The method of attaching the booster to the car seat. Manufacturers distinguish two methods of fastening: standard seat belts or the Isofix system. The latter is a more reliable and safe option for installing the seat.
- What is the seat frame made of: metal, plastic or pressed foam. The level of safety and cost of the product depend on the type of construction.
- The material from which the device is made – give preference to breathable fabrics so that the little passenger does not feel uncomfortable sitting on a hot summer day. The ideal booster consists of four components: a metal frame, plastic, softening material, replaceable upholstery.
- Comfort and convenience – the baby should be comfortable sitting on it for a long time.
- The booster must have a certificate, confirming that this model can be used to transport small passengers.
Models with detachable covers are the best choice for young passengers who are not covered by insurance in case of emergency.
It is important to consider the baby’s age, weight, and height when selecting a model. It’s also preferable to bring the infant along so you can make the best decision. After that, you can select a seat that is more convenient and comfortable for the small passenger based on its width, length, and height. The child’s hands should rest comfortably on the armrests when they are in this position. The booster should not slide across the seat’s surface when they are moving.
The seat’s width shouldn’t be excessively wide or narrow. Recall that you will be using the seat for an extended period of time. In addition to being at ease in the summer, your baby should feel cozy in the car during the winter months when wearing a bulky down jacket.
In addition to not meeting all safety regulations, frameless chairs do not offer a comfortable ride for the infant. A fastener, which lets you adjust the seat belt to the child’s height so that it presses the infant against the back of the seat in the abdomen and chest rather than at the level of the neck, is frequently used by some drivers in conjunction with frameless seats. Furthermore, some manufacturers have made design improvements by adding extra belts to the seats, which also help to keep the diagonal tape of the seat belt away from the baby’s face and neck. The young passenger’s additional belt is situated behind their shoulder.
However, tests indicate that using fest and extra loops is useless. The extra belt may burst in an accident, and the baby may dive during a collision, potentially inflicting abdominal injuries because the fest prevents the child from being fixed at the hip level. As a result, as the Krash-test demonstrated, Fest and an extra loop do not offer total safety and protection for the infant; rather, their utility is limited to situations in which the safety belt rubs against a small passenger’s face or neck.
It is crucial for your child’s safety to select the appropriate booster seat when they are riding in the car. To help you make the best choice, it can be helpful to understand the important requirements, such as weight, height, and age.
It’s crucial to make sure the booster fits correctly in your car and to install it according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The best protection for your child will come from taking the time to check the seatbelt positioning and making any necessary adjustments.
You can be sure that your child is secure and at ease during every car ride if you follow these rules.
