It’s so important to choose the right car seat for your child, install it correctly, and to use the car seat for every ride in the car. By law, you’re required to protect your child in the car. Sadly, car crashes are still a leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 13. But car seats and restraints definitely matter: According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2017, an estimated 325 child occupants 4 years old and younger were saved by the use of child restraints in passenger vehicles. Though the process of finding the right car seat and installing it correctly can be daunting, you'll rest assured that you’re doing the most to keep your child safe.
The four types of car restraints are: rear-facing, forward-facing, booster seats, and the seat belt. Below are the requirements for each type, according to the NHTSA.
Rear-Facing Car Seat
Birth to 12 Months — Your child under age 1 should always ride in a rear-facing car seat.
1 to 3 Years — Keep your child rear-facing as long as possible. Your child should remain in a rear-facing car seat until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer.
Forward-Facing Car Seat
1 to 3 Years — Once your child outgrows the rear-facing car seat, your child is ready to travel in a forward-facing car seat with a harness and tether.
4 to 7 Years — Keep your child in a forward-facing car seat with a harness and tether until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer.
Booster Seat
4 to 7 Years — Once your child outgrows the forward-facing car seat with a harness, it’s time to travel in a booster seat, but still in the back seat.
8 to 12 Years — Keep your child in a booster seat until he or she is big enough to fit in a seat belt properly. Backless booster seats are more popular with bigger kids and should be reserved for those between 40 and 100 pounds and up to 57 inches tall.
Seat Belt
8 to 12 Years — For a seat belt to fit properly the lap belt must lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach. The shoulder belt should lie snugly across the shoulder and chest and not cross the neck or face. Remember: Your child should still ride in the back seat because it’s safer there.
Booster Seats Save Lives
According to the American Society for the Positive Care of Children, kid booster seats reduce the risk of serious injuries by 45%. Be sure to review the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's information to understand your state’s latest laws and requirements for your child. If you already have a booster seat, you can enter the brand of booster seat you own to see how it ranks for safety.
Child restraining system laws when using car seats, booster seats, and seat belts vary for each state by the child’s height, age, and weight, so check your requirements. For example, according to the New York Department of Motor Vehicles, booster seats are for children who are 4 to 8 years old, and weigh 40 to 80 pounds, and are less than 4 feet, 9 inches in height. You can use a booster seat until an adult seat belt correctly fits the child without use of the booster seat. Always use both the shoulder and lap belts with a booster seat.
Also, make sure your booster seat hasn’t been previously used. Buying a second-hand car seat isn’t a good idea, because it's difficult to determine if it has been damaged by just looking at the booster seat. Another important feature to consider is the LATCH system – a standard feature in most vehicles built after 2002, it’s the most common attachment system for car seats (and one of the safest).
Here, we’re sharing some of the best car seats for 4-year-olds.
Top Rated Booster Seat: Chicco KidFit 2-in-1 Booster Seat
$99.99
from
Amazon.com
Parents love this Chicco kid booster seat because it’s designed with a child’s growth and safety in mind. It features a removable (and adjustable reclining) backrest to create a backless booster seat as your child grows. It also includes foam padding, side impact protection and LATCH installation to keep your child safe, and two cup holders.
Best Value Booster Seat - Evenflo Big Kid Amp High Back 2-in-1 Booster Seat
$27.74
from
Amazon.com
This Evenflo kid booster seat includes six adjustable height positions. It keeps your child comfortable and safe using a high-quality foam liner which is machine washable. The 2-in-1 booster seat includes a backrest that is easily removable to transform into a backless seat as your child grows. It’s rated a Best Bet Booster by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Best Backless Booster Seat: Graco Backless TurboBooster Car Seat
$19.99
from
Amazon.com
The Graco TurboBooster offers optimal safety and comfort. A deluxe, padded seat cushion offers extra comfort and can be removed for machine washing. It features height-adjustable armrests. There are hideaway cup holders for drinks, making this easy to use and easy to clean. Even though this model doesn’t offer a LATCH-supported strap, parents on Amazon say they don’t slide around while in use or when kids get in and out of them.
Best High Back Booster Seat: Graco TurboBooster LX High Back Booster Seat
$79.99
from
Amazon.com
High back booster seats are designed for kids ages 4 to 7 or until your child reaches the height or weight limit. They’re commonly known as the safest booster seat for children because of side impact protection padding, adjustable headrest, and adjustable harnesses to fit comfortably across your child’s shoulders and the straps are connected to keep your kid safe using a one-hand push button LATCH system that makes securing the kids even easier for busy parents.
Best Booster Seat for Travel: Evenflo Maestro Sport Harness Booster
$80.49
from
Amazon.com
Parents are fans of how lightweight this safe and secure booster seat is, which at 9.6 pounds, makes it easy to install into the car and to set into an airplane seat. Pro tip: Purchase a strap to attach this booster to your rolling carry-on bag. Although it’s light it can be cumbersome to carry through the airport. This Evenflo Maestro has a forward-facing harness (22-50 pounds) and converts to a belt-positioning booster (40-110 pounds). It features two cup holders for drinks or snacks.
Best Comfort & Adjustability: Britax Highpoint Highback Belt-Positioning Booster
$159.99
from
Amazon.com
Kids can ride comfortably and safely in this Britax Highpoint Booster which features an adjustable headrest with 10 positions to best fit your child. It’s also made with color-coded belt guides to easily and securely position your car’s seat belt to the seat. This booster is designed with three layers of side impact protection featuring external impact cushions, an easy-to-clean knit fabric, and dishwasher-safe removable cup holders. The adjustable crotch strap can be tightened or loosened to fit your child as she grows.
Best Booster Seat Design For Big Kids: DiOno Cambria 2 Booster XL Space
$71.99
from
Amazon.com
The DiOno Cambria keeps your child secure and comfortable in this high back or backless booster. It has a LATCH system and adjusters as well as side impact protection. The high back booster seat mode holds up to 120 pounds. This is a wide booster with an ergonomically contoured seat that prevents slipping and has extra length for better leg support. The easy one-hand adjustment of the headrest has six different positions to allow for your child’s growth. The easy-to-remove covers in upgraded fabrics are machine washable. It also has retractable cup holders.
*Psst: if you choose to purchase an item from this post, Cafemom may receive a small cut. Each item and price is up to date at the time of publication; however, an item may be sold out or the price may be different at a later date.
