Types of Booster Seats

Backless Boosters:

Advantages:

• Lightweight, compact, and inexpensive...perfect for playdates.
• Often preferred by older children as they appear less "babyish"
• Optional shoulder belt adjuster. However, if the shoulder belt is not scratching the child's neck, it's not necessary to use the belt guide.
  

Warnings:

• Don't use a backless booster if the vehicle's seat is lower than the top of the child's ears. This is because the top of the ears is the same height as the bottom of the skull. If the seat back does not come up this high, the child is more likely to suffer whiplash injuries. Instead, use a high back booster.
  

High Back (BPB/Combo)

There are two types of High Back boosters: Belt Positioning Boosters (BPB) and Combination Seats.

BPB: Many of these models allow you to remove the back, turning the seat into a backless booster – this option is very helpful for travel.

Combination: Functions either as a car seat with a 5-point harness for children up to 40 pounds (a few models go to 50 or 65lbs) OR a belt positioning booster for kids over 40 pounds (you simply remove the harness and use the vehicle’s safety belt to secure the child). The back is usually not removable on these models.

Five-year-old using a Belt Positioning Booster.

• A high-back booster with an adjustable headrest will usually give the best positioning of the shoulder belt.
• When compared with a backless booster, a high-back is better for keeping a sleeping child placed properly in the safety belt in addition to providing necessary head support in vehicles with a low seatback.
• According to one study, high-back boosters are more beneficial in side impacts when compared with either backless boosters or safety belts alone – providing 59% better protection. When selecting a high-back booster, look for one with deep side wings that also stick out as close to perpendicular as possible from the back of the booster. This will likely improve protection in a side-impact crash by better containing the child’s head and torso.
  

Warnings:

• Do not use a booster seat where the seat belt does not touch your child's shoulders and chest.
• Do not use a booster seat where the lap belt is not touching the tops of the child’s thighs
• When selecting a high-back booster, make sure to choose one with shoulder belt guides that allow the shoulder belt to slide freely.
• Some shoulder belt guides restrict the retraction of the shoulder belt - when the child leans forward, the shoulder belt pulls forward, but when the child leans back the shoulder belt does not go back in and therefore stays very loose. This is dangerous.
• Be sure that the shoulder belt guide does not pull the belt off the shoulder and onto the arm.
  

• If this happens on your child’s booster, try using the booster without placing the shoulder belt in the guide. If the shoulder belt is not scratching the neck, it is not necessary to use the belt guide.
• If you must use the guide, lock the safety belt by slowly pulling the shoulder belt out all the way before placing the belt in the guide. This locking mode – found in most vehicles made after 1995 - will prevent the child from leaning forward and placing any slack in the belt.
  
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