The latest IIHS booster seat ratings show that child seat manufacturers have mastered something that once eluded them: building a seat that provides good safety belt fit for the typical 4-to-8-year-old passenger.Out of 53 new models evaluated, 48 earn the top rating of BEST BET, meaning they are likely to provide good belt fit for a 4 to 8 year-old in almost any car, minivan or SUV. When the Institute first began rating boosters in 2008, only a quarter of the seats evaluated earned the BEST BET designation.Despite this progress, several seats that don’t do their job and are rated Not Recommended can still be found on store shelves. They include two brand-new models from Dorel Juvenile.
“Parents looking for a safe option for kids who have outgrown seats with built-in harnesses have more choices than ever,” says IIHS Senior Research Engineer Jessica Jermakian. “Unfortunately, we can’t declare total victory because manufacturers continue to sell subpar boosters.”
Of the 53 new seats, the Cosco Easy Elite and the Cosco Highback 2-in-1 DX — both made by Dorel — are rated Not Recommended. Three other seats, the Britax Parkway SGL in backless mode, the Lil Fan Club Seat 2-in-1 in highback mode and the Peg Perego Viaggio Flex 120 — are rated Check Fit, meaning they may work for some children in some vehicles. The remaining new seats are BEST BETs.
When all currently available boosters, including old models, are taken into account, there are 118 BEST BETs, nine GOOD BETs (seats that provide acceptable belt fit in most vehicles), 27 Check Fit and five Not Recommended.
Booster seats are designed for children who have outgrown harness-equipped restraints. By elevating a child, a booster ensures that a vehicle belt designed for an adult fits properly. Children ages 4-8 are 45 percent less likely to sustain injuries in crashes if they are in boosters than if they are using safety belts alone.
Booster Seats Rated Best Bests are
A BEST BET booster provides good lap and shoulder belt fit for typical 4 to 8 year-olds in almost any car, minivan or SUV. You can buy boosters as highbacks or as backless seats — both kinds are represented here. Some boosters can be used in both modes. For those seats, the BEST BET rating applies to the mode or modes indicated.
Aidia Explorer 2-in-1 – Rating applies to backless mode and highback mode Tested model: #AD01000
Aidia Pathfinder, model #AD03B01.
Aidia Scout , model #AD02001.
Baby Trend Hybrid 3-in-1, model #FB58645- Rating applies to backless mode only, Highback mode rating: Good bet
Baby Trend Hybrid No Back Booster, model #LB10055.
Baby Trend PROtect Yumi, model #HB38199, Available in highback only.
Baby Trend PROtect Yumi 2-in-1, model #HB40A45A.
Britax Frontier Clicktight , model #EPL74L, highback only.
Britax Parkway SGL , model #E9LU84Z – rating applies to highback mode only, Backless mode rating: Check fit.
Britax Pinnacle Clicktight , model #E9LZ14R, Available in highback only- rating also applies to #E9LZ14P.
Britax Pioneer, model #E9LZ63G, Available in highback only same rating for #E9LZ64J.
BubbleBum , model #BB0012US, rating also applies to #BB001/BB0012/BB0004-W2.
Chicco KidFit, model #7079074710070 Rating applies to backless mode and highback mode rating also apply to: #05079014430070/05079014620070/04079014990070/00079014280070/00079014540070.
Chicco KidFit Zip, model #05079485470070, Rating applies to backless mode and highback mode.
Chicco KidFit Zip Air, model #07079486990070 – Rating applies to backless mode and highback mode.
Clek Oobr , model #OBM1U, Rating applies to highback mode only, Backless mode rating: Check fit, rating also applies to: #OB11U1.
Cosco Pronto , model #22491, Rating applies to highback mode only, Backless mode rating: Check fit, Rating also applies to: #BC033/BC032.
Cybex Solution X-Fix, model #12-4100016, Available in highback only.
Diono Cambria, model #310000, Rating applies to backless mode and highback mode.
Diono Monterey, model #15000, Rating applies to highback mode only, Backless mode rating: Check fit. This rating applies to models built after July 2011.
Diono RadianR100, model #US16600.
Diono RadianRXT, model #US16900, Available in highback only.
Diono Solana, model #320000. Available in backless only.
Dream On Me Turbo Booster, model #375-R. Rating applies to highback mode only. Backless mode rating: Check fit.
Eddie Bauer Storage Booster, model #BC105. Available in backless only.
Evenflo Advanced Transitions, model #34411695. Rating applies to backless mode and highback mode. Rating also applies to: #34411686.
Evenflo Amp, model #34111220, Available in backless only.
Evenflo Big Kid, model #36511910. Rating applies to backless mode and highback mode.
Evenflo Big Kid Amp w/clip, model #3401913. Available in backless only.
Evenflo Big Kid Amp Highback, model #31911168A. Rating applies to backless mode only.Highback mode rating: Check fit>
Evenflo Big Kid LX, model #31411373. Rating applies to backless mode only. Highback mode rating: Check fit
Evenflo Big Kid Sport, model #31911148A. Rating applies to backless mode only.
Evenflo Chase , model #30621355. Available in highback only.
Evenflo Maestro, model #31011049. Available in highback only.
This rating applies to models built after April 9, 2010. Evenflo is recalling models made between 11/24/09 through 4/9/10, and 8/22/11 through 10/17/13 due to a problem when this combination seat is used as a child restraint with built-in 5-point harness. The remedy kit is available at www.evenflo.com or by calling 1-800-490-7591.
Evenflo Platinum Evolve , model #34411700
Evenflo Platinum Evolve. Rating applies to backless mode and highback mode.
Evenflo Platinum SafeMax, model #38711817.Available in highback only.
Evenflo Right Fit, model #31311542. Rating applies to backless mode and highback mode.
Evenflo SafeMax 3-in-1, model #34411927. Rating applies to backless mode and highback mode.
Evenflo Secure Kid 300/400, model #30811263. Available in highback only-Rating also applies to: #30811229
(Evenflo has issued a safety recall on this combination model built from12/13/11 through 3/3/14 involving the harness crotch buckle. This is relevant when the seat is used with the built-in harness. The remedy kit is available at www.evenflo.com or by calling 1-800-490-7591.)
Evenflo Symphony 65 , model #34511557
Evenflo Symphony 65 e3/ Symphony DLX, model #34611106. Available in highback only. Evenflo has issued a safety recall on this combination model built from 10/2/12 through 8/26/13 involving the harness crotch buckle. This is relevant when the seat is used with the built-in harness. The remedy kit is available at www.evenflo.com or by calling 1-800-490-7591.
Ferrari Beline SP, model #FRB10067. Rating applies to backless mode only. Highback mode rating: Good bet.
Graco 4Ever All-in-1 , model #1906082. Rating applies to backless mode and highback mode
Graco 4Ever All-in-1 featuring Safety Surround, model #1973647. Rating applies to backless mode and highback mode
Graco Affix, model #1831777. Rating applies to backless mode and highback mode
Graco Argos 80 Elite 3-in-1, model #1905603.Rating applies to backless mode and highback mode.
Graco Atlas 65, model #1946241. Available in highback only.
Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1, model #1964704.
Graco Milestone All-in-One, model #1910130. Available in highback only.
Graco Milestone All-in-One featuring Safety Surround, model #1973644.
Graco Nautilus , model #1759245. Rating applies to highback mode only. This rating applies to models built after July 25th 2011.
Graco Nautilus 3-in-1 with Safety Surround, model #1878678. Rating applies to highback mode only. Backless mode rating: Check fit.
Graco Nautilus 80 Elite, model #1953935.Rating applies to backless mode and highback mode
Graco Nautilus Elite, model #1866264. Rating applies to highback mode only. Backless mode rating: Check fit.
Graco has issued a safety recall on this combination model built from 10/1/07 through 7/31/13 and 8/19/13 involving the harness buckle. This is relevant when the seat is used with the built-in harness. The replacement buckle is available at www.gracobucklerecall.com or by calling 1-800-345-4109.
Graco Nautilus Plus, model #1850397. Rating applies to highback mode only. Backless mode rating Check fit.
Graco has issued a safety recall on this combination model built from 10/1/07 through 7/31/13 and 8/19/13 involving the harness buckle. This is relevant when the seat is used with the built-in harness. The replacement buckle is available at www.gracobucklerecall.com or by calling 1-800-345-4109.
Graco SlimFit 3-in-1, model #1980623. Available in highback only.
Graco Tranzitions, model #1951370.Rating applies to backless mode and highback mode
Graco TurboBooster, model #1918601. Rating applies to backless mode and highback mode
Graco TurboBooster featuring ComfortCore, model #1979686. Rating applies to backless mode and highback mode.
Graco TurboBooster LX featuring TrueShield, model #1994486. Rating also applies to: #0302006.
Harmony Dreamtime w/clip, model #0303002. Rating applies to backless mode and highback mode
Harmony Dreamtime 2.0, model #0303007. Rating applies to backless mode and highback mode.
Harmony Youth Booster Seat w/clip, model #0304003. Available in backless only.
Jané Montecarlo R1, model #4564US/R87. Available in highback only. Rating also applies to: #141G2IPUSR62/141G2IPUSR65/141G2IPUSR87
Kiddy Cruiserfix Pro, model #51-520-CF. Available in highback only.
KidsEmbrace Friendship Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, model #65500LEO. Available in highback only. Rating also applies to: #65501DOR/65500SBS/71900BAT/40000SPD/40000CIN/3001MIN,3001MIC/3001MAR/3001CIN
KidsEmbrace Fun-Ride Backless Batman, model #4801BAT. Available in backless only. Rating also apply to: #4801BTG/4801SPM/4801SPG/4801SPD/4801TMT.
KidsEmbrace Fun-Ride Spider-Man, model #4601SPD.Rating applies to backless mode and highback mode Same rating for #4601BAT.
Lil Fan Box Seat, model #AD02. Available in backless only.
Lil Fan Club Seat 2-in-1, model #AD01. Rating applies to backless mode only. Highback mode rating: Check fit.
Little Tikes Backless Booster, model #221250. Available in backless only. Rating also apply to: #23443/22737
Little Tikes Highback Booster, model #221300.Rating applies to backless mode and highback mode.
Maxi-Cosi Rodi AP, model #BC090. Rating applies to highback mode only.Backless mode rating: Check fit
Maxi-Cosi RodiFix, model #BC077. Available in highback only.
Peg Perego Viaggio HBB 120, model #IMVIO1US35. Rating applies to highback mode only. Backless mode rating: Check fit
Recaro Performance Booster, model #363.00. Available in highback only.
Recaro Performance SPORT , model #386.01. Available in highback only.
Safety 1st Continuum, model #CC137. Available in highback only. Rating also applies to: #CC139.
Safety 1st Elite EX 100 Air+, model #CC151.Available in highback only.
Safety 1st EverFit, model #CC150. Available in highback only.
Safety 1st Grow and Go Air, model #CC161. Available in highback only
Safety 1st Grow and Go EX Air, model #CC190. Available in highback only
Safety 1st MultiFit, model #CC127. Available in highback only.
Safety 1st Store ‘n Go, model #BC069. Rating applies to highback mode only. Backless mode rating: Check fit.
Safety 1st Store ‘n Go No-Back, model #BC070. Safety 1st Store ‘n Go No-Back. Available in backless only. Rating also applies to: #BC105.
Safety 1st UltraMax Air 360, model #CC167.
Children should ride in boosters until a vehicle safety belt fits correctly by itself. For some kids, that doesn’t happen until age 12 or so. Correct fit means the belt lies flat across a child’s upper thighs, not across the soft abdomen, and the shoulder belt crosses snugly over the middle of a child’s shoulder.
IIHS began its booster rating program after finding that many seats didn’t consistently provide good belt fit. The ratings are based on evaluations of how three-point lap and shoulder belts fit a child-size test dummy seated in the booster on a stationary test fixture. Measurements are taken under four conditions spanning the range of safety belt configurations in passenger vehicles. The evaluations focus on belt fit and don’t involve crash tests.
The two new Not Recommended models provide unacceptable lap belt fit.
“Dorel has a long history of producing BEST BETs, and this year alone the company introduced seven of them,” Jermakian says. “It’s disappointing that they would introduce boosters that don’t do their job when they clearly know how to do it right.”
This year, the company discontinued three older models that were Not Recommended, but that positive step was essentially canceled out by the new Not Recommended models.
In contrast, another company, KidsEmbrace, responded to the Not Recommended designation of its Fun-Ride Backless Batman seat in 2014 by taking it off the market until this year, when it was redesigned as a BEST BET.
Of the Check Fit boosters, the Britax Parkway SGL is an interesting case. Like the old version, the redesigned seat provides good lap belt fit, but it lacks a clip to position the shoulder belt.
The typical plastic belt clip doesn’t look like much, but it plays an important role by adjusting the position of the shoulder belt, which should lie snugly across the middle of the child’s shoulder. If it falls off the shoulder or rests on the neck, it won’t work as well. An improper fit is uncomfortable and may encourage the child to move the belt to a dangerous position, such as behind the back or under the arm.
Top-rated boosters are available in all different price ranges. Of the boosters introduced this year, the most affordable is the Harmony Big Boost Deluxe, available at Walmart for less than $25. The most expensive is the $330 Graco 4Ever All-in-1 with Safety Surround, a rear-facing infant seat that converts first to a forward-facing child restraint and then to a booster as the child grows.