Photo: IIHS
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has released their list of the best booster seats. The IIHS ratings are based solely on how well each booster seat positions the lap and shoulder belt, its primary function, and are not an assessment of crash performance or vehicle fit. A well-fitting booster should put the lap portion of the seat belt flat across a child’s upper thigh and the shoulder belt at mid-shoulder.
For this second year of booster ratings, the Institute looked at 60 models and found nine that are considered Best Bets and six Good Bets. Eleven seats evaluated are not recommended as they do such a poor job of fitting the belts. See the list of the Best Bets below. The rest of the ratings can be found at www.iihs.org.
Best Bets:Combi Dakota backless/clip
Recaro Young Sport
Recaro Vivo
Maxi-Cosi Rodi XR
Evenflo Big Kid Amp backless/clip
Eddie Bauer Auto Booster
Cosco Juvenile Pronto
Britax Frontier
Clek Oobr
To conduct this test, the IIHS used a modified crash-test dummy representing the average 6-year old. Engineers measured how well each of the 60 booster seat models positioned the 3-point lap and shoulder belts on the dummy. Measurements made with the belts were positioned in four different locations spanning a range of positions as measured in actual vehicles.
The IIHS test provides an important assessment when choosing a booster seat and educates parents on how belts should fit and what to look for. The IIHS test is based on fit to a dummy that represents an average sized six-year-old child, but as we know, children and cars come in all shapes and sizes, so it’s important to do your own assessment to make sure the belt properly fits your child in their booster. If you determine that the belts fit fine and is positioned properly, then it should provide good protection. Just as we recommend to try a car seat in your car before you buy, it’s also important to try out your child in the seat as well. When assessing booster fit, ask these key questions:
- Does the booster seat position the shoulder belt across the clavicle/collar bone, approximately mid-way between the neck and shoulder?
- Does the booster seat position the lap belt low and flat across the hips/top of the thighs?
- Does either the booster seat or vehicle head restraint provide some support behind the child’s head?
- Is your child comfortable and not tempted to move the belts or themselves out of position after a period of time?
Most states have laws for the use of booster seats and updated research has shown that using boosters reduces the risk for child injury by 45 percent compared to use of vehicle belts alone. Though the variations and confusion in booster seat state laws, cost, inconvenience, and child discomfort, are reasons why children 5 through 7 are not always restrained in booster seats we recommend their use up until the child can comfortable and safely fit the vehicle belts alone. If you’re unsure if your child fits the vehicle belts without a booster, ask the same questions as above but without the use of the booster.
To provide the best protection, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends using a booster seat for children until they are at least eight years old or 4’9” tall.
For more information on how to choose the right infant, convertible, or booster seats, see our latest buying advice.
—Liza Barth
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