travel booster seat 8 year old

5 Absolute Best Travel Booster Seats for 2024 (+Helpful Tips)

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: January 23, 2024

One of the most asked questions when it comes to road-tripping with kids is what kind of travel car seat is the best. The answer depends on so many different factors – how and where you travel, how old are your kids, and how light you want to travel. In my opinion, packing a high-back car seat on a plane is really not worth the hassle, so in this article, I will only focus on the best booster seats for travel – portable booster seats . Here’s why.

In my opinion, if you are traveling with a baby or a young child, you better just rent an appropriate car seat when you rent a car abroad.

Car seats for that age group cost a lot of money and are bulky to pack, while the price to rent one isn’t that high compared to what it costs.

Whereas if you travel with older kids who can use a booster car seat, it’s exactly the opposite. Travel booster seats are cheap to buy, easy to take with you, and renting one would often mean paying more.

TIP: At the moment of the last update, BubbleBum booster is the most popular travel booster seat choice among our readers in the USA. If I’m not mistaken, you now get an extra discount with this promo code on Amazon : 9DUCE9MT.

Ride Safer Vest is a distant second, on a much higher budget but also quite incomparable to any others safety-wise.

And now back to the best portable booster car seats . Below, you can see an overview of the information you can find in this article, including all the best travel boosters in our selection.

You can jump straight to the product information, but I strongly recommend that you also read practical tips and advice that should help you choose the right child booster seat for travel.

Update: We have done our best to update this article through the years. But there are so many changes all the time! Regulations change, products and companies disappear and new ones emerge. With the last update, we had to remove several products completely since they are not available anymore and there are no similar alternatives. So use this just as a guide to see what kind of different types of travel boosters there are, and be sure to always double-check the requirements and product specifications that are important to you!

Travel booster seats – overview:

• Our Experience with Travel Booster Seats

Booster Seat Requirements

• Other Things to Consider when Choosing Travel Booster Seat

1. The BubbleBum Booster Seat

2. ridesafer travel vest, 3. trunki boostapak, 4. hiccapop uberboost inflatable booster car seat, 5. belt-positioning backless booster, travel car seats & booster seats – our experience.

We have three kids and have traveled with them overseas ever since they were born. We always rented car seats for our kids when they were young. I just couldn’t imagine adding a big car seat to our travel luggage , not even to mention having to take two or three of them.

To us, traveling light is the best way to survive traveling with young kids.

LEARN MORE: Tips for Traveling with Kids

When our oldest was almost 5, we made a 5-week road trip in Australia . Twins were just 3 years old at that time. With three young children and multiple flights, there was just no way we would pack portable car seats for all of them. So we reserved car seats for the twins when we booked our rental car. With multiple rental cars at 4 different destinations in Australia, we spent a small fortune on those two car seats.

We, therefore, decided to at least look for an alternative solution for our 5-year-old. That’s when we started researching all available booster seats and realized that buying one would save us several hundreds of dollars.

But even a regular booster seat is not easy to pack with you. So we looked for the best travel booster seats – something that would fit all the safety requirements and at the same time would be easy to pack.

This was years ago and in the meantime, we have bought two more travel boosters for our twins as well. I am happy to say that we are still using the same travel booster seats today. We have used them on every single trip ever since and also on a daily basis at home. Buying a quality travel booster car seat was one of the best investments ever.

But before we talk about the specific travel booster seats, we should first cover some things you have to consider before buying a booster seat for your trip. Read on!

Booster seats are generally suitable for kids from around 4 years of age when children are no longer required to use a car seat with a 5-point harness. A portable travel booster seat ensures your child’s safety whenever you rent a car or use a taxi away from home.

However, the rules for the use of car seats and booster seats vary significantly from one country to another. So it’s essential to consult an official source for the country that you are traveling to in order to make sure that you have the right car seat for your child. More information about this below.

In some parts of the world – particularly much of Asia and northern Africa, there are hardly any laws requiring car seats or boosters of any kind. However, I’d still advise to rent one or bring your own. After all, you should be more concerned with your child’s safety than the (lack of) local laws.

We have rented car seats in South Africa and in Namibia for our kids and most of the time they looked completely ok to us. If in doubt, ask to change a car seat – quality car rental agencies usually have plenty of them available.

As I said before, the moment our kids were old enough for a booster car seat, we just bought our own and never had to worry about it again. Bringing your own booster seat gives you complete peace of mind and ensures that your children can travel safely wherever you go.

If you are traveling abroad, make sure to check the laws for booster seats in the country you are visiting.

Below you can find some links to the car seat and booster seat rules for a variety of destinations. Please note, however, that laws around car seat requirements change all the time , so it’s your responsibility to do proper research for the most up-to-date situation for the country you’re visiting.

Some countries require travel booster seats to carry specific labels in order to be legal for use, so it’s very important to read these regulations carefully.

• Children’s car seat rules in the USA (please note that the laws vary from state to state).
• Car seat rules in the UK .
• Car seat regulations in Canada .
• Car seat rules in Australia .
• While the rules about car seats and boosters for children are very relaxed across much of Asia , there are some countries that do have regulations. Our advice is to look up your specific destination and check the rules before you travel.
• Car seat requirements are now a bit different all over Europe . While in the past you could use a booster car seat for kids from around 4 years, the new law requires a minimum height of 125 cm (4ft1) and weight of at least 22 kg (49 lbs) in order to use a backless booster seat. In most European countries, kids can use a regular adult seat from 135 cm (4ft4) height (e.g. France, UK, Denmark, Sweden, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg…). However, some other countries require that kids under 150 cm (4ft 9) or under 12 years use a booster seat as well (e.g. Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Portugal, Poland, Slovenia,…).

Since car seat requirements are different in every country and the situation might change again, I encourage you to research the laws of the specific country you’re planning to visit . You may also want to check if the booster you have is approved for use in the country you’re traveling to.

Other Things to Consider When Choosing Travel Booster Seat

In addition to local laws and regulations, there are a few other important things to consider when choosing the most suitable booster car seat for travel. Find out!

High-backed booster seats with ‘wings’ are the safest type, as they provide the best protection for your child’s head and neck in a side-impact crash. Unfortunately, though, it’s not always possible to carry this type of seat with you if you are traveling long distances.

The important thing to remember is that any approved booster seat is better than none at all.

Weight and Size

After safety, weight and size are probably the most important considerations when choosing the right (booster) car seat. Whilst some travel booster seats are ideal for local trips and days out and about, others are more suited to longer journeys where you are restricted on how much you can carry.

That being said, you might find that any extra baggage charges you incur from taking your own booster seat would be less than the cost of hiring a booster seat at your destination. Plus, of course, you will then have a portable booster seat for future use!

If you are traveling with 2-3 kids, consider if you can fit all the travel boosters next to each other (and hope they don’t fight all the time 😉 – see also our tips for how to handle long car rides with kids .

Versatility

Some seats are designed to serve more than one purpose, which is great if you have limited luggage space and want to get the most ‘bang for your buck’.

Important Tips

Wherever possible, we recommend sitting with your child and keeping an eye on them if using a backless booster, as it is a little easier for them to wriggle into an unsafe position.

Try to place your travel booster seat in the middle back seat if appropriate. Experts say that this is the safest position in the car.

Practice fitting the booster seat before you travel. While most boosters are pretty straightforward, some may need a little more expertise!

Best Travel Booster Seats: Comparison & Review

There are several good options when it comes to booster car seats for travel. So in order to give you the most complete guide to the best travel booster seats available at this moment , I not only based it on our experience, but also consulted other family travelers, and did extended research.

In the end, I selected portable booster seats that I think are the best options for those looking for a lightweight travel booster that doesn’t compromise on safety. In addition, I also included one high-back foldable booster seat. It’s obviously not as easy to pack as the backless boosters, but if you are traveling with a smaller child and still rather pack a car seat of your own, it might be a good option.

Below is our selection of the best travel booster seats. You can find a short review of each booster seat and a list of the main features that we think make them so useful. Of course, we also included our personal favorite – the travel booster seat that our kids have been using for years. Find out!

Here are the best travel booster seats:

The award-winning BubbleBum Booster Seat is described as an inflatable booster seat. However, it actually contains more memory foam than air, meaning that it will protect your child even if punctured in an accident.

BubbleBum Booster Seat takes just 20 seconds to inflate for use, then deflates quickly and folds to a small size, perfect for popping into your hand luggage or backpack.

The booster is designed for use with a 3-point adult seat belt (not a lap belt). The shoulder belt positioning clip and side lap belt clips help keep your child safe and comfortable.

At just 1.2 lbs it is the lightest travel booster seat we reviewed and it’s also the cheapest. But because it is a little smaller than some other travel boosters, we feel it’s more suited to shorter journeys than long road trips.

BubbleBum booster seat features:

• Suitable for children age 4-11 years, weighing from 40-100 lbs (18-45 kg).
• Inflates and deflates quickly.
• Lightweight and folds to a compact size and easy to store anywhere.
• Comes with its own bag.
• Made of a durable material.
• Narrow design allows you to use 3 across the back seat.

The compact and lightweight RideSafer Travel Vest is a brilliant alternative to a travel booster seat, but it comes with a much steeper price card. Weighing only 1.5 lbs (800 gr), it takes up very little luggage space and is particularly ideal for small cars, where bulkier car seats and boosters can be a tight fit. Fitting three of these vests in a row on the back seat is no problem whatsoever!

While the RideSafer may seem to offer less protection than booster seats at first glance, it’s actually the opposite. This is one of the safest solutions available!

Its clever design means that it maintains the car’s seatbelt in the proper position at all times. The shoulder belt is held in place, but away from your child’s neck, making him feel much more comfortable. It also positions the lap belt below your child’s abdomen, which best protects the internal organs.

This is the most expensive of the travel boosters we have reviewed in this article, but for the convenience and safety of your child, the RideSafer Travel Vest is invaluable!

RideSafer travel vest features:

• Available in 2 sizes, to fit children from 3-10 years, weighing from 30 to 80 lbs (15 to 36 kg).
• Certified for use in cars in the US.
• Small, lightweight, and easy to pack in hand luggage or backpack.
• Maintains proper seatbelt positioning at all times.

Trunki BoostApak is the travel booster seat that we chose for our kids. We bought one for our oldest son when he was 4 and used it till he didn’t need it anymore (around the age of 8-9). Our twins got the same Trunki boosters when they were 4 and used them until the age of 10.

I can’t even start to count the number of flights and road trips we have taken them on. The kids also used Trunki BoostApak boosters for their daily commute to school. Our high-back booster seats were only in use when we traveled big distances with our own car here in Europe. Since the new law in some European countries requires that booster seats are used till the kids are 150 cm tall, we used Trunki BoostAPak for our twins until the age of 10.

When we mentioned versatility earlier in this article, Trunki BoostApak is the booster seat we had in mind! The Trunki BoostApak is not just a booster seat, it’s also a hand-luggage approved child’s bag, with padded straps for comfort and a generous 8-liter capacity.

This means that you can use it to easily pack your child’s toys, books, games, and snacks for them to carry, then quickly convert it into an EU-certified travel booster seat whenever needed. You don’t need to unpack the Trunki before using it as a seat, as its hard plastic internal shell protects the bag’s contents. The shell is also designed to provide maximum strength in an accident.

It’s very easy to convert Trunki from a backpack to a booster seat, but if you (like many of us!) find some kids’ accessories a little challenging, be sure to practice with it before leaving home!

In addition to using it as a backpack and a car booster seat, the Trunki Boostapak with its wipe-clean cover makes a great booster seat for the movies too! We once even took our kids’ Trunkis to a theater.

The only minor issue we’ve had with this booster seat/backpack is that it’s slightly too heavy for younger children to carry – an empty Trunki BoostApak weighs 3.8 pounds (1,7 kg). So when our kids were just 4-5 years old, we usually had to help them with it at the airport. It’s not a big deal since the Trunki usually stays in the car for the entire duration of our trip.

Trunki BoostAPak travel booster features:

• Suitable for children age 4-11 years, weighing from 30 to 80 lbs (15 to 36 kg).
• Converts from a backpack to a booster seat in seconds.
• The fold-out seatbelt guides and seat belt adjuster help you ensure a perfect and safe fit.
• Approved as hand luggage by most airlines.
• EU certified for everyday car use.

Where to buy Trunki BoostApak. For some reason, Trunki BoostApak has always been a ‘European’ travel booster. Probably because it’s only been approved to be used in the EU and is not (yet) on the market in the USA. You can buy it on Amazon UK , but unfortunately, not on Amazon in the US.

Similar in principle to the Bubblebum, the Hiccapop Uberboost travel booster seat inflates and deflates quickly, so you can simply roll it up and pop it in your hand luggage, backpack, etc.

It’s cheaper than the BubbleBum, is made of a very thick, durable material and is comparable in weight.

The biggest difference is that – unlike the BubbleBum – there is no foam in the air bladder. Nevertheless, it feels as sturdy as a regular booster seat when inflated.

Hiccapop Uberboost features:

• Very compact and lightweight.
• Positions seat belt over the lap, not the stomach.
• Lifetime guarantee.

Update: The model reviewed below is not available during our last update, so check out these popular alternatives that offer pretty much the same functionality. Since this is the most popular portable booster design, there are so many brands selling similar models and they change the colors and the looks all the time.

Chicco GoFit Belt-Positioning Backless Booster is the only backless booster seat we reviewed that has dual cup holders, which are a huge plus on long journeys. The cup holders fold away, which is handy if you need to fit several car seats across the back seat. They can easily be removed and are dishwasher safe.

A little more expensive than other backless boosters, the Chicco GoFit feels very robust and well-made, whilst providing a lot more padding for your child’s comfort than many other seats of this type.

The seat has lap belt guides and a shoulder clip, which is attached to the back of the seat by a fabric strap. In some cars, you can fit three of these seats in the back – but you should only do this if you have a 3-point seat belt in the center seat, not a lap belt.

At 5 lbs it is heavier than the other travel booster seats in this selection and would also take up more luggage space. Nevertheless, it is still light enough to carry around and easy to move from one vehicle to another.

The only downside to this seat is that it doesn’t have latch connectors. Whilst this is a bonus in terms of travel, as it can quickly be moved to any vehicle, it does mean that it may shift a little during your journey and will also need to be stowed safely away when not in use.

Chicco GoFit booster seat features:

• Suitable for children age 4 and up, weighing from 40-110 lbs (18-45 kg).
• Double foam padding.
• Armrest covers and seat pad are machine-washable.
• Built-in carry handle.
• Smooth underside to protect vehicle seats.

So this is our complete guide to the best lightweight portable travel booster seats. I hope it helps you to find the best-suitable travel car seat for your kids.

Have you used any of these lightweight booster seats or have a favorite portable travel booster? Feel free to share your experience – you can leave a reply below.

READ ALSO : Best travel bags for kids

More tips for traveling with kids:

• Family travel: Tips for Travelling with Kids & Benefits of Family Travel
• Gear & luggage: Best Travel Gear for Kids & Best Kids Luggage
• Gift ideas: Travel Gifts for Kids (That They’ll Actually Use)
• Footwear: Best Travel Shoes for Kids
• Books: Travel Books and Destination Guides for Kids

If you found this post useful, don’t forget to bookmark it and share it with your friends who might be looking for a travel booster seat for their children. Are you on Pinterest? Pin this image!

Some travel inspiration for families:

• Best Family Travel Destinations
• Best USA National Parks to Visit with Kids
• Lesser-known US National Parks for Families
• Top USA Spring Break Destinations
• Top Spring Break Destinations in Europe
• Yellowstone with Kids
• Arches National Park with Kids

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Wednesday 24th of January 2024

Hi Jurga, I really appreciate your blog - it's been so helpful! I was looking to buy the Trunki BoostApak for our trip to Portugal and Spain later this year as our kids will be 6.5 and 4.5 years old. I noticed that the boosters are no longer available to ship via Amazon to the USA when logged under Amazon UK. I also tried their website which doesn't ship to the USA. It's not urgent since we don't travel until the Fall, but I was hoping to to buy the boosters ahead of time instead of trying to buy something when we arrive. Do you know if something has recently changed or if this is just a temporary thing with Amazon shipping? Thanks much! Kaylee

Thursday 25th of January 2024

Hi Kaylee, unfortunately, I don't know which products Amazon ships where and there might be tons of reasons why a specific product isn't shipped internationally. It might also depend on who the seller is - Amazon itself or some third party. Here in Europe, we use various Amazon websites from all different countries and it's very random what we can buy from which website, and what can be sent to one country is often not possible to another, plus, it changes all the time too. Indeed, the official USA website of Trunki doesn't even show this product, and the ones from Europe don't seem to ship to the USA. It's likely because they never asked for an official approval of this car seat in the US. So I really don't know what to tell you. Maybe try an alternative booster, or rent with a car. You may also want to check what the current rules in Portugal and Spain are depending on your kids' height/weight. I think that they might still be required to use a booster with back/head support at that age (depending on how tall they are and also on the country).

Tuesday 2nd of January 2024

Hi Jurga, happy New Year! I know from your blog your family has been to Portugal a few times including the islands and mainland but don't recall reading specifically on boosters for kids. We will be going to mainland Portugal this July and have 2 kids (both turns 7 & 9 this August). We are not sure what the best options on regarding booster seats for them and wanted to hear your insights. We are debating on renting the boosters with the car rental company but they seem to cost anwhere from $80 to $110 per booster seat which we can save. If we bring our own (backless boosters from the U.S.), we might not be able to use them right? Any suggestions? Thanks!

@Jurga, thanks so much for taking the time to reply to my inquiry! Yes the booster we use in the U.S. is sturdy (Chicco KitFit 2-in-1 Belt Positioning Booster Car Seat). We would bring just the bottom section w/o the back support and that's why I asked if that would meeting Portugal's guideline or law? You rented a car for ONLY 144 euro for 12 days?!?!?! I'm assuming it's manual? Unfortunately we need an automatic and the price seems to just a lot due to that. Thanks for the car rental site. Will check it out using your link!

Hi Athan, indeed, kids that age are officially required to use a booster in Portugal. And yes, some car rental companies charge ridiculous amounts for them - that's also why we always packed our own when our kids needed them... You have several options. Buy a booster at a local store once you get to Portugal (you should be able to find them at all major supermarkets) or bring one with you. Depending on the booster that you use at home, it might be EU certified - just check online. Also, if it's a sturdy, quality booster, it's likely going to be better quality than what you get from some car rental agencies... And normally nobody will care what you use - it's your kids and you want to make sure that they are safe. The only issue is if something happens and police checks car seats. But I can't imagine anyone would make an issue about them not being certified in the EU if they are safe and certified in the USA. But it's your decision. Yet another option is to order a EU-certified booster from Amazon UK or Amazon Germany/France/Spain... (if they deliver in the US) and bring it with you. Just check if it's not going to become more expensive that way. If you want to avoid all the hassle, renting one together with your car is the safest option. Just a thought - car rental is usually so cheap in Portugal that it may not be such a big deal to pay extra for the boosters. P.S. We always rent our cars via RentalCars website. In fact, we are here in Portugal at the moment and we have a nice, family-size car for about 144 euro for 12 days including full insurance. If we had rented the same car directly with the company (and paid insurance at the counter), it would have been over 700 euros...

Wednesday 31st of May 2023

I love this post! I actually read it years ago, then when I was looking at booster seats recently, I was so happy to find it back. I saw that it now has the comfiGO booster-type seat by ClypX. I was very interested in that seat, but when I started doing more research on it I found that US child passenger safety news site called Safe Ride News had an article stating that the booster is not actually classified as a booster in the US, so safety regulations don’t apply to it. Since it claims it complies with the regulations (deceptive), and because of how it is designed, I would be hesitant to use it or recommend it to anyone, whether or not they are in the US.

Tuesday 6th of June 2023

Hi Nanika, based on everything I find online, this seat is certified in the US at this moment, but they were asked not to call it a 'booster' anymore.

Saturday 27th of May 2023

Do you have any information on when and why mifold went out of business? Have their booster seats been recalled? When I purchased our mifold years ago, it was considered very safe, approved for use in the UK (which is where we mostly need to use it) and we have loved it, but I know that ratings can change with more information. Thanks!

Hi Lindsey, it happened rather recently and I haven't heard anything about recalls. The company just stopped from one day to the other; I don't think it had anything to do with the product safety. Maybe try searching online - I wasn't able to find much info when I checked when updating this article last time.

Saturday 3rd of December 2022

On February 1, 2022, very shortly after you updated this for “2022 & Beyond” (Jan. 24), IIHS actually removed their “Best Bet” rating from both the BubbleBum and Hiccapop UberBoost inflatable boosters. This conclusion was made after new studies (using computer modeling vs. static dummies that were previously used) discovered the high potential for “submarining” in the event of a collision due to the lack of rigidity with an inflatable booster. Since they’ve determined more research/studies need to be performed with inflatable boosters, they have changed their previous “Best Bet” determinations to now “Unrated”. I just wanted to comment because you had mentioned the IIHS ratings in your article, so if that rating is a deciding factor for someone, they may want to choose another option. If someone is in need of a compact travel booster that does not inflate, your recommendation of the Mi-Fold would meet that criteria but again, that’s another option that is not rated by IIHS. Nonetheless, I found your article very helpful, thank you, and wish that the Trunki option you decided on was available here in the US!

Hi Cortnie, thank you for this update. It's difficult to keep up with all the changes, isn't it... I'll see when I can find the time to update this again. PS If you like Trunki Boostapak, I think you can just order it from Amazon.co.uk. We sometimes order products from Amazon in the US and they get shipped to Europe without any problems. They usually add some extra costs for shipping and customs duties, but sometimes it's still worth it. I'm just not sure if the Trunki is officially approved in the US and what that means if you'd use it there. I'm sure they are just fine safety-wise since whatever passes European standards could probably pass any others, but I don't know about the legal side of this. We took ours all over the world and in the last years, we see more and more families here in Europe traveling with these Trunki boosters/backpacks.

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Best Booster Car Seats of 2024

When your child has outgrown their rear-facing and forward-facing car seats, it’s time to move them to a booster car seat. They’re ideal for older kids, as they provide a step in between a typical car seat and only using a seat belt. Just like there is a range of car seats, there are plenty of booster models to consider, which is where we come in.

To help you choose the best booster car seat for your child, we considered safety features, weight and height limits, ease of installation, and price. Plus, with the input from experts in the field, you can count on these options as the best of the best.

Table of Contents

• Best Booster Car Seats
• Things To Consider When Buying
• How We Chose

Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus 2-in-1 Belt-Positioning Booster Car Seat  »

Converts from high-back to backless

10-position adjustable headrest

Kids can use up to 110 pounds

ErgoBoost seat with double-foam padding

GreenGuard Gold Certified

Removable, machine-washable fabrics

Only two recline positions

Removable cup holders may pop out

The Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus 2-in-1 Booster Car Seat has just about everything you need to keep your kid safe in the back seat. Approved by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA), this model converts from high-back to backless mode, depending on your child’s weight and comfort. It features Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) connectors to make installation quick and secure. It also has a one-handed quick-release function so it’s easy to switch to another vehicle.

The Chicco works to grow with your child, boasting 10 height positions. It only has two recline positions, however, with the contoured ErgoBoost seat with double-layer foam padding, your kid will be plenty comfortable. The fabrics are machine washable and GreenGuard Gold Certified, meaning they’ve been tested for over 10,000 chemicals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

With the two built-in cup holders, your little one will feel independent while you feel safe knowing you picked a solid option. This best booster car seat weighs just 10 pounds – and even less when in backless mode – so it can be used as a travel unit, too.

Graco TurboBooster 2.0 Backless Booster  »

Very affordable

Height-adjustable armrests

Machine-washable seat pad

Two built-in cup holders

Only weighs 5.1 pounds

Crash tested

No LATCH connectors

Backless design not for everyone

For an easy booster car seat that’s been thoroughly crash tested and won’t break the bank, go with the Graco TurboBooster 2.0 Backless Booster. A noteworthy detail is that it doesn’t have LATCH connectors. On one hand, that means it’s simple to use with just a seat belt and can be moved between vehicles quickly. But on the other hand, this affordable option might not sit as securely in place as you’d hope.

This backless model was designed to use with children who weigh 40 to 100 pounds, so it’s in it for the long haul. It features adjustable armrests, two built-in cup holders, and a machine-washable seat pad, making it a breeze to clean when a juice spill happens. Plus, at just 5.1 pounds, it is a smart choice for people who see the unit moving between cars on the regular.

This best booster car seat is Graco ProtectPlus Engineered, meaning it was tested to protect your child in the occurrence of frontal, rear, and rollover crashes. At a wallet-friendly price, you can’t beat this option.

Diono Solana 2 with LATCH  »

Backless with padded armrests

Only weighs 6.1 pounds

Kids can use up to 120 pounds

Machine-washable fabrics

Two built-in, retractable cup holders/snack trays

Quick-release LATCH

Pricey for a backless model

Too wide to fit three in the back seat

Set on a backless booster car seat? We recommend the Diono Solana 2 with LATCH. As the name suggests, it features durable steel LATCH connectors to offer a secure installation. The shoulder belt positioner ensures it’s set up correctly and allows your kid to hook themselves up on their own. This portable model also has a quick-release feature that allows you to remove the seat from the vehicle in no time.

Comfort is a prominent priority with the Diono, as it features layered foam padding and contoured soft fabrics. Better yet, they can be tossed in the washing machine for an easy clean. There are two cup holders that double as snack trays on each side of the unit, which makes road-tripping easier. They’re also retractable if you find they’re getting in the way of other back seat riders.

While on the pricier side for a backless car seat, we think that the LATCH connectors, washable fabrics, and additional features make it worth the investment. Also, when you consider that it’ll stay with your child up to 120 pounds, it’s a smart choice.

Chicco KidFit Zip Air Plus 2-in-1 Belt-Positioning Booster Car Seat  »

Detachable console is flimsy

Seat belt may slide out of shoulder guide when unbuckling

Your kid will live the life of comfort and luxury with the Chicco KidFit Zip Air Plus 2-in-1 Booster Car Seat. Unlike most car seats, this one has an extended leg rest that hangs over the seat to offer even more support. If for some reason you don’t want the leg rest, you can zip it right off. This model also boasts three layers of foam padding that, along with the cushions and armrests, are machine washable, thanks to the zip-off design.

This best booster car seat was designed to begin using at age 4 and converts from high-back to backless mode, so comfort is top of mind at Chicco. This JPMA-approved unit features LATCH connectors for secure installation. It’s also a quick-release LATCH, so it won’t be a headache to remove it from the back of your car.

There are two built-in cup holders, as well as one detachable console where they can store snacks or other close must-haves. Some reviewers say the console is flimsy, but it’s still a useful feature, especially on long car rides.

Maxi-Cosi RodiSport Booster Car Seat  »

LATCH connectors for quick installation

Shoulder and lap belt guides for ease of use

Seven height positions

Detachable cup holder

Machine-washable and dryer-safe removable padding

Seat belt may slip out of guide

The frustrations that can come with installing a new car seat are real, but that won’t be the case with the Maxi-Cosi RodiSport Booster Car Seat. This model offers several features that make installation a painless experience. It has LATCH connectors, as well as shoulder and lap belt guides to make it easy for your little one to strap themselves in from the beginning.

Approved by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), the RodiSport converts from high-back to backless mode. To ensure your child is comfortable and properly using the unit, it has seven height positions – and the headrest takes just one hand to adjust – along with multiple recline positions.

Accommodating kids up to 100 pounds, this best booster car seat goes one step further by not just being machine washable, but dryer safe, too. That means you don’t have to worry about the removable padding not being dry in time for your next day trip. Maxi-Cosi is known for its sleek designs, as we’ve seen in its baby swing and high chair , and that’s just what you get with this booster.

Nuna Aace  »

3D growth system grows in height, width, and depth

Eight recline positions and nine headrest/shoulder positions

Sleek design

GreenGuard Gold Certified and fire retardant-free

Small cup holder

The best baby gear products last for more than just a few months, and that’s the case with the Nuna Aace. This best booster car seat was designed to work with your child as they grow, which is one of the reasons why it’s worth the price tag. It adapts with a child from 40 to 120 pounds and converts from a high-back to a backless model.

Other ways that it keeps kids comfortable and safe as they grow are with its eight recline positions and nine headrest positions. When you adjust the headrest position, the unit automatically expands the width of the shoulder areas, meaning it grows both in height and width. It also has three depth positions to accommodate growing legs. Nuna refers to this as its 3D growth system.

Available in four colors, the Nuna AACE has an attractive design that won’t be an eyesore in the back of your car. And with its GreenGuard Gold Certified and fire retardant-free fabrics, it’s an environmentally friendly pick, too. The dishwasher-safe cup holder is just the cherry on top.

The Bottom Line

When shopping for the best booster car seat, the first thing you need to decide is if you want a high-back or backless model. If you’re not sure which style you want, our Best Overall pick, the Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus 2-in-1 Belt-Positioning Booster Car Seat, converts between the modes. It also has 10 headrest positions and machine-washable fabrics, making it a smart option. Once you decide on the design, decide which features, such as LATCH connectors for secure installation and built-in cup holders for convenience, are most important to you. Once you narrow down what you want, you can find a quality model within your price range. But remember, safety is the top priority, so being confident that your child is safe while riding in a vehicle should be the main consideration.

Things To Consider When Buying Booster Car Seats

Safety Certifications and Crash Test Results

According to Joe Colella, JPMA director of Child Passenger Safety and 2020 Child Passenger Safety Hall of Fame Inductee, all car seats sold in the United States follow the requirements set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). If a booster car seat meets those standards, it must be labeled with, “This child restraint system conforms to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.”

“Booster seats reduce the risk of nonfatal injuries by 45% among 4- to 8-year-old children when compared to the seat belt alone,” says Colella, citing a study in the Pediatrics journal . “The raised seating surface of a booster seat allows a child to bend their knees naturally over the front edge of the booster seat, belt guides position the lap belt snugly across the child’s hips and upper thighs, and either the child elevation or shoulder belt adjuster position the shoulder belt across the child’s chest and collar bone. Since booster seats do not provide restraint directly, but instead position the child to take full advantage of the vehicle seat belts and other safety features, these fit assessments are crucial.”

Weight and Height Limits

Don’t make the mistake of assuming every booster seat has the same weight and height limits. A child should use a booster until the vehicle’s seat belt fits properly on its own, which is typically between 8 and 12 years old. Proper seat belt fit can vary between vehicles, too.

“The latest booster seats require a minimum child weight of 40 pounds, and all booster seats will be required to have that same minimum child weight by late 2024,” says Colella. “Most booster seats have an upper child weight limit of 100 pounds, and some allow use until the child weighs 120 pounds. Because of design differences, it is crucial that families always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for height, weight, and age limits.”

Legally, children less than 57 inches tall must use a booster seat when traveling, says Samora Coles, founder and executive director of The Alex House Project , an organization that supports low-income families and young mothers with their transition to parenthood.

Ease of Installation and Compatibility

“Forward-facing booster seats should be placed in the back seat, ideally in the middle,” says Coles. Many of the best booster car seats come with LATCH connectors, but that’s not always the case. The good news is that most models work with most vehicles, but if you’re concerned, you can contact the manufacturer.

“For backless booster seats, ensure the vehicle's lap belt is flat, low, and tight across your child's hips while the shoulder belt is flat and snug across their shoulder, not touching their neck or face,” advises Coles. “For high-back booster seats, refer to the manufacturer's instructions to learn how to install the booster seat using your vehicle's LATCH system or seat belt.”

Adjustability and Growth Adaptability

All the booster car seats we included on this list accommodate up to 100 pounds, with many reaching a 110- or 120-pound limit. They’re designed to last through the years until your child can safely travel without it. So, booster seats are generally made to grow with your child.

Backless booster seats, however, tend to be for slightly older kids, so it’s smart to invest in a model that converts from high-back to backless mode. “If a child has outgrown a high-back booster seat harness, a backless booster seat can be used safely and will still provide the necessary support,” says Coles.

How We Chose the Best Booster Car Seats

At U.S. News 360 Reviews, we keep safety the top priority when reviewing baby gear. In addition to safety features, we considered style, growth adaptability, installation, comfort, and price. We didn’t just rely on our own expertise, though. The director of Child Passenger Safety at JPMA and the founder and executive director of an organization that helps young mothers with their transition to parenthood weighed in on what parents need to know when shopping for the best booster car seats. When it comes down to it, boosters are typically budget-friendly, lightweight, and support kids through years of their adolescence. So, it’s a matter of choosing one that meets your style and expectations for extra features.

WHY SHOULD YOU TRUST US?

As a mom herself, Caitlyn Fitzpatrick , the author of this piece, understands the importance of finding the safest baby gear products for your little one. While her daughter is too young for a booster car seat, Fitzpatrick has been professionally researching, testing, writing about, and editing content about the best products, including ones that parents buy for their children, since 2017. She knows what factors take a car seat from a fine pick to one of the top options you can choose.

Although there are several kinds of booster car seats, they all have the same goal.

“Booster seats take various forms, including those that have high backs, those that utilize the vehicle seat back for upper body support, and those that are part of a more comprehensive car seat (booster mode of combination harness booster seats or all-in-one car seats),” explains Colella. “All of these types must be used with a vehicle lap and shoulder belt. Their shared objective is to elevate the child, guide the lap and shoulder belt onto strong bony body structures, and ensure that the child can remain in a safe position for the duration of the ride.”

This heavily depends on your child’s specific age, weight, and height. Limits vary from brand to brand and seat to seat, so check what yours recommends.

“When a child becomes too big for a front-facing car seat, it's time for them to switch to a booster seat,” says Coles. “This transition usually occurs around age 4 but can go up to age 12, depending on the child's height and weight. Most children no longer need a booster seat once they reach the age of 8, but if they cannot safely fit in a vehicle seatbelt, they need to keep using the booster seat.”

The names kind of say it all, but here’s a deeper dive.

“The main difference between the two is that a high-back booster seat provides more support to the child's upper body. It offers extra head, neck, and side support to protect the child during sudden stops or impacts,” says Coles. “High-back booster seats also come with a harness seat belt in the front and can be installed with the vehicle's seat belt or latch system. In essence, a high-back booster seat is a longer, but slimmer, version of a forward-facing car seat designed for older children.”

About Our Team

Caitlyn Fitzpatrick

Contributor

Senior Editor

U.S. News 360 Reviews takes an unbiased approach to our recommendations. When you use our links to buy products, we may earn a commission but that in no way affects our editorial independence.

9 Best Booster Car Seats of 2024

Your growing kids will ride safely in these high-back, backless and combination booster seats.

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

The parenting and product experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute have tested 15 booster car seats in the past two years to evaluate safety, ease of use and proper fit, narrowing them down to these top-performing favorites.

Our top picks:

Best Overall Booster Car Seat

Diono monterey 2xt.

Best Value Booster Car Seat

Cosco topside.

Most Comfortable Booster Car Seat

Chicco kidfit cleartex.

Best Long-Lasting Booster Car Seat

Britax grow with you clicktight+.

Best Backless Booster Car Seat

Graco turbobooster lx.

Best Booster Car Seat With a 5-Point Harness

Chicco myfit zip air.

Best-Looking Booster Car Seat

Best Booster Car Seat with Seat Belt Positioner

Uppababy alta.

Best Luxury Booster Car Seat

When determining the best booster seats, we consider ease of installation, angle and headrest adjustments, ease of cleaning, dimensions and overall fit for a child. This roundup of the best booster seats is based on Lab-tested picks, category expertise and real-life consumer feedback — we even tested booster seats in vehicles of various sizes to see how well they fit in different types of cars.

At the end of this guide, you'll find additional information on the best age to switch to a booster seat, as well as the difference between harness booster seats, high-back booster seats and backless booster seats. Looking for something for a new baby instead? Check out our reviews of infant car seats and travel systems .

Keep your little big kid safer and comfortable with this latest Monterey 2XT booster, a few inches larger than the old XT. It easily transforms from a high back booster to a backless booster seat.

It's a favorite among our pros because of the nicely padded headrest to ensure your child stays comfy during long trips. That cushy headrest can be set to any of 11 positions, moving up a total of 6.5 inches to grow with your child . "My children always appear comfortable in this comparative to other boosters where they have felt cramped or less supported," says GH Institute Chief Technologist and Executive Technical Director Rachel Rothman , a mom of three and our lead tester for car seats and booster seats.

In fact, as a high back booster, this offers both height and width adjustments. It reclines a bit, only to be sure that the seat meets the pitch of your car's backseat. Once kids no longer require the added support, you can remove the back completely.

Kid testers appreciate both the arm rests and the two retractable cup holders. This seat comes in a range of colors, including all black, with covers that remove for machine washing (though we wish the removal was a bit easier). The Diono seatpad is slightly wider than some of the other options on this list and the aluminum-reinforced side-impact protection helps provide extra safety in the case of an accident. Finally, this can attach to your car using the LATCH system, though some online reviewers say they don't find the LATCH straps on this to be as easy to use as those on some convertible car seats.

Perfect for travel, car-pooling and families with multiple cars (not to mention grandparent and babysitter vehicles), this is the most minimalist and best budget booster car seat we tested. Ideal for older kids, it's got no bells and whistles so we won't pretend that it does, but it does boost a child up three inches so that they can buckle themselves in using the car's seat belt correctly — and 9K+ five-star Amazon reviews.

If you frequently car-pool kids to practices or meetings, it can be smart to keep extras of these in the trunk of your car so that everyone rides safely. This booster is also inexpensive enough that family members who drive your kid around can keep one in their vehicle too. And with it weighing only about two pounds, this is easy to put in a tote bag and take with you on trips so your child's always safe in their seat belt, in rideshares and elsewhere.

Note that unlike every other booster on this list, the Topside does not secure to your car with the LATCH system. This seat just sits on top of the car's backseat and the weight of your child holds it down. Even so, it has thousands of parents grateful for its convenience and price.

If you're a road-trip family that spends more than the average amount of time in the car, this exceptionally comfortable pick might be the one for you. Our testers loved the contoured seat and found the double-foam padding to be cushioning for kids . This version is made with the brand's ClearTex fabric, which is removable and machine-washable, and also boasts Greenguard Gold certification for textiles that are low in chemical emissions.

In its high back form, the KidFit offers 10 height positions, adjusting along the waist rather than the neck to offer more protection down the side of your child. Note that some of our younger tester kids did have some trouble buckling themselves in with the back on. But the back also removes completely for bigger kids, and then they have no trouble buckling themselves.

The KidFit connects to your car via a LATCH system and our Lab experts are fans of Chicco's SuperCinch one-pull tightener, which makes it very easy to get this seat fitting snugly. The two dishwasher-safe cupholders are soft and can fold in if you have to fit three people across your backseat and need every inch.

You can get a younger kid started in a booster seat if you use one that begins with a five-point harness, such as this Britax. It can accommodate children as small as 25 pounds with the harness, then up to 120 pounds as a belt-positioning booster with a noticeably wider spread than most booster car seats . You can expect to use it from preschool through elementary school, and those extra years of use help justify the higher price.

Our testers said the nine-position headrest was easy to adjust. Both our Lab experts and parent testers also love the Britax ClickTight system, which makes it a snap to lock this booster car seat in place in your backseat when it's in harness mode. The seat fabric is removable and it can even go in the washing machine and the dryer.

With three layers of side-impact protection and the brand's SafeCell Technology that helps absorb the crash energy, you know your little one will be protected. However, this a heavy, substantial booster car seat. Expect to keep it in your main vehicle; it doesn't lend itself much to swapping between cars.

If you're looking for something for an older kid that doesn't take up quite as much room as other booster seats, consider a backless booster like this popular Graco model. It uses the LATCH system to securely connect in the backseat, but it's also a super portable booster seat for kids who don’t need added neck and back support . It still does the job of offering the height needed to get the seat belt in the right place, but kids can feel "bigger" and you can take this on trips or move it from car to car.

The TurboBooster is great for preteens not quite ready to transition to sitting unaided in the car, but looking for more independence. Several of our testers noted how this made it easier for their kids to buckle themselves in. For parents, we found the machine-washable seat pad to be easy to clean. The integrated cupholder and hidden storage compartment are a way to keep a drink and snacks (or a small toy) handy.

This harness booster seat, which might not be out of place in the cockpit of a space ship, has kid appeal with the fun latching snack console, two cupholders, and mesh fabric that can help keep a kid's back cooler in hot weather. Parents like that the fabric can unzip to be washed in cold water (hang it to dry), and those cupholders can go in the dishwasher.

The MyFit can accommodate a child up to 54 inches tall in harness mode, making it a way to extend a tall little kid's time in a five-point safety harness if you prefer. In high back booster mode, it does not fit a child as tall or as heavy as some other seats on our list, so we mostly like this for preschool and early-school age kids. The headrest adjusts to nine positions and there are also four recline settings.

This is another substantially heavy choice; once you use the LATCH system to secure it into your main vehicle, you're likely to keep it there. As with the other Chicco choice, the SuperCinch tightener makes this one easier to install than many others.

Nuna's booster comes in some beautiful colors (pink, teal, dark green), giving it a high-end look without being on the far end of the price spectrum. The seat's fabric is Greenguard Gold certified too. The headrest adjusts to nine different positions; as you push it upwards, the shoulder width moves out as well, so it expands as your child grows (accommodating up to 120 pounds). You can even choose from three seat depths and eight recline positions, making this seat among the most customizable to your child's size .

If your child is most likely to be excited about their seat if it is in a fun color, this will help win them over. The cupholder is not integrated (it just hooks on), but because it removes easily, you can put it through the dishwasher. The fabric comes off as well for washing and the seat connects with a LATCH system. Energy-absorbing foam pads on the sides of the seat help with side-impact protection when this is in high back mode.

The seatback of the aptly named Alta goes higher than any other booster car seat on our list, stretching up to 33 inches tall at the top level of the seven headrest positions. Though it's only recommended for children up to 57 inches tall, that high back can work well for kids who have a long torso. A belt-routing system guides both the shoulder strap and the lap belt to rest safely and securely . This helps kids learn how to buckle up on their own and ensures that grown-ups put the straps in the right place too.

Secure the seat with rigid LATCH connectors that fit it tightly into your vehicle. Our experts appreciate the specialized foam featured on the sides of the seat that provides additional side-impact protection. Consumer testers could tell that this seat has high-quality construction. "We like the wide shoulder support and the adjustable head positioning," one said. The removable seat fabric is machine-washable, and the seat's one cupholder is removable as well and can be positioned on either side.

This unique and sleek-looking booster seat is on the higher end of the price range, but it includes numerous safety measures that impress our Lab experts. The Oobr, manufactured in North America, is made with rigid LATCH connectors and a winged headrest for increased stability . Plus, it has belt guides to make sure the seat belt rests over your child’s body in the correct places. It's also easy to tell whether or not the seat is properly in place since you'll hear an audible click when secure.

"This booster seat feels solid, though it's still comfortable for my child," says GH Institute Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab Executive Director Lexie Sachs , a mom of two. The headrest adjusts to any of 11 positions and the seat can recline 12 degrees. It also has a removable cup holder and a removable seat cover for easy cleaning. When your child is ready, you can take off the back and use this as a backless booster. And when you're completely finished with it, you can look into Clek's recycling program in partnership with CarSeatRecycling.com.

How we test booster car seats

The Good Housekeeping Institute 's engineering and parenting pros have tested 15 booster seats over the past two years using a combination of in-Lab and at-home tests with both experts and consumer reviewers.

Our experts perform in-Lab tests to evaluate car seats based on their ease of installation, perceived kid comfort, ease of getting kids in and out of the car, advanced features, headrest adjustments, height and weight limits, stability and more.

We also work with real parents to test booster seats in a variety of vehicle sizes and types.

What to look for when shopping for a booster car seat

✔️ Height and weight limits : All booster seats come with minimum and maximum height and weight specifications. To ensure proper seat belt placement and optimal security, make sure your child fits within those ranges. If you have a convertible car seat with a booster-seat mode, or a booster that transitions from high back to backless, hold onto the user manual (or check on the brand's website) so you know when it's time to safely switch.

✔️ Seat adjustments : For the safest and most comfortable ride, look for a high back booster seat that offers neck or back height adjustments. Some models also feature width adjustments to offer a more custom fit.

✔️ Easy cleaning : Regardless of age, spills happen. Luckily, like many infant and convertible car seats, most booster seats offer removable machine-washable seat covers and padding.

✔️ Design : Oftentimes an older child may be more vocal about a seat that looks "cool." Many seats come in a range of colors and patterns to choose from, as well as accessories like cup holders and snack trays that allow them to keep their items close.

✔️ Safety : A highback build with robust side-impact protection will be safer than a backless booster model. We also prefer booster seats that attach to your backseat via LATCH connectors, so the booster does not slide around. If you want to get even more information on your seat, check its safety rating on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety site ( IIHS ).

✔️ Ease of use : You want to make sure that is simple to install and use. Lucia Sanchez, Director of Media Relations for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), stresses that, "The right car seat for your child is one that fits your child (appropriate for age and size), fits your vehicle, and that you will use correctly every time."

What age is best for a booster car seat?

Booster seats provide a safe way for kids to ride in the car before they're tall and heavy enough to sit directly on the seat. Many high back booster seats are meant to start at around age 4 and many backless booster seats are meant for ages 5 and up.

However, children vary by weight, height and readiness and many may be best off staying in their convertible car seat longer, moving to a booster seat (or booster mode, if their convertible car seat offers one) at age 7, 8 or older. Use the NHTSA's car seat finder to determine what's best for your child's current weight, height and age. Then double-check the manufacturer specifications to be sure your child is within a seat's size guidelines.

It's important that you don't rush a child into using the car's seat belt . They are safest in a five-point harness, whether that is via a convertible car seat or a booster seat, until they hit the Lower Anchor Weight Limit, which NHTSA sets at 65 pounds minus the weight of the car seat unless otherwise specified by the manufacturer. Most manufacturers say you can use their five-point harness to 65 pounds.

"The best-practice recommendation is that children should remain in a forward-facing car seat with a harness and tether until they reach the maximum height or weight allowed by the car seat’s manufacturer," Sanchez says. " Once children outgrow the forward-facing car seat with a harness, it’s time to travel in a booster seat. A booster seat positions the child so the seat belt fits properly, with the lap belt worn low across the hips and the shoulder belt comfortably crossing the chest and shoulder and away from the neck and face."

Depending on your state's car seat laws , children may be required to use a safety seat until they're large enough to sit in the car with the seat belt secured at the right areas of their body. A child is likely ready to ditch the booster seat once they are tall enough (usually 57 inches), old enough (at minimum 8 years old) and, when they sit on the car's seat, the seat belt fits across their shoulder and over their upper legs or hips. Check your local regulations to ensure your child meets height, weight and age requirements before transitioning them out of a booster.

One final note from NHTSA: Kids are safest riding in the back seat up until age 13, so keep them buckled up in the back seat until then.

Harness vs high-back vs. backless booster seats

Your child has been riding in a car seat since birth. But just when you've figured out the infant car seats from the convertible car seats , you learn that there are multiple options for forward-facing booster car seats too. Actually many booster car seats have more than one mode.

These are the possible configurations:

✔️ Harness booster seats look the most like regular car seats because they secure your child in a five-point safety harness. For this reason, you can transfer your child to a harness booster seat at a preschool age. Note that you can only keep them in that five-point harness until they hit about 65 pounds or whatever the Lower Anchor Weight Limit is set by the seat manufacturer. After that, you'll need to transition your seat to high back mode.

✔️ High-back booster seats offer neck and head support similar to any regular car seat. However, with one of these, you use your vehicle's seat belt to secure your child rather than a harness. Expect to thread the seat belt through for your child at first, especially when they are still young. Most of our favorite high back booster seats have clear guides that help you find the path for the seat belt.

✔️ B ackless booster seats rely on your child leaning back on the regular car seat and using the car's seat belt. They are the closest thing to your child sitting like an adult; they're just boosted up from below so that the seat belt hits them in the right spot. By the time a child has graduated to a backless booster, they can likely buckle themselves in. Many high back boosters transition to a backless booster (you literally just remove the back), but you can also buy a backless booster on its own. Backless boosters are inexpensive and lightweight, great for travel and car pooling.

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

The Good Housekeeping Institute provides expert reviews and advice on everything a parent needs.

For more than 15 years, GH Institute Chief Technologist and Director of Engineering Rachel Rothman has put her training in mechanical engineering and applied mathematics to work by researching, testing and writing about parenting products. She leads our testing efforts in both the auto space and most juvenile products, including car seats, meaning each year she installs over 100 car seats in vehicles. As a mom to three kids age 6 and younger, she's personally used many of the products we recommend in real life.

This article was originally written by Jamie Spain , a writer and product analyst who has reviewed a variety of parenting products for Good Housekeeping , from tricycles to toy organizers . This article was most recently updated by Jessica Hartshorn , who has covered the juvenile-products market for several decades, first at American Baby magazine and then at Parents . She also reviews toys for GH, such as the best water tables and best magnetic toys .

Jamie (she/her) is a parenting and pets reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute , where she spends her time testing, researching and writing about pet and family products. Prior to starting at GH in 2021, she worked at BuzzFeed and People , covering a combination of product reviews and lifestyle content. She's a graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and psychology and a master’s degree in journalism.

Jessica (she/her) is a freelance writer with several decades of experience writing lifestyle content and evaluating home and parenting products. A mom of two teens and two cats, her previous work can be seen in American Baby and Parents .

Rachel Rothman was the chief technologist and executive technical director of the Good Housekeeping Institute for over 15 years , overseeing testing methodology, implementation and reporting for all GH Labs. She also managed GH's research division and the analysis of applicants for the GH Seal and all other testing emblems. 

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Best Travel Booster Seats: For Kids Of All Ages

Are you planning a trip with your child, and need a good booster seat? Preferably one that’s portable and that doesn’t weigh 25 lbs? Lucky for you, you’re in the right place! You’ll only see the best travel booster seats here.

Ones that are used for travel by hundreds of parents just like yourself. All of the booster seats featured in this review are lightweight, portable, and most importantly, safe for your child.

At A Glance: Our Top 3 Picks for Travel Booster Car Seats

• Best With Harness Cosco Scenera Next Convertible Car Seat Jump To Review
• Best With High-Back Evenflo Big Kid High Back Booster Car Seat Jump To Review
• Best With Backless BubbleBum Inflatable Backless Booster Car Seat Jump To Review

I found several different types of boosters, which are suitable for children of different ages. Including travel harness seats that are perfectly safe for babies and young toddlers. So, I am pretty sure you will be able to find something that’s a good fit for your child in our detailed review!

Top Product Overview

The best travel booster seats for kids of all ages, best harness booster seats.

Harness booster seats are best suitable for babies and young toddlers. If you’re traveling with a child that is 2 or younger, we recommend one of these travel booster seats.

Cosco Scenera Next Convertible Car Seat

This Cosco Scenera Next Convertible Car Seat  is definitely one of our favorite harness boosters. It is very lightweight, so it’s fairly easy to carry around the airport. Also , it’s FAA-approved, so you won’t have any issues using it on the plane  – so long as you purchased a booster seat for your child. If you didn’t, you can just check it with the rest of your luggage.

This car seat  comes with a cup holder, which is pretty convenient for a bottle . But it is also removable, in case you don’t need it, or if it takes up too much space.

You can use this as both a forward-facing and a rear-facing booster car seat. However, if you use it as a rear-facing seat on an airplane, the seat in front of it won’t be able to recline, which might be an issue. But if your child weighs less than 22 lbs, the manufacturer strongly recommends that you use this as a rear-facing booster car seat.

Another thing I have to mention is  the price point – this is without a doubt one of the more affordable harness boosters you can find.  Because of that, even if you only use it 2 times, you will pretty much get your money’s worth.

We wouldn’t really recommend this as an everyday booster seat – the harness is nowhere near as elaborate as it should be, and the booster car seat is not too comfortable. There’s not a lot of padding on the seat, and that could be an issue with prolonged use. But it is a really good option as a lightweight and portable seat.

• Very affordable
• Lightweight and small
• FAA approved
• Not a lot of padding in the seat
• Doesn’t restrict movement as well as a regular car seat

Product Information

• Recommended Age Range: Less than 18 months
• Min/Max Weight Recommended: Up to 40 lbs
• Product Weight: 10.4 lbs

Evenflo Tribute LX Convertible Car Seat

The Evenflo car seat is a good choice for traveling with babies and young toddlers. It is FAA-approved, so you can use it in an airplane if you have purchased a seat for your child. It can be used both as a rear-facing and forward-facing seat. But, if your child weighs less than 30 lbs, it can only be used as a rear-facing seat.

This is one of the lightest high back seats in our review, at only 9.29 lbs. It is also one of the more affordable options, so it’s great for parents on a budget. You’ll get good value for your money, but don’t expect too much for some $55.

The straps on this booster seat are not the best, and that’s one downside. They don’t feature any pads, and there’s a good chance they’ll cut into your child’s skin – not the most comfortable feature of the chair. However, you can contact the manufacturer and ask them to send you shoulder pads – several customers did this.

This booster car seat is suitable for children that weigh 5-40 lbs, which is about 4 years old max. And it is a very safe booster seat – it meets all applicable Federal Safety Standards, which is one of the main reasons why we recommend it in the first place. Plus, it has a detachable cup holder, which is always convenient in a travel booster seat.

• Lightweight and affordable
• Detachable cup holder
• Harness doesn’t have pads
• Plastic edges are somewhat harsh
• Min/Max Weight Recommended: 5-40 lbs
• Product Weight: Approximately 9.29 lbs

Chicco MyFit Harness + Booster Car Seat

This Chicco car seat is definitely one of the best options out there. It is extremely versatile – it is a harness seat that transforms into a regular high-back booster car seat, so your child shouldn’t outgrow it for several years. And it’s also a really good option for an everyday seat, and not just for travels.

There is a slight issue of weight – this is one of the heavier travel car seats. But not by too much –  it weighs 12 lbs , which I think is still lightweight enough that you can use it for family travel. And the extra weight means extra features and more ways to use the booster seat. Perhaps the main reason for the extra weight is the steel frame inside the side, which significantly improves its impact resistance.

The harness mode is suitable for children that are at least 2 years old or weigh at least 25 lbs. This travel booster seat is also FAA-approved, but only in harness mode. As your child grows, you can easily transform the booster car seat to accommodate them.

Chicco MyFit features two dishwasher-safe cup holders, EPS energy foam around the head and torso, latches, dual-density padding, and a contoured design. It is comfortable, safe, easy to install, easy to clean, and pretty lightweight for everything it has to offer. But all of that Chicco goodness comes at a price – and it’s the highest one in this entire review.

• Very comfortable and secure
• Versatile – harness mode and booster mode
• FAA approved (in harness mode)
• Pretty expensive
• On the heavier side
• Recommended Age Range: 2y+ (harness) / 4y+ (booster)
• Min/Max Weight Recommended: 25-100 lbs
• Product Weight: 12.1 lbs

Best High Back Boosters (No Harness)

One thing to keep in mind about these boosters is that they are not FAA-approved. They don’t have a harness and airplane seats don’t have lap-shoulder straps that will keep your child safe. These boosters are a good option if you plan to check them at an airport, and not use them during the flight.

Chicco KidFit 2-in-1 Belt-Positioning Booster

One thing that’s pretty cool about this travel booster seat is that it transforms into a backless booster easily. So, maybe you can use it as a full booster at home, and as a backless booster when you travel.

But because of its lightweight, it’s also perfectly fine as a high-back booster for travel. It is a bit bulky, so we recommend it only if you’re renting a car, and not hopping in and out of taxis and Ubers.

This booster features DuoZone side impact protection (head and shoulder) and latches attachment for the safety of your children. It can also be adjusted in 10 different positions, to accommodate for the growth of your child. The booster car seat is Ergo Boost with double foam padding, and it is actually very soft and comfortable.

There are two cup holders on the booster seat, which are removable, flexible, and dishwasher safe – just like on the Chicco backless booster I’ll show you a bit later. This booster seat is very easy to maintain since both the arm covers and the seat pad are machine washable.

The manufacturer recommends this booster car seat for children that are at least 4 years old. But, we don’t recommend this for younger children that move around a lot, because this type of booster doesn’t restrict their movement, as well as a harness, does. If you’ve only used harness car seats so far, consider whether or not your child is ready to graduate to this type of booster.

• Comfortable and safe
• Can be used as both a high back and a backless booster
• Machine washable
• Not FAA approved – no harness
• On the pricier side
• Recommended Age Range: 4y+
• Min/Max Weight 30/40-110 lbs
• Product Weight 10.2 lbs (high back mode)

Evenflo Big Kid High Back Booster Car Seat

If you’re looking for a budget high-back booster,  consider getting this one . It costs less than $40, and it weighs about 8.5 lbs. This is why it’s a good booster for travels – you will easily get your money’s worth even if you only use this on one trip. And it is light enough that you can carry it for hours without dislocating your shoulder.

This is not an FAA-approved high back booster, because it does not have a harness. So, you cannot use this during the flight, and you will need to check it at the airport because it is pretty bulky.

The height of this booster car seat is adjustable to 6 positions – as your child grows, the booster adjusts to accommodate them. And when they get really big, you can remove the back and transform this into a backless booster.

This booster seat has two elastic cup holders, but they don’t make it too wide. In fact, this is a pretty narrow seat (about 15”), and it is a great option for smaller cars. The booster also features seat belt guides on both sides, to ensure the safety of your children.

But the padding in this seat is pretty disappointing. Also, there’s no padding in the armrests – they’re just plastic. The booster is not comfortable enough for really long rides, and that’s why we don’t recommend this as an everyday car seat.

• Very lightweight and affordable
• Transforms into a backless booster
• Height adjustable to 6 positions
• Not FAA approved
• No padding in armrests
• Seat has little padding
• Min/Max Weight Recommended: 30-110 lbs
• Product Weight: 8.45 lbs

Graco Highback Turbobooster Car Seat

If you want a reliable brand, Graco is always a great option . The Graco Highback Turbobooster Car Seat features seat belt guides on each side, for the safety of your kids. It doesn’t have a latch system – the seat belt keeps it in place.

And that makes it super portable – there’s no messing around with buckles and latches. Just grab the seat and go. Which will be pretty easy, since the seat weighs only 9 lbs.

The booster seat is not padded too thickly, but it’s still pretty soft. And it should be comfortable for your kids even on longer rides. The adjustable headrest also helps keep your kids comfy.

There are dual cup holders on the booster seat, and they are great for regular bottles. Not so much for water bottles – the cup holders are a little shallow, and the water bottle might fall out when you’re turning.

The seat converts into a backless booster seat for longer use. But also for better portability and versatility. Actually, this is one of the few booster seats that is suitable both for traveling and for daily use. And it’s also pretty cheap, so you will get great value for money with this car seat.

But it’s not FAA approved, so you won’t be able to use the high back version inside an actual airplane. You can use the backless version though, provided that your child is old enough for it.

• Comfortable for the kids
• Lightweight and portable
• No latch system
• Recommended Age Range: 3-10 years old
• Min/Max Weight Recommended: 30-100 lbs
• Product Weight: 9 lbs

Trunki BoostAPak

Surely there’s a way to trick your child into being delighted to carry around their booster seat? Yes, there is, and it is called the Trunki BoostAPak .

It is a children’s backpack that doubles as a booster seat. So, even though it’s not FAA-approved as a travel car seat, you can still bring it on a plane as personal luggage. The backpack part of it has a capacity of 8 liters, which is enough to hold some of your kid’s favorite in-flight toys!

Just remember to take out any snacks or toys your child will need during transport. Once you strap them in this travel car seat, you don’t have access to the backpack.

The internal shell of the BoostAPak is hard, for maximum safety. It also protects the contents of the backpack part, and it is light enough that children can comfortably carry it. Trunki also has armrests and backrests, as well as seat belt guides. In terms of functionality, it does the exact same thing that a regular booster seat does. But it’s about 10 times more fun for the kids.

A downside to the Trunki booster seat is that it is not padded too much, so it won’t be comfortable on long rides. Also, it’s a little bit when it is in backpack mode. Consider the dimensions of the pack, to see whether or not it will be too big for your child.

• It can be your kid’s personal item on an airplane
• Fun for the children
• Versatile and portable
• A bit big in backpack mode
• Not heavily padded
• Recommended Age Range: 4-11 years
• Dimensions: 15.75” x 14.17” x 6.3”
• Product Weight: 3.75 lbs

Best Backless Booster Seats

A backless booster seat is without a doubt the most portable option. They’re a lot smaller than high-back car seats, and a lot lighter. But they only work with kids who are a bit older – at least 4-5 years.

Backless booster seats don’t do a lot, in terms of restricting the movement of your children, so they are not a good option for kids that move around a lot. But if your child is able to sit still, then this might be the best travel car seat option for you.

Chicco GoFit Belt-Positioning Backless Booster

This Chicco backless booster is  a very comfortable option.  The seat is very padded, and your children will stay comfortable even on longer rides. Actually, it features an Ergo Boost countered seat with double padding. Therefore, I think that this is a decent option not just as a travel seat, but also as an everyday seat.

This travel car seat is suitable for children that are older than 4, and weigh between 40 and 110 lbs. At least, that is what the manufacturer recommends.

It features armrests with pop-out armrest covers. The covers are machine washable, as are all the other fabrics on the car seat. And the cup holders are also dishwasher safe, so the entire booster seat is very easy to maintain.

One thing I really like about this portable booster seat is that the cup holders are flexible and removable. So, in case you’re a little bit tight on space, you don’t have to stress about the cups poking out.

As for portability, I’m a little bit torn. On the one hand, it’s definitely more portable than a high-back booster. It is lighter, it has a carry handle and it is fairly small. But then again it’s still a little bulky, and it’s nowhere near as portable as the inflatable booster I’ll show you a bit later. So, this one is up to you.

• Double foam padding
• Flexible and removable cup holders
• Easy to maintain (machine washable)
• Not the most portable option
• No latch connectors
• Min/Max Weight Recommended: 40-110 lbs
• Product Weight: 5 lbs

BubbleBum Inflatable Backless Booster Car Seat

As far as portability goes, this is a great booster car seat .  When deflated, this can easily fit into your purse or backpack, and that’s pretty great . That’s why  we recommend this for taxi rides and Uber – you don’t have to carry a booster seat in your hand when you’re walking around the town with your little one . Just deflate it and put it in your purse!

This inflatable booster seat is suitable for children that are 4-11 years old and weighs from 40 to 100 lbs. However, we do not recommend this booster seat if your child moves around a lot even in a high back booster seat – there is the issue of safety.

Another thing worth mentioning is that you can easily fit three of these in the back seat of pretty much any car. They don’t have plastic edges, so that makes it easy to fit three travel car seats even in some really narrow cars.

The booster seat has a valve that’s covered with plastic, and it inflates somewhat when you unscrew the valve. You only need a few breaths to fully inflate it, which is great. And when you are not using the travel car seat, you should always close the valve – unless you want it to partially inflate inside your bag.

This booster seat is great for short uses, or as a backup seat for impromptu playdates. But it’s not something your child will want to sit in every day, because it’s not too comfortable. It is lightweight, portable, and very affordable, so it’s worth trying out for your upcoming trip.

• Exceptionally portable – fits in your purse
• Fits in small and narrow spaces
• Easy to inflate and install
• Not comfortable for long car rides
• Some safety concerns
• Min/Max Weight Recommended: 40-100 lbs
• Product Weight: 1.2 lbs

mifold Grab-and-Go Car Booster Seat

Curiosity won me over with this one –  a car seat that folds into a wallet-sized pouch? And that fits into your kid’s backpack?  Sign me up!

Seriously though, the mifold seat is so  innovative and practical  that everyone should try it out. Because, if it turns out your child likes this, it could actually change your life.

In terms of portability, this is the best booster seat available . It’s  lightweight, small, and fits into every carry-on bag . This is also a great seat for narrow spaces since you can easily fit three of them on the back seat of a car. It is also good as an extra seat to have in your car, just in case.

But how does it work, since it is so thin and small? Well, a regular booster seat lifts your child to the position of an adult, so that the seat belt is safe for them. The mifold does the opposite – it lowers the seat belt with the belt guides on each side so that it accommodates the size of your child. And it’s just as safe as a regular booster.

There’s one downside to that – a plain booster seat allows your child to see out the window. This one does not. Also, this is a very thin seat, so it’s not too comfortable. Because of that, I wouldn’t really recommend it for longer rides. But for running around the town on a trip, in and out of taxis and Uber’s with your little one, this is one of the best things you can spend your money on.

• Innovative design
• Extremely portable and practical
• Just as safe as a regular booster
• No lift – kids can’t see out the window
• Recommended Age Range: 4-12 years
• Min/Max Weight Recommended: 40-120 lbs
• Product Weight: 1.7 lbs

Finding The Right Travel Booster Car Seat

If this is your first trip with your child, you probably need some guidance. And we some tips on how to choose the right booster car seat for travel!

Why Not Your Everyday Booster?

Because they are heavy. When you have to manage your child, a stroller, a diaper bag, your own bag, and a booster seat, weight plays a big part.

That’s why you want to get a booster seat designed specifically for travel. It is much easier to move around the airport with a 10lb booster than one that weighs two or three times more.

Backless booster seats would be the obvious choice if we were concerned only about the weight. But, we are also concerned about your child’s comfort, safety and age – you can’t really put a 3-year-old in a backless booster seat.

So, we found some lightweight high-back booster seats that you’ll love. Most of them are pretty affordable, weigh 10 lbs or less and you can bring them on an airplane without any issues.

And then we’ll also show you several backless, foldable, and even inflatable booster seats that can pretty much fit in your carry-on.

How Will You Use The Booster Seat?

Do you need a seat just for the airplane ride, or do you plan to use it multiple times a day while you’re traveling? While you are in and out of taxis or do you plan to rent a car? Do you expect your kid to carry their booster seat, or will you do that?

Those are all questions you need to consider if you’re not sure which type is right for you. If you’re renting a car and you’ll be driving around a lot, then I think you will be fine with a high-back booster seat. But if you’re going to take taxis, then definitely consider a backless booster seat – think of going sightseeing with your little one, and lugging around a high-back booster seat while trying to take cute photos.

Obviously,  that only applies to children that are actually ready for backless boosters. And that is really an individual thing – most manufacturers recommend their backless booster seats for children that are at least 4 years old.

But is your 4-year-old really capable of sitting still and not fidgeting around while you drive? That’s another question that should help you choose between high back and backless travel car seats.

Car Safety Laws

Most countries have pretty different car safety laws. That’s something you should always check before you travel.  Maybe the country you are going to requires a specific type of car seat, and maybe they don’t require children your age to be in car seats at all.

Did you know that the European Union prohibits rear-facing car seats in the passenger seat unless the airbag is deactivated? While only two US states have the same law. Anyway, here are som e useful links that could help you prepare yourself for your next trip:

• UK Car Seats Laws
• European Union Car Seats Laws
• USA Car Seats Laws (For Different States)
• Australia Car Seats Laws

And if you’re traveling to a completely different country, Google is your best friend! :>

Travel Booster Car Seats: Our Favorite Choices

All of the car seats featured in this review have very high ratings and are highly recommended. You’ll be okay whichever one you get. But, I still loved some more than the others, so here are my top three recommendations – one in each booster category.

For a booster seat  with a harness, it was either the Chicco MyFit or the Cosco . I decided to go with the Cosco Scenera because it is the lighter and more affordable option . And ultimately, better for travel. This car seat is FAA-approved, meaning you can use it inside the cabin.

It is suitable for children that weigh up to 40 lbs, so you could get several years of use out of it. Especially because you can use it with babies as a rear-facing seat as well .

When you’re considering if an object is portable, its weight is one of the first things you look at. The Evenflo Booster Car Seat is the lightest high-back booster we featured, and so it is our favorite . It’s also the cheapest one, and it actually costs less than some backless travel car seats .

The affordability, portability, and ease of use are definitely reasons enough to get this car seat for your upcoming trip. And it will keep your child safe in case of a crash, which is more important than everything else .

• 2 seats in 1 removable back for easy transition to a no-back booster
• One-hand, 6 position height adjustment to accommodate growing children longer

For me, it was a close call between the mifold and the BubbleBum boosters . But I think the BubbleBum is the better option because it is much more comfortable to sit on. It is an inflatable booster, so it’s super portable.

When you deflate it, it can easily fit in your purse, and you can carry it everywhere. And it inflates super quickly when you want to use it. It is definitely one of the best options for children that are old enough for backless booster seats.

• The Ultimate Travel Booster Car Seat - Unlock the convenience of the USA’s Original backless inflatable booster seat. BubbleBum is the only inflatable childrens booster seat for your car with a patented system to guarantee stability and comfort on every journey.
• Safety You Can Count On – BubbleBums patented ComfortMax technology exceeds all US federal car safety standards (FMVSS213) for booster car seats 40 lbs and up to 100 lbs. Your car booster seat comes with a seat belt positioning clip for optimal seat belt fit and comfort.

Head over to Amazon to see what other traveling parents are saying about these booster car seats, and check out their prices!

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Best Car Seats

Most Popular

Best Booster Seats for Kids

Our experts test dozens of models for safety, belt fit, and much more.

When you shop through retailer links on our site, we may earn affiliate commissions. 100% of the fees we collect are used to support our nonprofit mission. Learn more .

Children pass many milestones on their road to adulthood, including going from an infant car seat to sitting independently with a seat belt. A key step on that journey is a booster seat, which gives the child enough height to position the car’s seat belt most effectively.

All booster seats might seem alike, but our extensive testing of nearly 40 models shows there are significant differences among models and types.

Proper seat belt fit is crucial. We check belt fit in five vehicles with different seating and belt geometries. (The shoulder belt should cross the middle of the collarbone and sternum, and the lap belt should sit across the upper thighs.) In our fit-to-vehicle evaluations, we also simulate typical child movement by moving the dummy around to determine whether the belt remains in place.

We also rate each booster for how easy it is to use, which includes an evaluation of its labels and instructions. 

Below, we present our top booster seat picks in each category. For more options, check out our full booster seat ratings , and consult our car seat buying guide to learn more about the different types of car seats we test.

Best Highback-to-Backless Booster Seats

Highback-to-backless booster seats feature bolsters around the head and the torso, which provides additional comfort and side impact protection for kids. With these models you can also remove the back, turning the seat into a backless booster perfect for travel or storage.

Best Highback-Only Booster Seats

Highback booster seats are great if any of the seating positions in the backseat of your car don’t have a head restraint, as they provide head and neck support in case of a rear collision.

Best Backless-Only Booster Seats

Backless boosters are good options for travel, or if your vehicle has rear head restraints that can’t be adjusted or cause interference with a highback booster. You can use these booster seats for children who surpass the weight or height limits allowed by their harnessed car seat. 

Emily A. Thomas, PhD

Emily A. Thomas is the auto safety manager at the Consumer Reports Auto Test Center, leading the child car seat and rear-seat safety programs. She joined CR in 2015 after earning her doctorate in pediatric injury biomechanics from Drexel University and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, focusing on the biomechanical differences between kids and adults in far-side low-speed crashes. Involved in automotive safety since 2008, Emily has been a certified child passenger safety technician (CPST) since 2015.

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Graco Premier SnugRide SnugFit 35 XT featuring Load Leg Technology

Chicco keyfit, cybex cloud g lux, graco premier snugride snugfit 35 xt, chicco fit2, chicco keyfit 30, chicco keyfit 35, nuna pipa lite rx, graco snugride snugfit 35 lx, graco snugride snugfit 35 elite, graco snugride snugfit 35 dlx, uppababy mesa max, evenflo shyft dualride, graco snugride snuglock 35 elite, graco snugride snuglock 35, britax b-safe gen2, evenflo gold securemax, graco snugride snuglock extend2fit 35, uppababy mesa, peg perego primo viaggio 4-35 nido, peg perego primo viaggio 4-35.

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Graco Nautilus SnugLock Grow

Chicco nextfit zip, chicco nextfit max, britax advocate clicktight, britax boulevard clicktight, britax marathon clicktight, graco trio grow snuglock lx 3-in-1, baby jogger city turn, britax grow with you clicktight, graco milestone, chicco fit4 4-in-1, graco extend2fit 3-in-1, graco slimfit 3 in 1, graco turn2me, graco nautilus 65 lx, cosco scenera next, century drive on, evenflo maestro sport, britax emblem, britax allegiance, graco extend2fit, evenflo evolve, evenflo symphony (with surelatch), graco contender 65, chicco myfit.

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Diono Everett NXT

Maxi-cosi rodifix, peg perego viaggio shuttle plus 120, chicco kidfit zip, chicco kidfit, peg perego viaggio shuttle 120, chicco gofit.

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The Best Booster Car Seats

By Rebecca Gale

It’s not hard to find a satisfactory booster seat. But a booster that’s well engineered, with thoughtful features, can help provide a safer fit, a comfier ride, and a more pleasant overall experience for you and your kids.

After evaluating more than 50 booster seats, we recommend the versatile, easy-to-use Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus high-back booster. We also recommend other high-back and backless boosters that will fit a range of budgets and circumstances.

As the name implies, a booster raises a child up so that the car’s seat belt can be positioned properly. These seats are for school-age kids who are generally at least around 40 pounds and 40 inches tall, as well as for those who are ready —both physically and developmentally—to graduate from a five-point harness seat.

Everything we recommend

Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus

The best high-back booster car seat.

This attractive booster is safe, easy to use, and comfortable. It’s a hit with caregivers and kids alike.

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Graco TurboBooster LX

This seat lacks some of the conveniences (and pizzazz) of our top pick, but it’s a really good booster at a reasonable price.

Diono Monterey 2XT Latch

A bigger, adjustable high-back booster.

This attractive, comfortable booster seat has a unique backrest that adjusts in width as your kid grows. It’s wider and heavier than our other picks, though.

Chicco GoFit Plus

The best backless booster.

In a sea of similar models, this seat stands out for its superior LATCH and other convenient features.

How we picked

A good booster seat should be simple to install and convenient to use.

We researched seats to find out which models have received the highest independent ratings for providing a proper belt fit.

Safety experts encouraged us to focus on how the seats perform in the real world, rather than conducting our own crash testing.

We made sure that our picks would work well in a wide variety of vehicles and circumstances.

The Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus weighs about 10 pounds and is easy to install and remove, thanks to a cleverly designed LATCH system. ( LATCH stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children; this system allows you to install a car seat by attaching a pair of metal hooks or clips, which are built into the seat, to a set of anchors, which are built into the car.) The KidFit ClearTex Plus’s LATCH system, which Chicco calls SuperCinch, can be tightened and released with one hand. And the seat features environmentally conscious, Greenguard Gold–certified fabric, two collapsible cupholders, and the best seat-belt threader of any high-back booster we tested. The seat’s relatively narrow footprint may allow for three across in the back row, depending on the vehicle. The top portion of the seat can be disconnected, converting it from a high-back to a backless booster.

• Weight of seat: 10 pounds
• Width of seat base (at widest point): 17 inches
• Passenger weight and height limits for high-back mode: 40 to 100 pounds; 38 to 57 inches
• Passenger weight and height limits for backless mode: 40 to 110 pounds; 38 to 57 inches

Less expensive than our top pick, the Graco TurboBooster LX has many of the same key features. Like the Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus, the TurboBooster LX has two cupholders, and it can be converted from being a high-back to a backless seat. Our main gripe is that it has hook-style LATCH connectors, which can be more difficult to get on and off the car’s anchors. This seat weighs just slightly less than our top pick. And, like our top pick, this model has a relatively narrow footprint (it may be possible to fit three seats across, depending on the vehicle).

• Weight of seat: 9.8 pounds
• Passenger weight and height limits for high-back mode: 40 to 100 pounds; 43 to 57 inches
• Passenger weight and height limits for backless mode: 40 to 100 pounds; 43 to 57 inches

The Diono Monterey 2XT Latch is similar to our top pick in terms of function, but it’s covered in a plusher fabric, and it has the option of extending the sides through the shoulders. So this seat is a good choice for kids who have a wider frame. It’s also good for parents who want bigger kids to stay in a high-back booster longer (compared with the height and weight limits of our top and runner-up picks, this seat fits kids who are 20 pounds heavier and 6 inches taller). Like our other picks, the Diono Monterey converts from a high-back to a backless booster. And it uses hook-style LATCH. The seat weighs 4 pounds more than our top pick, and it’s one of the widest models we looked at.

• Weight of seat: 14.3 pounds
• Width of seat base (at widest point): 19 inches
• Passenger weight and height limits for high-back mode: 40 to 120 pounds; 38 to 63 inches
• Passenger weight and height limits for backless mode: 40 to 120 pounds; 38 to 63 inches

We recommend high-back boosters over backless ones for daily use because of the additional head and neck protection they offer. And many models—including our other picks—convert from high-back to backless for carpooling, traveling, or when a kid has outgrown the high-back limits. But backless boosters cost less, and having one on hand can be convenient. The Chicco GoFit Plus has the same SuperCinch LATCH mechanism as the Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus, making it easy to install, tighten, and release with one hand. It also has expandable cupholders and a built-in handle on one end. We also like that this seat is relatively slender—making it possible to fit three across, depending on the vehicle. The GoFit Plus weighs 6 pounds, so it’s not the lightest option, but it’s about average for boosters with LATCH.

• Weight of seat: 6 pounds
• Passenger weight and height limits: 40 to 110 pounds; 38 to 57 inches

The research

Why you should trust us, who this is for, understanding the different kinds of booster seats, how we picked and tested, what about crash testing, our pick: chicco kidfit cleartex plus, runner-up: graco turbobooster lx, also great: diono monterey 2xt latch, also great: chicco gofit plus, other good high-back booster seats, other good backless booster seats, when can a child sit without a booster seat, the role your car plays in booster safety, the competition, care, use, and maintenance.

When I worked on the first version of this guide, in 2018, I became certified as a Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST). I completed a 40-hour training program through the Safe Kids Worldwide organization, which teaches the proper installation and use of car seats. Since that time, I’ve interviewed over a dozen experts on car seat safety, policy, and installation. I’ve spoken with representatives from 10 car seat manufacturers and talked to dozens of parents about their car seat experiences. And I've scanned hundreds of reviews and read articles from reputable media outlets, including Car Seats for the Littles and BabyGearLab .

To help steer our decisions on which seats to test, we also relied on rankings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), which independently ranks booster seats based on their ability to provide a good seat-belt fit.

Different types of car seats are designed for different stages of a child’s development. The good news: Boosters are, by design, typically the most straightforward to install and to use. But their cargo is no less precious.

Although the specifics can vary, boosters are generally intended for school-age kids who are at least about 40 pounds and 38 to 40 inches tall, and for those who are ready to graduate from a five-point harness. (Regulations on when a child is eligible to ride in a booster also vary from state to state and seat to seat.) Unlike infant car seats and convertible car seats , which provide protection using their own five-point harnesses, a booster seat relies on the vehicle’s seat belt to restrain a child. Younger kids have small frames that are not well matched to adult seat belts, so a booster’s job is to raise and position a child so that the lap and shoulder belts fit properly across their body. In the event of a crash, the vehicle’s safety belt is what holds the kid in place.

The shoulder belt must fit diagonally across a kid’s chest. And the lap belt must fit over a kid’s thighs, not their abdomen; otherwise the abdomen could be injured by the seat belt in the event of a crash. (The chest and thighs are stronger parts of the body and are better able to absorb the pressure of a seat belt.) A 2003 study of children ages 4 to 7 found that booster seats are more than twice as effective in reducing risk of injury than seat belts alone. Note that booster seats are not intended for use with lap-only seat belts, which can still be found in some cars manufactured before 2007. And boosters cannot be used on airplanes.

Parents often look forward to transitioning their kids from one stage to the next. But, as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has pointed out , car seats are one area where delaying a transition is the better thing to celebrate. Each transition—from rear-facing to forward-facing, from forward-facing to booster seat, and from booster to seat belt alone—reduces the degree of protection to the child.

Some of us who have worked on Wirecutter’s car seat guides have opted to keep our own kids in a convertible car seat with a five-point harness through kindergarten and beyond. However, there comes a time when a child outgrows the height or weight capacity of a five-point harness seat and develops the emotional maturity to shift to a booster seat.

In addition to meeting the minimum size requirements, to safely ride in a booster, a child must be able to sit still in the seat without slouching or leaning over. Otherwise, the seat belt can’t do its job properly. Kids with special needs who have outgrown convertible seat size limits, but who are not able to maintain proper posture in a booster, will require a special harness seat. (We have not tested any of those for this guide, so please consult with a health-care professional or CPST trained to handle special needs.)

High-back vs. backless booster seats

There are two types of booster seats: backless boosters, which simply raise a kid up so they’re in the correct position for the vehicle’s seat belt, and high-back boosters, which both raise the kid up and offer some support and protection to the head, neck, and upper back. High-back boosters can also help with correctly positioning the shoulder belt, and they are potentially comfier for naps in the car. Because of the additional protection that high-back boosters provide, we recommend them for regular use until a kid outgrows the height limits of the backrest.

Despite the safety advantages of high-back boosters, they may not be ideal for every situation. Since backless boosters are smaller and lighter, many caregivers find them to be more convenient, especially when a seat needs to be moved frequently. And some kids outgrow the height limits of a high-back booster before they’re ready to be out of a booster entirely. That’s why we’re big fans of seats that can convert from high-back to backless, as our picks can.

What about LATCH?

LATCH stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children. This system allows you to install a car seat by attaching a pair of metal hooks or clips, which are built into the seat, to a set of anchors, which are built into the car. With infant, convertible, and forward-facing five-point harness seats, to use LATCH as the sole method of installation, a child must weigh less than 40 pounds; once a child is over 40 pounds, the car seat must be secured using a seat belt. But for booster seats, it’s a different story.

Plenty of booster seats offer LATCH—including our top picks. But LATCH is not required for a booster seat to function safely. (And the 40-pound weight limit doesn’t apply, either, since it’s the seat belt that’s restraining a child.) Booster seats work by enabling your vehicle’s seat belts to do their job. So rest assured, a LATCH-less booster seat is fully equipped to do the task at hand.

With that said, there are potential advantages to getting a booster with LATCH. Attaching the booster to the car will help prevent the seat from shifting around when a child is getting in or out; this will also keep the seat securely in place when it’s unoccupied and prevent it from becoming a projectile in the event of a crash or sudden stop.

There are valid reasons to forego LATCH, too. You may need to use the booster in an area of the car that doesn’t have LATCH anchors (like the middle seat or in a third row). Also, the addition of LATCH to a booster almost always translates to a higher price tag.

We’ve tested boosters both with and without LATCH; you’ll find multiple non-LATCH recommendations in the Other good booster seats section of this guide.

All of our research led us to conclude that the ideal booster seat should be:

Easy to use safely: A booster’s ability to deliver a proper belt fit is what makes it safe, and several factors contribute to achieving that fit. A booster should promote correct posture; a kid should sit up straight and not slouch. If a high-back seat has side wings, they should allow for good sight lines and peripheral vision, so that a kid won’t be tempted to lean forward to see around them. It should be easy for a kid (or the adult who’s helping them) to pull the seat belt through the belt-positioning mechanism and get buckled in. The belt should rest flat against the shoulder and chest, and low on the hips or upper thighs, and it should stay there. If a kid leans forward and then leans back, the seat belt should be routed so that it moves with them. (A belt that does not retract would be too loose in the event of a crash.) The belt should also easily retract when unbuckled, readying it for the next use.

Versatile: Seats that are narrower or have a more-streamlined design will fit better in a wider range of cars. We looked for seats that, though narrow, have generous height and weight limits, as well as for those that can be adjusted or expanded to accommodate older and larger kids. We give preference to high-back boosters because of their added safety advantages, but to meet different needs, we included options that convert from high-back to backless as well as ones that are backless only.

Appealing to kids: Kids in boosters are likely to have strong opinions about how they ride (as well as everything else). So it’s important to have a booster that appeals to them. We gave extra points to seats that were notably comfy and had qualities that kids would find cool or features that would improve their overall experience, such as cupholders and high-quality fabric.

Equipped with a LATCH option: LATCH is a system that allows you to install a car seat with metal clips or hooks, which attach to anchors built into the car. As we explain above, LATCH is optional for booster seats. However, LATCH has some perks, such as helping to keep the seat in position and preventing it from becoming a projectile.

Convenient for adults: A booster seat that’s lighter in weight and designed with handling in mind will be less annoying to move in and out of a car. Intuitive installation is also a big boon. And maintenance matters: The headrest should be easy to adjust, and if a seat converts from high-back to backless, that process shouldn’t be a headache. Finally, the seat should be easy to keep clean.

A good value: We considered seats that cost well over $200. But given how many high-quality options are available for less than that, we couldn’t find a valid reason to spend any more. So we focused on models that were $200 or, in many cases, far less.

Based on these criteria, we’ve tested close to 20 models over the past five years.

I tried out each booster seat with two of my children over the course of six months. We also asked three other families and Wirecutter editors to compare some of the booster seats with kids ranging in age from 4 to 9 years old. We looked at the pros and cons of every seat, including install, fit, child preference, aesthetics, and ease of use.

When we were working on the original version of this guide, in 2018, we hired an independent lab to conduct crash testing on the booster seats that we considered as our top contenders. The results were factored into our final recommendations, which included earlier models of the Chicco, Graco, and Diono high-back seats that we recommend now.

We later decided not to commission further crash testing. Multiple experts told us that as advanced as today’s crash-testing tools are, they aren’t advanced enough to reliably differentiate among a set of well-engineered seats or to tease out an A+ from an A-. Jessica Jermakian, VP of vehicle research at the IIHS said, “I’m not sure that crash testing would give you meaningful results. If you’ve already picked the four best seats from all the other perspectives, then you can feel confident that engineers have spent a lot of time designing those seats for a good and safe user experience.”

After careful consideration and consultation with experts, we decided that field testing alone should dictate our picks within this guide. The most effective strategy for keeping your kids safe on the road is to choose a car seat that works well for your family and then to use it correctly. “The best car seat is the one that fits your kid, fits your car, and is used properly on every trip.” said Matt Maltese , an engineer and crash-testing expert who’s worked for both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia .

The Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus has the best combination of features we’ve found in a high-back booster. It’s user-friendly, our kid testers thought it was comfortable, and the fabric cover is easy to keep clean. We also like that it converts from high-back to backless, requires minimal assembly, and has a sporty, modern look. The KidFit ClearTex Plus is an updated (and improved) version of the Chicco KidFit, our previous runner-up pick in this guide. The old KidFit received a Best Bet rating from the IIHS for its ability to provide proper seat-belt positioning; the new model has not yet received a rating.

It’s a cinch to install. The 10-pound KidFit ClearTex Plus is easy to install and remove, thanks to its alligator-style LATCH connectors, which are equipped with a clever tightening and release mechanism. Chicco calls its installation system SuperCinch; you clip the latches to the vehicle’s anchors; then you pull on a center strap at the front of the seat to tighten and snug the seat into place with one tug. The seat’s quick-release feature detaches the LATCH connectors with a single (one-handed) pull of a front handle—no need to jam your hand between the vehicle’s seat cushions, fishing for a clip to unhook.

The seat-belt threader has been improved. The KidFit ClearTex Plus has an updated seat-belt threader, which is clearly labeled and functions exceptionally well. On the previous KidFit model, the belt threaded into the loop from top to bottom, but now it threads from bottom to top; this configuration is easier to use. The threader also keeps the belt from getting twisted. The KidFit ClearTex Plus was better than any other seat we tested at securely and comfortably positioning the strap on the correct part of a kid’s shoulder.

Kids say it’s comfy. The seat is well padded (according to Chicco, it has two layers of foam and ergonomic support), and kids found it comfortable to sit in. As one kid put it, “It feels fine. Like a regular seat.” Our kid testers enjoyed the removable double cupholders, which are dishwasher-safe and made from a flexible material that can be pushed in and out. The headrest adjusts to 10 positions; the side wings are ample and comfortable, but they aren’t so big that they block kids’ sight lines. The backrest can be adjusted between two positions, to better fit the angle of the vehicle seat. The fabric feels smooth and substantial. And it has Greenguard Gold Certification , which promises low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs); the textiles used to make the seat are manufactured without any added chemicals.

It’s easy to put together and to take apart. The KidFit ClearTex Plus is quick and simple to assemble out of the box; you need only to attach the back and armrests to the base. To convert it to a backless booster, you detach the top half from the bottom part by pulling on a lever and lifting up. (When it’s in backless mode, it has a small carrying handle for easy transport, but there are no storage slots for the LATCH connectors.)

Cleaning it is simple. The fabric is easy to wipe down, and crumbs shake off easily enough. For a more-thorough wash, follow the manual instructions for machine washing. It can take a few tries to master putting the cover back on. But once you get the hang of it, it should take only a few minutes.

It’s narrow and will fit a child for years. In high-back mode, the KitFit ClearTex Plus has a narrow, space-saving frame, at 17 inches across at the base and 19 inches at the widest part of the backrest; this should allow for fitting three seats across in many vehicles. The narrow frame also allows kids to easily access the seat-belt buckle, which can be tougher with wider booster seats. The high-back mode fits kids from 40 to 100 pounds and 38 to 57 inches tall; the backless configuration has the same height range but a weight range of 40 to 110 pounds.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

It’s not the best for bigger kids. Although we believe most kids will fit comfortably in the KidFit ClearTex Plus, its slender frame may be less appealing to bigger kids who prefer a wider seat.

You can’t store the LATCH connectors. Our only design complaint is that there’s nowhere to store the LATCH connectors when they’re detached. So if you’re carrying the seat around, they’ll flap, which could be annoying.

It’s a little pricey. We do think this booster seat’s price is reasonable, considering the quality. But you don’t need to pay this much to get a safe booster seat that works well.

The Graco TurboBooster LX is a solid—if slightly basic—high-back booster seat. It has the main features that matter in a high-back booster, and it costs less than our top pick, the Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus . But you do sacrifice some conveniences for the lower price. The TurboBooster LX is lightweight, at 9.8 pounds (slightly lighter than the KidFit ClearTex Plus), and it has a Best Bet rating from the IIHS for its ability to provide a proper seat-belt fit.

The install is a bit annoying . The biggest compromise with the TurboBooster LX is that it has hook-style LATCH connectors; they’re the least-user-friendly type of LATCH. It’s often tough to see what you’re doing and to maneuver around in the tight space behind the seat, and the TurboBooster LX’s LATCH hooks can be particularly tricky to get on and off your car’s anchors. This could get frustrating if you’re intending to rely on the LATCH and to frequently move the seat to different locations.

Once you’ve clipped the hooks to the anchors, you can snug the seat into position by pulling on the front strap. But unlike the Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus, which allows you to release the LATCH hooks with a simple lever, the LATCH connectors on the TurboBooster LX must be manually loosened and detached. (Note: The Graco TurboBooster is the same seat but without LATCH; it costs less than the TurboBooster LX.)

But the seat-belt threader is simple. The seat belt threader on the TurboBooster LX is well designed; the belt slides into the opening smoothly from bottom to top, easily enough for most kids to manage it on their own. The seat-belt threader on the Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus is similar, but it has more of a diagonal at the entry point, which we prefer.

It fits most kids well. The kids who tested this seat were happy with how it felt. The TurboBooster LX has a standard stationary plastic cupholder on one side, and on the other there’s a cupholder that slides in and out of the seat base. These cupholders cannot be removed for cleaning (as the Chicco’s cupholders can). The TurboBooster LX’s side wings aren’t so big that they block kids from being able to see around them, and the headrest is easily adjustable up and down to six different positions (fewer than the 10 on our top pick).

One tester noted that the headrest had a tendency to slide down after being adjusted; we also saw the same complaint in several online reviews. We reached out to Graco, and a company spokesperson acknowledged that the headrest can slide downward if not properly locked into place. Graco has since included instructions on how to lock the headrest into position, in the user manual and on the seat for all TurboBooster LX models manufactured after March 9, 2022.

It takes a little time to set up. The TurboBooster LX requires a few more minutes of setup out of the box than the Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus. The armrests, cupholder, and seat pads need to be attached, and it takes a moment to connect the top and bottom half of the seat.

It’s easy to clean. The seat is covered in a 100% polyester fabric that’s simple to spot-clean. For bigger messes, the entire cover can be removed in two parts for machine washing on the delicate cycle; it must be air-dried.

It has a narrow footprint. The seat is 17 inches across, same as the top pick, and the TurboBooster LX’s backrest is 21 inches across at its widest point; it may be possible to fit three seats across. The seat should accommodate most older kids, but a kid who needs a wider seat may outgrow this early. The narrow footprint makes it fairly easy for most kids to buckle themselves in.

It converts to backless and fits kids up to 100 pounds. In high-back mode, the TurboBooster LX has a weight range of 40 to 100 pounds (the same as the Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus) and a height range of 43 to 57 inches (the Chicco seat’s height range is 38 to 57 inches); the backless range is also 40 to 100 pounds (for the Chicco seat it’s 40 to 110 pounds) and 43 to 57 inches (for the Chicco seat it’s 38 to 57 inches).

The Diono Monterey 2XT Latch is similar to our top pick in terms of function, but it’s covered in a plusher fabric and has the option of extending the sides through the shoulders. This makes it a good choice for kids who have a wider frame and parents who want bigger children to stay in a high-back booster seat longer. This seat received a Best Bet rating from the IIHS for its ability to provide a proper seat-belt fit.

The install is easy. The Monterey 2XT is a cinch to put together. Simply attach the seat to the back and then slide in the headrest. Our testers found the install fairly simple. Similar to the Graco TurboBooster LX , the Monterey 2XT comes with simple, hook-style LATCH anchors (unlike the Chicco seat’s alligator-style LATCH system). The Monterey 2XT seat’s anchors are initially challenging to fish out from the seat, but they make the seat easy to install (though it can be a bit tricky to disconnect them). As with our other picks, the Monterey 2XT’s seat-tightening pulls are through the front of the seat, not the side, which makes tightening the LATCH straightforward. And as with our top pick, the seat belt slides into the threader from the bottom up (though one tester found Chicco’s version to be more intuitive).

It expands at the shoulders, which bigger kids may find especially comfy. Unlike our other picks, the Monterey 2XT has shoulder wings that can expand via a knob on the back of the seat, to allow more room widthwise; this is unusual among booster seats. As with our other picks, the Monterey 2XT headrest adjusts easily by notching up to grow with the kid; this seat has an 11-position headrest, compared with the KidFit ClearTex Plus’s 10.

It’s larger than our other picks. The Monterey 2XT is bigger, wider, and heavier than our top and runner-up picks (the Monterey 2XT is 14.3 pounds, versus the KidFit ClearTex Plus’s 10 pounds). So this model is not an ideal choice for those who want a booster seat they can quickly swap in and out of the car. And you may not be able to install three car seats across. One tester found that her 5-year-old couldn’t buckle herself into the seat (which she could do in our top-pick Chicco seat); this was due to the Monterey 2XT’s large armrests and seat base, which partially covered the seat-belt buckle slot.

The add-ons are appealing. Our young testers enjoyed the double cupholders, which push in and out (they are not removable, unlike those on our top pick). And the easy-to-wipe-down, machine-washable, colorful fabric comes in red, blue, yellow, plum, as well as traditional black. One of our testers said her kids all vied to sit in the “fancy blue seat,” as they described the Monterey 2XT.

It should last a long time. Like all of our other high-back picks, this seat converts to a backless booster. Both the high-back and backless modes fit kids between 40 and 120 pounds and 38 to 63 inches; this seat better accommodates heavier and taller kids than our other picks.

The Chicco GoFit Plus backless booster is the best of all the backless-only boosters we tested, thanks to a winning combination of essential features and thoughtful touches. Our top-pick high-back booster, Chicco’s KidFit ClearTex Plus , does convert to a backless version that’s very similar to the GoFit Plus. But for families that want to purchase a standalone backless booster, the GoFit Plus is a quality option. This seat weighs 6 pounds and has a Best Bet rating from the IIHS for its ability to provide a proper seat-belt fit.

The LATCH makes for an effortless install. The GoFit Plus has the same user-friendly SuperCinch LATCH system as our high-back Chicco booster pick. The alligator-style LATCH hooks easily attach to, and detach from, the car’s anchors with a one-pull mechanism for tightening and releasing. (The Chicco GoFit is identical to the GoFit Plus, but without LATCH; it normally costs about $15 less.)

Little extras are appreciated. The seat has plenty of padding and feels cushy for the rider. Like the KidFit ClearTex Plus, the GoFit Plus has removable, dishwasher-safe cupholders that expand and collapse. There’s a handle built into the side of the seat that lets you carry the GoFit Plus like a briefcase. (The Chicco KidFit ClearTex also has a handle, which can be used when the seat is in backless mode.) However, there’s no dedicated storage spot to stow the seat’s LATCH connectors when they’re not in use, so when you’re carrying the GoFit Plus around, they flap about.

The basic fabric is washable. The cover on the GoFit Plus is made from a polyester knit fabric that’s different from the material on the KidFit ClearTex Plus (the latter has Greenguard Gold Certification , ensuring low VOCs; the GoFit Plus does not); the fabric still has a nice feel to it. The seat cover can be removed; it’s machine-washable on the delicate cycle and must be air-dried.

Most kids can buckle themselves in. The seat is the same width at the base (17 inches) as our Chicco high-back pick, so it’s possible to fit three across in most cars. This seat is narrow enough for most kids to be able to buckle themselves in. The GoFit Plus weighs 6 pounds, which is more than some of the ultra-lightweight boosters we tested (such as the Cosco Rise , at 2.2 pounds), but its weight is similar to that of other backless boosters with LATCH. It has a weight range of 40 to 110 pounds and a height range of 38 to 57 inches (the same as for our top-pick Chicco in backless mode).

If you want our top-pick high-back booster but with upgrades: The Chicco KidFit Adapt Plus is the same seat as our top pick , except it’s covered in a high-performance fabric that claims to draw away moisture, helping the passenger maintain a comfortable temperature. The Chicco KidFit Zip Plus is also the same seat as our top pick, but it has extra seat and backrest cushions (which zip on and off) and a detachable console compartment (where kids can stash small toys and other treasures). The Chicco KidFit Zip Air Plus also has the extra zip-on and zip-off padding and the console compartment, plus an extended leg rest (which makes it look kind of like a lawn chair); our testers didn’t find this useful when they tried out a previous generation of the seat, but some kids might like it.

If you like our runner-up high-back booster, but you don’t want LATCH: The Graco TurboBooster high-back booster is identical to our runner-up pick, the Graco TurboBooster LX , but without a LATCH option, and it usually costs about $30 less. This seat has a Best Bet rating from the IIHS for its ability to provide a proper seat-belt fit.

If you want an inexpensive high-back booster without LATCH: At less than $40, the Evenflo GoTime Sport booster is the lowest-priced high-back booster of the models we tested. It’s lightweight (6 pounds), and it’s a good option for caregivers who want to keep an extra high-back booster on hand. The GoTime Sport converts easily from high-back to backless.

If your kid tends to fall asleep in the car: The UPPAbaby Alta is an expensive high-back booster seat that has a “lap belt positioner” (aka a crotch buckle), which helps keep the lap belt and passenger securely in place. That can be helpful for kids who need additional support to keep the belt in position, as well as for those who are prone to dozing off and then creeping downward in their seat, creating an unsafe posture. But if those cases don’t apply, then the crotch buckle is likely to be a drawback; several older children found it annoying. The Alta weighs 16.6 pounds, has a wide (19-inch) base, and cannot be converted to backless mode.

If aesthetics are a top priority: The Nuna Aace is a beautiful, expensive high-back booster. The Aace has rigid LATCH connectors, the easiest and most secure type of LATCH connectors, and they allow the seat to have a recline feature. The Aace comes with one removable cupholder, which falls off easily. This seat converts from high-back to backless mode and has a Best Bet rating from the IIHS for its ability to provide a proper seat-belt fit.

If you want a lightweight five-point harness seat that converts to a booster: The Cosco Finale 2-in-1 , a pick in our guide to the best travel car seats , is a good choice. The forward-facing seat has a five-point harness that holds kids from 30 to 65 pounds and up to 49 inches; you can also remove the harness and switch to a high-back booster (this mode works for kids who are 40 to 100 pounds and 43 to 52 inches). It does not convert to a backless booster.

If you like our favorite backless booster, but you don’t want LATCH: The Chicco GoFit is identical to our backless pick, the Chicco GoFit Plus , but without the LATCH. (Because of that, it weighs 5 pounds instead of 6.) This seat has a Best Bet rating from the IIHS for its ability to provide a proper seat-belt fit.

If you want a backless version of our runner-up pick without LATCH: The Graco TurboBooster Backless is the backless-only version of our runner-up Graco high-back booster , minus the LATCH. The TurboBooster Backless weighs just over 5 pounds and has two cupholders; it has a Best Bet rating from the IIHS for its ability to provide a proper seat-belt fit.

If you want a cheap, light, zero-frills backless booster without LATCH: The Cosco Rise , our pick for the best backless booster seat for travel , is usually under $20, weighs just 2.2 pounds, and doesn’t have cupholders. It comes with a Best Bet rating from the IIHS for its ability to provide a proper seat-belt fit.

If you want an extra-wide backless booster with LATCH: The Diono Solana 2 XL is a high-end, wide booster that could work well for kids who want or need more space. Just be sure that your vehicle seat is large enough to accommodate its footprint, with room on the side to access the buckle. The hook-style LATCH system can be difficult to maneuver; Diono recently added a rigid LATCH version of the seat as well. The Solana 2 XL has a Best Bet rating from the IIHS for its ability to provide a proper seat-belt fit.

Most booster seats have an upper size limit for kids—often 100 pounds (or more) and 57 inches in height. The AAP recommends that kids stay in a belt-positioning booster seat until they are at least 4 feet 9 inches in height and are 8 to 12 years old. For specific criteria, see our guide on when to switch car seats .

No matter what type of restraint a kid is in, experts recommend that they sit in the back seat of the car (PDF) until they are at least 13 years old.

Boosters are positioning devices, meaning the car’s seat belt is responsible for restraining the child. In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on how a car’s seat belt can impact the risk of injury; in particular, the focus is on the presence or absence of seat-belt pretensioners and force limiters, which are built-in devices that enable seat belts to function more effectively in a crash.

In the first milliseconds of a crash, pretensioners remove several inches of slack from the belt—reducing how far forward the occupant moves, as well as the likelihood of the occupant falling sideways and out of the shoulder belt. The pretensioner activates after the belt is already locked, to take even more slack out of the harness. While pretensioners and force limiters have been standard in the front seats of vehicles since 2008, they are not standard in the back seats of most cars.

Cars either have pretensioners and/or force limiters or they don’t; they can’t be added on. So when considering where to place the booster within your car, find out whether the car has these features and where they’re located. The Car Seat Lady website has a helpful tool that allows you to search for this information by make, model, and year.

The Britax Highpoint is another high-back booster seat with push-button alligator LATCH connectors that can be converted to backless. This pricey seat has an optional crotch buckle, which can help with correct posture and positioning but can also be a nuisance. We were unable to test the Highpoint due to availability issues.

The Britax Skyline is a high-back booster seat with push-button alligator LATCH connectors that can convert to backless. It worked fine, but one of our 8-year-old testers had a hard time getting a proper seat-belt fit.

The Clek Oobr is an astonishingly expensive high-back booster seat. And at 20 pounds, it’s heavy! It has a Best Bet rating for the high-back mode from the IIHS for its ability to provide a proper seat-belt fit. The Oobr features rigid LATCH connectors that quick-release with the pull of a strap. The seat can recline, and it converts from high-back to backless. It has one dishwasher-safe cupholder and a well-designed seat-belt threader. In backless mode, the Oobr has a Check Fit rating from the IIHS, which means the seat-belt fit varied in testing, depending on the child’s size and the vehicle. Because the Oobr is three times as expensive and twice as heavy as other seats that are just as safe and easy to use, we did not test it. But a Wirecutter editor who has had it for nearly three years can attest to its overall quality and that it was easy to use.

The Peg Perego Viaggio HBB 120 is an expensive high-back booster seat with rigid LATCH; it can be converted to backless mode. In 2018, a spokesperson for Peg Perego told us that the company was planning to phase the model out of the product line, so we did not test it. As of this publication, it is still available.

The Clek Olli is a backless booster seat with rigid LATCH that weighs 5 pounds. The LATCH connectors release easily with the pull of a strap. This seat comes in a range of stylish, premium fabrics, and it has a removable carrying strap and dishwasher-safe cupholder. But it costs way too much for a backless booster. Clek makes a less-expensive version called the Ozzi , which does not have the quick-release feature, carrying strap, or cupholder, but it’s still pricey. Both seats were subject to a 2022 safety recall notice related to labeling, which is correct on newer seats.

Maximize your kid’s safety on an ongoing basis by being sure to do the following things:

Observe the seat’s size and weight limits. It is essential that your child ride in the type of car seat that is appropriate for their size and developmental stage . Most kids will hit a high-back seat’s height limit before they reach its weight limit. A child has outgrown a high-back booster when the tops of their ears are at or above the top of the seat’s head restraint at the highest setting. Read the seat’s manual for additional guidance.

Follow the cleaning instructions. The correct method for cleaning your booster seat is detailed in the car seat’s manual. As we explain in this post on how to clean a car seat , it’s important to follow the instructions; failing to do so can compromise the safety of the seat and/or its textiles.

Dispose of your seat when the time comes. Car seats expire; booster seats generally last around 10 years. If your seat has reached its expiration date—or has been the subject of a recall—you should dispose of it . Any car seat that has been involved in a moderate or serious accident should also be thrown away, since the damage or structural changes incurred may compromise its ability to perform safely. You can continue to use a seat after a minor crash if all of the following criteria are met: You’re able to drive away from the crash site; airbags did not deploy; the passengers are uninjured; the car seat has no visible damage; and the vehicle door nearest the car seat is undamaged.

This article was edited by Amy Miller Kravetz and Kalee Thompson.

Julie Mansfield, research engineer with the Injury Biomechanics Research Center, The Ohio State University College of Medicine , phone interview , July 23, 2018

Aditya Belwadi, PhD, biomechanics research scientist, Child Passenger Safety Research team at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia , phone interview , May 1, 2018

Lani Harrison, Child Passenger Safety Technician, Car Seats for the Littles , phone interview , May 1, 2018

Mike Kulig, business unit director, and Bill Horn, SLED head engineer and operational manager, Calspan , phone interview , April 24, 2018

Monica Mikan, Graco product development, Casey Anthony, senior manager of Graco product development, William Conway, Graco research and development , phone interview , May 21, 2018

Joshua Dilts, marketing product manager, Chicco USA , phone interview , May 1, 2018

Allana Pinkerton, Child Passenger Safety Technician, Diono , phone interview , April 26, 2018

Alisa Baer, MD, pediatrician and co-founder of car seat safety website The Car Seat Lady , phone interview , February 28, 2022

Kerry Chausmer, program and member services director, the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) , phone interview , December 15, 2021

Jessica Jermakian, PhD, vice president for vehicle research at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) , phone interview , January 31, 2022

Meet your guide

Rebecca Gale

Further reading

The Best Convertible and All-in-One Car Seats

by Christina Szalinski

After researching dozens of seats and testing 12, we’ve concluded that the Graco Extend2Fit Convertible is the best convertible car seat for most families.

Are Rotating Car Seats Worth It?

Rotating car seats are gaining popularity—but for the typical family, they’re not better than simpler options. Here’s what to know before buying one.

The Best Travel Car Seats

by Christina Szalinski and Rebecca Gale

After testing 17 lightweight, portable car seats, we have five good options for infants, toddlers, and big kids to recommend.

When to Switch Car Seats

by Rebecca Gale

Car seats and booster seats are most effective when they’re used for the correct age, stage, and size of kids. We break down when it’s safe to make the switch.

• What's My Car Worth?
• Buyer's Guide

Our car experts choose every product we feature. We may earn money from the links on this page.

Tested: The Best Booster Car Seats, According to Experts

The experts at Good Housekeeping have released their latest findings on child car seats. Here are their picks for the best booster seats for growing kids.

This article was updated in September 2023 with new products and information.

We here at Car and Driver are car experts, and our readers trust us for insight and advice—about automobiles. Child car seats, however? While they are an essential automobile accessory if you're a parent of young kids, not many of us at Car and Driver are anymore. (Or yet.) We just didn't feel comfortable picking the "best" child car booster seats and sharing uninformed opinions with our readers.

Instead, we turned to the expertise of our colleagues at the renowned Good Housekeeping Institute (GHI). Good Housekeeping has been testing and evaluating products for the home and parents for more than a century, and their testing and evaluation processes are the industry standard.

The Best Booster Car Seats

Our top picks.

Best Overall Booster Car Seat

Diono monterey xt.

Best Value Booster Car Seat

Evenflo maestro sport harness.

Most Comfortable Booster Car Seat

Chicco kidfit 2-in-1.

Best Booster Car Seat with Seatbelt Positioner

Uppababy alta.

Best All-in-One Convertible Booster Car Seat

Graco 4ever dlx 4 in 1.

Best-Looking Booster Seat

Best Minimalist Value

Cosco topside backless booster car seat (leo).

Best Three-in-One Booster Car Seat

Graco tranzitions 3 in 1.

Best Backless Booster Car Seat

Graco turbobooster lx.

Best Luxury Booster Car Seat

So, your child has outgrown their car seat . What next? While it won't be long until you bid farewell to the car seat, you're not in the clear yet. Even as your kid grows taller and heavier, there's still a need for a booster seat, and here's why.

When it comes to crash simulations, manufacturers assume the vehicle's lap and shoulder belts fit snugly and correctly. For most children, that ideal fit doesn't happen until they reach around four foot-nine, or between the ages of eight and 12. Booster seats adjust for that difference by lifting the body, ensuring the seat belts cross your child's waist and chest, instead of lying in the uncomfortable and unsafe position of their bellies and necks, which could spell real trouble in case of an accident.

Our list of the best booster seats for your child results from rigorous testing from the Good Housekeeping Institute , which uses a blend of lab tests, parental feedback, and category expertise to choose the best options for you. The GHI assessed safety, ease of use, proper fit, ease of installation, angle and harness adjustments, cleaning, dimension, and even installation into various vehicles. And now, for the cream of the crop, the top recommendations from Good Housekeeping for the best booster car seats. The Car and Driver gear team distilled the findings into a digestible form for our purposes.

A particular favorite among GHI testers, the Monterey XT is also well-liked by Amazon reviewers. When used as a high-back booster, it offers height and width adjustments as well as two recline positions for a more custom fit than other boosters. The back can also be removed completely, to accommodate bigger kids.

This booster safely accommodates kids up to 63 inches tall and 120 pounds. It has a wider, more comfortable seat than most of the competition. It comes in a range of colors with removable covers for machine washing (though GH testers noted they wished the removal was easier). Aluminum-reinforced side-impact protection provides extra security.

Easily making the transition from a harnessed car seat to a high-back, the Maestro Sport Harness booster can suit your child from toddlerhood to big-kid status. As a five-point harness car seat, it holds kids up to 50 pounds; as a booster, it accommodates kids up to 110 pounds and 57 inches tall. The seat padding is machine washable . It also features dual cup holders to keep drinks and snacks within reach.

GHI experts found this seat to be lightweight, easy to install and remove, and, at its low price point, a great value. Shoulder guides and multiple harness slots make it easier for your child to get a secure fit. The headrest, however, is not adjustable.

In its high-back form, the KidFit 2-in-1 offers 10 height positions, adjusting along the waist rather than the neck to offer more protection down the side and along the head. The back is completely removable for bigger kids; this adds 10 pounds to the weight range limit as well. The two dishwasher-safe cupholders are foldable to keep the width of this seat manageable, while still offering a place to stash snacks and drinks.

Good Housekeeping 's testers loved the contoured seat , and their kids found the double-foam padding comfortable. Parent testers also appreciated that the seat and armrest covers are removable for machine washing .

The compact Alta sports a sleek look and high-quality construction without compromising functionality. It has seven(!) headrest positions and comes in four colors to suit any vehicle cabin. Plus, removable seat fabric and cupholders make it easier to clean.

Testers noted the specialized foam featured on the sides of the seat provides additional side-impact protection .

One of the most popular car seats on the market because of its versatility and longevity, this convertible car seat starts rear-facing for babies up to 40 pounds, transitions to forward-facing for toddlers, then converts to a high-back booster and finally to a backless booster that's suitable for bigger kids. It might be the last car seat you'll ever need to buy.

Experts loved its 10-position headrest, six-position recline, and no-rethread harness. It also comes with two cup holders and machine-washable seat pads that can be removed in minutes without uninstalling the seat.

Nuna's booster seats offer a vibrant luxury with it's attractive color options (pink, teal, and dark green), yet it remains reasonably priced.

The seat fabric is Greenguard Gold certified , making it ideal for granola parents. The headrest is highly adjustable, with nine different positions. As you raise the height, the shoulder width also expands, ensuring a comfortable fit. But they don't stop there— you can also choose from three seat depths and eight recline positions, making the Nuna one of the most adaptable choices for your child's growing body.

Vibrant color options can be a big plus for parents looking to win over a child. Additional features like the cupholders and seat fabric, which are removable for easy cleaning, make it appealing to parents who must clean up the grime. For safety, the seat is secured with the LATCH system and provides energy-absorbing foam pads on the sides to enhance side impact protection in high-back mode.

Perfect for travel, carpooling, and families with multiple cars (not to mention grandparent and babysitter vehicles) , the Cosco Topside is the simplest and best budget booster car seat GHI tested. The Cosco Topside is the epitome of minimalist—designed for older children who simply need a little boost for optimum belt placement.

The seat doesn't hook to the LATCH system but rather is held down by the weight of the child's body. The fact that this seat doesn't latch makes this ideal for those who frequently carpool or ride-share. The affordable price means you can keep one or two in your trunk for when an extra child needs a boost, ensuring everyone is safe. The seat weighs about two pounds, so it's easy to lug in and out of the car.

The simplicity of this car seat is what makes it such a find. There are more than 9000 five-star Amazon reviews, and it's easy to see why. It's convenient, lightweight, affordable, and installation is a breeze.

This option from Graco can grow with your child from 22-pound toddler to self-sufficient passenger with no car seat required. Transitioning easily from a forward-facing harness to a backless booster, it has an eight-position adjustable headrest , washable seat pads, and two removable cupholders.

GHI appreciated that the headrest and harness can be adjusted together at the same time. With the open-loop belt guides that you can easily thread the seatbelt through, buckling up is a cinch for most kids.

The LX Turbobooster is a portable booster seat that's easy to move between vehicles. It's also great for older kids who aren't quite ready to transition to sitting unaided in the car. The machine-washable seat pad makes it easier to clean, and the cupholder is great. Better still, this booster has a hidden storage compartment .

Several GHI testers noted how this seat made it easier for their kids to buckle themselves in. At $40, it's also more affordable than high-back models, while offering the height and seatbelt guidance bigger kids need.

Definitely on the higher end of the price range, this booster seat includes a variety of great features that make it worth the money. Made with a magnesium seat frame and a winged headrest , it has belt guides, a multi-position recline , an adjustable headrest, and the option to transition to a backless booster. Plus, it comes in a range of fabric and color options. The cupholder and seat cover are removable for easy cleaning.

Lab experts at the Institute were pleased to find the unique-looking Oobr constructed of durable, high-quality materials. They also liked that it received an extremely high safety rating from IIHS .

Britax Grow With You ClickTight

With ceilings of 120 pounds and 63 inches , both noticeably higher than the upper limits of most booster car seats, this is the best booster seat for bigger kids who are in the final stages of requiring one. It readily transitions from a forward-facing harness to a high-back booster. Good Housekeeping testers loved the nine-position headrest and multiple cup- and snack-holders; they also found it easy to install. With two layers of side-impact protection, SafeCell Technology helps absorb the energy from a crash.

The "athleisure fabric" upholstery that covers the seat is removable, and there are many colors and styles to choose from. However, this model is a bit more expensive than other options.

How the Good Housekeeping Institute Tested Booster Car Seats

The Good Housekeeping Institute 's engineering and parenting pros tested a dozen booster seats over the past year using a combination of in-Lab and at-home tests with both expert and consumer reviewers. They perform tests to evaluate car seats based on their ease of installation, perceived kid comfort, ease of getting kids in and out of the car, advanced features, harness adjustments, height and weight limits, stability, and more. Good Housekeeping works with real parents to test booster seats in a variety of vehicle sizes and types.

Do You Need a Booster Seat?

Booster seats do a great job of providing a safe way for bigger kids to ride around in the car before they're ready to sit directly in the seat. Depending on your state's car-seat laws, children may be required to use a safety seat until they're large enough to sit in the car with the seatbelt secured at the right areas of their body. Unlike other car seats, boosters help by ensuring the seatbelt is positioned correctly on your child to provide safety without injuring them.

A child is likely ready to sit in the back seat without a booster once they are tall enough (usually 57 inches), old enough (at least eight years old), and the seatbelt is positioned correctly on their body. The shoulder strap should go across the center of their shoulder and chest (NEVER over their neck or face), and the lap belt should go over their upper legs or hips. If they don't meet these requirements, a booster seat will be necessary.

Check your local regulations to ensure your child meets height, weight, and age requirements before transitioning them out of a booster.

High-back vs. Backless Booster Seats

High-back booster seats offer shoulder and head support similar to a car seat. Rather than a harness, they use your vehicle's seatbelt to clip your child in. The booster appropriately guides the seatbelt across your child's chest and over their legs at the top of the thighs. When your child is big enough that they no longer need the shoulder guide, they may be ready for a backless booster seat . Many booster seats transition from high-back to backless, which usually means they have a larger height or weight range and can be used for longer.

You can also purchase a convertible car seat , an all-in-one that adapts to be the only car seat you ever need to buy your child. Convertible seats can be used as an infant back-facing car seat, then a forward-facing car seat, and finally a booster seat.

What to Look For When Shopping for a Booster Car Seat

• Height and weight limits: All booster seats come with minimum and maximum height and weight specifications. To ensure proper seatbelt placement and optimal security, make sure your child fits within those ranges.
• Seat adjustments: For the safest and most comfortable ride, look for a booster seat that offers neck or back height adjustments. Some models also feature width adjustments to offer a more custom fit.
• Easy cleaning: Regardless of age, spills happen. Luckily, like many infant and convertible car seats, most booster seats offer removable machine-washable seat covers and padding.
• Design: Many seats come in a range of colors and patterns to choose from, as well as accessories like cupholders and snack trays that allow kids to keep their items close.
• Safety: If you want to get even more information on your seat, check its safety ratings on IIHS.

Why Trust Us?

The Good Housekeeping Institute provides expert reviews and advice on everything a parent needs, including infant car seats. For more than 15 years, the chief technologist and director of engineering at the Institute Rachel Rothman , who led the 2022 study of car seats, has put her training in mechanical engineering and applied mathematics to work by researching, testing, and writing about parenting products. She leads GH Lab efforts in both the auto space and most juvenile products, including car seats.

Hearst Autos combines the talent, resources, and expertise of three of the largest, most influential automotive publications in the world. The Gear Team has tested a wide variety of automotive products, parts, accessories, and gear, such as garage flooring , catalytic converter anti-theft devices , and foam cannons . We get our hands on each and every product we test. Most are purchased; some are supplied by manufacturers.

Hearst Autos doesn't need to game algorithms for traffic or promote lousy products to earn a buck. Instead, we're more concerned with our legacy, our reputation, and the trust that our readers have in Autoweek , Car and Driver , and Road & Track to deliver honest opinions and expert evaluations.

Visit our Tested & Trusted page to see the very best in automotive gear. Read more about our product testing and evaluation process here .

Katherine Keeler is Associate Testing Editor at Hearst Autos. By day she evaluates tools for your enjoyment; by night, she Frankensteins her ever-changing fleet of rustbucket oddities back to repair. Her dream is to open a roadside attraction where the public can view, drive, and learn repairs at her emporium of curious cars.

Jon Langston is an avid motorcyclist and gear collector whose work has appeared in Men’s Journal, Cycle World, The Drive, Rider, Iron & Air, Motorcyclist, and more.

Rachel Rothman was the chief technologist and executive technical director of the Good Housekeeping Institute for over 15 years , overseeing testing methodology, implementation and reporting for all GH Labs. She also managed GH's research division and the analysis of applicants for the GH Seal and all other testing emblems. 

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9 Best Car Seats and Boosters for Air Travel

By: Author Leslie Harvey

Posted on Published: December 22, 2022

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I’ve been on over 200 flights with my kids, and there is one question I still always have trouble answering before a flight: what car seat or booster should I bring? My travel priority the last decade plus has always been to transport my kids safely, but I know doing do can sometimes be a major pain! Car seats and boosters are awkward, bulky, and add a lot of logistics to air travel.

I’ve written a pretty comprehensive guide to common questions about car seats and air travel . But sometimes you can solve some of those problems simply by investing in the right travel gear in the first place. Quite a few new car seat and booster products have come onto the market the last few years. Products are more compact and designs are more innovative. Taking a car seat on a plane and being able to use it at your destination grows ever easier. It’s about time!

So, what are all these must-have innovative products that are revolutionizing family air travel? If you are planning to fly with a baby, toddler, preschooler or older child, this guide has car seat and booster recommendations for every age and stage. Note that not all of the products in this guide can actually be used on planes. Instead, they are child restraint devices for use in getting to and from the airport in cars that are also small enough to bring with you successfully during air travel. So check the specs carefully to make sure you buy the product that makes sense for your travel needs.

(Trips With Tykes uses affiliate links which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through links in this post. See our full disclosure policy linked in the menu at the bottom of this site.)

Best Car Seats for Air Travel for Infants

Chicco keyfit 30.

For infants, the classic bucket-style car seat is ideal for airplanes. The Chicco Keyfit 30 is a reasonably priced option that also works for everyday use, so there’s no need to buy a special additional product for travel. It can be used on the plane if you’ve purchased a seat for your baby. It’s also lightweight enough to carry down an airplane aisle, even with a baby in it. Then it can be used in a car at your destination without the base, by installing it with a regular seat belt.

We used a Chicco Keyfit 30 on planes with both of our kids when they were babies very successfully. We combined it with a lightweight stroller frame that we gate checked so we could easily push the baby in the car seat through the airport.

Important Specs for the Chicco Keyfit 30

• Recommended Age: newborn, infant (use weight/height limits as guide)
• Weight Limits: 4-30 pounds
• Height Limits: Up to 30 inches tall
• Dimensions of Seat: 27.5″ x 17″ x 24″
• Weight to Carry: 9.6 pounds
• FAA approved for use on a plane?: Yes
• Fits in an overhead bin of a plane?: No

The Doona came onto the market just a bit too late for me to use it with my younger child, but it has been pretty game-changing for parents of babies on the go. The Doona is the first product of its kind that is both infant car seat and stroller in one. The stroller wheels pop back and fold up under the seat, turning the product into a bucket style infant car seat. This product works so well for travelers who are going to be in and out of cars and then who need a stroller when they arrive at their destination. It can also be used on the plane, so it has a lot of versatility.

With a list price of $550, the Doona is an expensive product. As a result, it probably only makes sense for frequent travelers or for city-dwellers who would use it a lot for taking ridesharing services or taxis.

Important Specs for the Doona

• Recommended Age: 0-18 months
• Weight Limits: 4-35 pounds
• Height Limits: Up to 32 inches tall
• Dimensions of Seat: 28.5 x 18.3 x 16 folded (40 x 17.3 x 32.3 inches unfolded in stroller mode)
• Weight to Carry: 16.5 pounds

Best Car Seats for Air Travel for Toddlers & Preschoolers

Cosco scenera next.

Taking a convertible car seat on a plane is one of my least favorite things about flying with kids. They are big and bulky but oh-so-necessary. So going compact and light is essential. One of the most lightweight convertible car seats on the market is the Cosco Scenera NEXT . Luckily, it’s also one of the cheapest on the market too (it’s sold only at Walmart and costs about $49-59 depending on color).

The Cosco Scenera NEXT was my go to airplane car seat during the toddler and preschooler travel years (see my full Cosco Scenera NEXT review ). We flew with this car seat with our son after he graduated from the infant bucket seat until he was ready to graduate to a booster. It’s lightweight enough to balance on top of a roller bag or carry down an airplane aisle. We also loved that if and when we did choose to check it (instead of using it on board), it was cheap enough that we could afford to replace it if an airline damaged it. And when we weren’t traveling, the seat worked well as an extra for grandma’s car or anywhere else we needed one!

The Cosco Scenera NEXT is approved for infant use as well, so you can definitely start using it earlier. We found though that using the bucket-style seat with a stroller frame was easier than dragging a convertible car seat and a separate stroller through airports for a baby.

Important Specs for the Cosco Scenera NEXT

• Recommended Age: 0- 4 or 5 years old (use height & weight limits)
• Weight Limits: 5-40 pounds
• Height Limits:  Up to 19-40 inches tall rear-facing, 29-43 inches forward-facing
• Dimensions of Seat: 17.63 x 15.75 x 30.25 in
• Weight to Carry: 10.4 pounds

WAYB Pico Car Seat

For anyone who hates the convertible car seat balancing act, there is a new option on the market for 2-5 year olds as of just a few years ago. The WAYB Pico is a car seat with a 5 point harness that folds up small enough to put in a backpack and fit in an airplane overhead bin. It also can be used on the airplane! I have a complete review of the WAYB Pico in all its MacGyver awesomeness. We tested it out with our son on a trip to Hawaii and were totally sold.

To be sure, the Pico is expensive, retailing at $380. Like the Doona, it’s probably a seat that works only for a speciality audience. But if you can justify the price, the product solves a lot of usual the air travel car seat dilemmas with toddler and preschoolers.

Important Specs for the WAYB Pico

• Recommended Age: 2-5 years old
• Weight Limits: 22-50 pounds
• Height Limits: 30-45 inches tall
• Dimensions of Seat: 11.6″ x 14.5″ x 18.9″ in
• Weight to Carry: 8 pounds
• Fits in an overhead bin of a plane?: Yes

Ride Safer Travel Vest

One child restraint option that a lot of travelers don’t know about isn’t a car seat or a booster at all – it’s a vest! The Ride Safer Travel Vest is approved for kids ages 3 and up and retails for $169. The vest helps position a regular shoulder and lap belt in a proper spot that is safe for smaller passengers. In addition to being good for travel, this compact option also helps squeeze three kids across in back seats that would not accommodate multiple car seats.

This vest comes in three sizes. But since most families probably won’t purchase multiple items just for travel given price tag, I’d probably recommend the small which is good until about 60 pounds and 47 inches tall (around age 6). This would cover most younger kids until they get to be of an age where a less expensive travel booster (see below) would be a viable and safe alternative.

One word of warning – please, please be careful in purchasing vest-like child restraint devices on sites like Amazon. There are a number of fakes sold from overseas that are definitely not approved and not safe. If the price looks too good to be true, it’s probably is. Be sure to only purchase products from the companies “Safe Ride 4 Kids” or “Safe Traffic System Inc.”

Important Specs for the Ride Safer Travel Vest

• Recommended Age: 3-6 years old (small), 5-11 years old (large), 9-14 years old (XL)
• Weight Limits: 30-60 pounds (small), 50-80 pounds (large), 80-110 pounds (XL)
• Height Limits: 35-47 inches tall (small), 45-57 inches tall (large), 55-64 inches tall (XL)
• Weight to Carry: 1.5 pounds
• FAA approved for use on a plane?: No
• Fits in an overhead bin of a plane?:  Yes

Best Boosters for Air Travel for Older Kids

The BubbleBum is an inflatable booster that is just ideal for air travel. Small enough to fit in a backpack or purse when deflated, parents can just throw this in a carry on bag and have a safe child restraint upon landing at their destination. Retailing at $34.99, it’s also a very affordable.

The BubbleBum is the travel product our family has used most, hands down (see my complete BubbleBum review ). We’ve had one since my daughter reached booster age and height. She used until her 10th birthday on all of our travels (when she finally hit 4’9” and could now go without!). My son has used the newer design of this very same product regularly when we rent cars or take Uber/Lyft at our air travel destinations.

Important Specs for the BubbleBum

• Recommended Age: 4-11 years old
• Weight Limits: 40-100 pounds
• Height Limits: 40-57 inches tall
• Dimensions of Seat: 12 x 4 x 12.25 in
• Weight to Carry: 1.2 pounds

UberBoost Inflatable Booster Car Seat from Hiccapop

Very similar to the BubbleBum is the UberBoost Inflatable Booster from Hiccapop . It’s a tad more expensive than the BubbleBum (usually about $2 more) and serves exactly the same function so most families won’t need both.

So what are the key differences to keep in mind when selecting between these similar products? The UberBoost has two features that some families may prefer: a wider seat that may be comfier for older or larger kids and a non-skid bottom that can help prevent slipping. But it also relies on a pretty bulky shoulder clip to position the shoulder belt that a lot of kids find uncomfortable.

Important Specs for the Hiccapop UberBoost

• Weight Limits: 40-110 pounds
• Height Limits: not listed
• Dimensions of Seat: 14.5 x 4.5 x 14.5 in
• Weight to Carry: 1.3 pounds

The biggest competitor to the inflatable boosters like BubbleBum and Hiccapop UberBoost for a super-compact booster option is the mifold . Basically the size and depth of a clutch purse, this child restraint is as small as it gets for squeezing into a bag or backpack. Instead of lifting a child up (like a traditional booster), it positions the seat belt down into the proper place.

My kids found the mifold a bit uncomfortable for sitting for long periods of time because it doesn’t have much padding. We also struggled to get the right belt fit a bit more than compared to the BubbleBum. But I know many families prefer it because it’s even more compact. The mifold can be a smart choice for shorter rides when space is really at a premium.

Important Specs for the mifold

• Recommended Age: 4-12 years old
• Dimensions of Seat: 1 x 13 x 7 in
• Weight to Carry: 1.7 pounds

hifold Highback Booster

Many parents prefer the safety and security of a highback booster seat, even for older kids. But highback boosters are mostly just as big and bulky as convertible car seats. No longer! The makers of mifold came out with a folding highback booster seat a couple of years ago that is ideal for taking on a plane – the hifold .

A lot of traveling kids technically big enough for a lowback booster aren’t really ready for one, especially those in the 4-6 year old age ranges. The hifold bridges this gap, offering a highback option small enough to fit in backpack or also in an airplane overhead bin.

We tested out the hifold recently with my sister’s 4 year old and it worked really well. When folded, it’s really not that much larger than a typical hard shell low back booster. It does have a bit of a learning curve with all the moving pieces so take time to learn its quirks before a trip by using at home first.

Important Specs for the hifold

• Recommended Age: 4 years old & up (subject to weight/height max)
• Weight Limits: 33-100 pounds
• Height Limits: 36-59 inches tall
• Dimensions of Seat: 9.8 x 13.5 x. 13.5 in folded, 29.7 x 15.6 x 18.9 in unfolded
• Weight to Carry:  10 pounds, 2 ounces

Have you used any of these car seats or boosters in travels with your kids? Share your favorites in the comments!

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Wednesday 10th of May 2023

Hi! How old is your child in the picture with the Cosco Scenera NEXT? I'm trying to decide whether to use my Chicco Keyfit 30 or grab a cheap upgrade for my upcoming flight. My daughter will be about 1 year old.

Leslie Harvey

Friday 12th of May 2023

He was a few months shy of turning 2 in that Costco Scenera NEXT photo. About 1 you could probably go either way between the bucket style seat or the convertible.

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The Best Booster Seats for Growing Kids

Our favorite backless and high-back options

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more .

Parents / Kristin Kempa

With so many different types of car seats on the market and varying guidelines, it can be really tricky to  know when to move your child to a booster seat (or even know what a booster seat is). Booster seats are designed to sit a child up high enough in a seat so that they can safely use the car’s seat belt. Depending on your child's size and needs, you can opt for a high back booster seat with a five-point harness or a backless booster seat that utilizes your car's seat belt. In fact, keeping kids in a five-point harness as long as possible is the safest way for children to ride.

When it comes to actually choosing the style and design of your child’s booster seat, the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center suggests incorporating your kiddo’s opinion into the process. “Kids who are old enough to ride in a booster seat are also old enough to have an opinion about some of the comfort and style choices. Kids are more likely to ride in a booster seat without complaint if they have had a voice in choosing the seat," a rep from the center tells us.

When you first start shopping around, consider how well the booster seat you choose will fit in your vehicle. Also, consider whether it’s easy for them to climb in and out of the seat and whether they’re genuinely ready for the big switch.

Our Favorites

• BEST OVERALL: Diono Monterey 2XT 2-in-1 Booster Seat
• BEST BUDGET: Graco TurboBooster Highback Booster Seat
• BEST HIGH BACK: Graco Affix Highback Booster Seat with Latch System
• BEST BACKLESS: Graco TurboBooster Backless Booster Car Seat
• BEST FOR TRAVEL: Chicco KidFit Zip Air Plus Booster Car Seat
• BEST 2-IN-1: Britax ClickTight Harness-2-Booster Car Seat
• BEST FOR SMALL CARS: UPPAbaby ALTA Booster Seat
• BEST BACKLESS WITH LATCH: Chicco GoFit Plus Backless Booster
• BEST FOR TRAVEL: hiccapop UberBoost Inflatable Car Seat
• BEST SMALL FOOTPRINT: Maxi-Cosi RodiFix Booster Car Seat

Best Overall: Diono Monterey 2XT 2-in-1 Booster Seat

Why We Like It: It expands in height and width, and even converts to a backless booster, growing with your kid.

But Take Note: It has no top anchor for the back and may be too large for some vehicles.

This booster seat by Diono expands in height as well as width and can even convert to a backless booster seat making it our top choice for its versatility. It has 11 headrest positions, side impact protection, and two retractable cup holders. The height and width adjustments are made with a simple dial on the back that can be done with one hand and also has two recline positions.

At only 15 pounds, it's lightweight for a high back booster, making it easy to move between vehicles. In addition to seat-belt installation, it installs with LATCH connectors. LATCH stands for "Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children," and these connectors are designed to make installing car seats safe and less complicated, allowing caregivers to safely install car seats using anchors as opposed to the car's seat belts.

This seat is safe for children between 40 and 120 pounds and up to 63 inches tall. It comes in multiple colors, and the cover is machine washable.

The Details:

• Product Weight:  15.2 pounds
• Height Range:  Up to 63 inches
• Weight Range:  40 - 120 pounds
• Age Range:  4-12 years
• Convertible:  Yes

Best High Back: Graco Affix Highback Booster Seat with Latch System

Courtesy of Amazon

Why We Like It: This booster includes a LATCH system to keep it secured to the car, and it converts to a backless booster.

But Take Note: The cup holder makes the seat wide, and the armrest makes buckling difficult for some kids.

This booster seat features a LATCH connector to secure the seat to the car. That makes it easier for a child to buckle themselves in with the seat belt, because the booster stays in place while they wriggle around and get settled in. It will last until your child is ready to sit on their own because it can convert from a high-back to backless booster. It’s safe for kids between 40 and 100 pounds and 38 to 57 inches tall.

The headrest is fully adjustable, so that it can grow right alongside your child, and the seat comes equipped with a cup holder and a snack holder.

• Product Weight:  9.11 pounds (seat) and 1.65 pounds (base)
• Height Range:  Up to 57 inches
• Weight Range:  40 - 100 pounds
• Age Range:  Not Listed
• Convertible:  Yes

Best Backless: Graco TurboBooster Backless Booster Car Seat

Why We Like It: It has adjustable armrests, and it's super easy to move between cars or even take on airplanes.

But Take Note: Because the armrests are fabric, they may be more difficult to clean.

Safety experts recommend staying in a high back booster until they've exceeded its height limit. Once they're there, you're free to downgrade to a backless booster that gets them just tall enough that the seat belt protects them in the right place. This inexpensive option, for kids between 43 and 57 inches and 40-100 pounds, can use this longtime favorite. It has padded armrests that are adjustable so that as your child continues to get taller, they can still sit comfortably in the booster seat. The simple design also makes moving it from one car to another super easy.

The booster has two cup holders and a removable cover that is machine washable.

• Product Weight:  4.41 pounds
• Height Range:  43 - 57 inches
• Weight Range:  40 - 100 pounds
• Convertible:  No

Best for Travel: Chicco KidFit Zip Air Plus Booster Car Seat

Why We Like It: A zip-on leg rest and mesh material makes this booster extra comfortable for kids.

But Take Note: In some cars, it may not fit flush against the back of the seat.

With this booster, your kid will be set on road trips thanks to the comfortable contoured seat made with breathable mesh material and a zip-on leg rest that might even make grown-ups in the car jealous. It also has two cup holders that collapse down when they’re not in use and an add-on console that fits into a cup holder and is large enough to hold a phone.

If there’s a spill, the seat cover easily zips off and is safe to toss into the washing machine. The seat is equipped with seat belt guides, so you will always be assured your child is securely fastened in. It also has a 10-position adjustable headrest, uses the LATCH system to secure it to the car, and even has pop-out armrest covers. 

• Product Weight:  11 pounds
• Height Range:  38 - 57 inches
• Weight Range:  40 - 110 pounds
• Age Range:  4 years and up

Best 2-in-1: Britax ClickTight Harness-2-Booster Car Seat

Why We Like It: This converts from a car seat to a high back booster, with a machine-washable cover and adjustable headrest that ensure its durability.

But Take Note: The car seat feature means it costs more than a simple booster.

If you want to make this purchase before your child is ready for a booster, this seat goes from a forward-facing car seat with a five-point harness to a high back booster. Children between 25 and 125 pounds can ride in comfort thanks to the cup holders and two reclining positions.

Don't worry about them creating a permanent crumb coating on the cover, as you can easily remove and toss it in the wash. The brand's ClickTight technology refers to the way you can install the seat belt (for the harness mode) through a panel in the seat back instead of struggling with difficult threading of other car seats. This seat also has a nine-position adjustable headrest and two buckle positions to grow with your child. While it's more expensive than other products on the list, it's meant to be used for more years than a booster.

• Product Weight:  25 pounds
• Height Range:  Up to 65 inches (height limits vary by mode)
• Weight Range:  25 - 120 pounds (weight limits vary by mode)

Best for Small Cars: UPPAbaby ALTA Booster Seat

Why We Like It: With a very cool-looking, compact design, this booster seat also positions the seat belt correctly on kids' legs.

But Take Note: It doesn't convert to a backless booster.

If you drive a small vehicle you may want more compact booster seat list this one that won't take up the entire backseat. It has an attractive, high-back design with a seven-position adjustable headrest, cup holder, and a seat-belt guide to help your child learn how to buckle themselves in safely. The seat has protective sides and a loop at the crotch to help position the seat belt at the child's legs. It does not, however, convert to a backless booster.

Designed for big kids, this seat attaches easily and securely to the car with the LATCH system. You can remove the seat cover using the zipper on the back and toss it into the washing machine whenever it needs to be cleaned.

• Product Weight:  16.6 pounds
• Height Range:  38 - 57 inches
• Age Range:  6 - 10 years
• Convertible:  No

Best Backless with Latch: Chicco GoFit Plus Backless Booster

Why We Like It: Collapsable cup holders, quick release front strap for easy unlatching, and built-in carry handle

But Take Note: May not fit easily in smaller vehicles

If you're looking for the simplicity of a backless booster seat with the stability of a LATCH system connector, the GoFit Plus is a good choice. It has a quick-release handle in front to make unlatching easy with one hand. It even has a built-in handle for carrying when transferring between vehicles.

The coverings, including the armrests, are removable and machine washable, and the seat includes two collapsable cup holders that are also removable and dishwasher safe. This seat is safe for children between 40 and 110 pounds and at least 4 years old.

• Product Weight:  6 pounds
• Height Range:  38-57 inches
• Weight Range:  40 - 110 pounds
• Age Range:  4 years and up

Best for Travel: hiccapop UberBoost Inflatable Car Seat

Why We Like It: Packable, inflates in seconds, and non-skid bottom

But Take Note: No cup holder and may deflate after repeated use

The UberBoost booster seat is inflatable, so it's easy to pack in a suitcase or backpack making it a great choice to take on adventures near and far. This seat is good for carpools, air travel, vacations, or Uber and Lyft rides. We like that it inflates in about 20 seconds with a large valve, and when deflated, it can be rolled up and packed in the included travel bag. It supports children from 40 to 110 pounds and has a non-skid base to keep the seat securely in place.

It comes with a lifetime guarantee that covers manufacturing defects and accidental damage and the cloth cover unzips to be machine washed and dried. The seat has a narrow base, so you can fit two or three in the back seat of most vehicles.

• Product Weight:  1.3 pounds
• Height Range:  Not listed
• Age Range:  4 - 11 years

Best Small Footprint: Maxi-Cosi RodiFix Booster Car Seat

Why We Like It: Higher weight limit, narrow design saves space, and multi-height headrest

But Take Note: Not a convertible seat, no top tether, and no cup holders/snack tray

Children weighing 40 pounds up to 120 pounds can safely ride in this booster seat. Thanks to the easy-to-use seat-belt guides, big kids can flex their independence by buckling themselves in. A multi-height headrest allows parents and caregivers to adjust accordingly as their child grows. Simply remove the cover and throw it in the washing machine for easy clean-up.

• Product Weight:  17.25 pounds
• Height Range:  Up to 57 inches
• Weight Range:  40 to 120 pounds
• Age Range:  Not Listed

How We Selected the Best Booster Seats

We chose the best booster seats by researching reviews from customers and competitors, and we studied the features of more than 30 products on the market. We considered price, design, features, ease of cleaning, materials, and recommendations for age, height, and weight limits when deciding our picks. We also consulted with  Alisa Baer , M.D., pediatrician and co-founder of the Car Seat Lady, LLC, for any considerations or product recommendations while reviewing guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Factors to Consider in a Booster Seat 

Once you’re confident that it’s time to make the move, keep in mind that every booster seat sold in the U.S. must meet all federal safety standards, so no matter what, when they are installed and used properly, they will keep your child safe. That being said, specific designs vary and you’ll want to choose the one that is best suited for your vehicle, child, and your family’s lifestyle. 

Something to consider is the size of your vehicle’s backseat and how many car seats or boosters you’re trying to fit. You may need a seat that is more narrow in order to safely install the seat. 

Dr. Baer says that one of the features in high back boosters that kids love most is also one that parents may want to skip: armrests. Boosters without armrests help “eliminate [a] very common” safety concern: “Studies show that nearly half of all boosters are misused in one specific way, where the vehicle lap belt is routed over the top of one or both of the booster’s armrests," she explains. "This is particularly dangerous as the lap belt is directly over the child’s soft belly, which is exactly where the lap belt should never be."

You can learn more about  proper seat belt positioning here , and you can find out how different booster seat models hold up in crash tests using the Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance’s  compliance database . 

The most important thing you will need to consider when choosing a booster seat is your child’s height, weight, and general readiness to transition from a five-point harness front-facing seat to a booster seat. A representative from the  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration  (NHTSA) tells us that parents should “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.”

However, their maturity also plays a role in whether or not it’s time to transition. “The biggest mistakes we see parents make is switching to a booster seat before the child is ready and moving out of the booster seat too soon,” a representative from the UNC Highway Safety Research Center says. “Booster seats are intended for older kids who have outgrown the limits of their harnessed car seats and are mature enough to sit correctly in a booster seat. For many kids, this may not be until they are 6 years old or older."

Ease of Use for Child

By the time your child is in a booster seat, they’re more independent, so consider how easy it will be for them to climb in and out of the seat and whether or not they can reach the seat belt to properly click it in and out as needed. 

Booster Type

There are four different booster seat types, according to the NHTSA: a booster seat with a high back, a backless booster seat, a combination seat, and an all-in-one car seat.  Dr. Baer also weighed in on the pros and cons of each design.

• Lifts the child up so the vehicle’s seat belt fits properly
• Provides head and neck support and can minimize whiplash
• Ideal for vehicles that don’t have headrests or high seat backs
• Kids sit with less leaning and squirming as opposed to backless
• Boosts the child’s height so the seat belt fits properly
• Ideal for vehicles that have headrests
• Does not provide support to child’s neck and head or protect against whiplash
• Good for any time a child is riding in someone else’s vehicle; taxi, Uber, friend’s parents, family member, etc.
• Good for kids who have outgrown their high back booster but have not passed  the five-step seat belt test
• The vehicle’s seat is too narrow to fit a high back booster

Combination

• Transitions from a forward-facing car seat with a five-point harness to a high back booster seat
• Good for parents looking for a seat with longevity
• Has all of the advantages of a standalone high back booster seat
• Converts from a rear-facing car seat to a forward-facing car seat with harness to a booster seat as the child grows
• Some, not all, will convert into a backless booster seat
• Offers all of the benefits of a high back booster and a combination seat
• The best option for longevity

Your Questions, Answered

When can a child stop using a booster seat.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children stay in a booster seat until they are big enough for a seat belt to fit them properly and/or once they’ve reached the height or weight limit for the booster.

When do I switch to a booster seat?

The longer your child wears a five-point harness, the better, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, so that means you want to keep them in one until they reach their forward-facing car seat’s height or weight limit (whichever comes first).

At a minimum, children should be at least 5 years old before transitioning to a booster seat, assuming they haven’t met their car seat’s height or weight limits before then.

At what age can a child use a backless booster seat?

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children remain in a high back booster seat for as long as possible, as this provides added back and neck support. However, children may be ready to transition to a backless booster seat around age 5 or 6. They should be at least 40 pounds and at least 38 inches tall. Children should be mature enough to be able to sit still without slouching or wiggling around a lot and the seat belt strap should fit correctly across their shoulder and not on their neck.

What can I expect to pay for a booster seat?

The cost of a booster seat can vary greatly based on the style of seat you're looking for and any extra features that are included. Simple backless booster seats will cost less than a high back booster seat with multiple adjustment options. Booster seats on our list range from $37 to upwards of $250.

Ashley Ziegler  is a full-time parenting writer, mom to a 2-year-old and a 5-year-old, and she has personal experience in researching and using forward-facing car seats and highback booster seats. Key considerations she focused on when selecting these products include personal experience, safety features, longevity, and user reviews.

HealthyChildren.org. Car seats: information for families . 

NHTSA. Car seats & booster seats .

American Academy of Pediatrics. New child passenger safety seat guidance advises kids to ride rear-facing as long as possible; drops age criterion .

HealthyChildren.org.  Car seats: Information for families .

Buckle Up for Life. Is your child ready for a booster seat?  

Related Articles

10 Best Travel Booster Seats to Keep Your Child Safe & Supported

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN COMPENSATED LINKS. FIND MORE INFO IN MY DISCLAIMER.

Our process involves independent research, testing (by using it whilst we travel), reviewing, and recommending the best products. L earn more .

If you are looking for the best travel booster seat options to keep your kids comfortable and safe, then you came to the right place!

As parents, we all know how important safety is when transporting our little ones.

When you’re traveling with your kids , using a rental car, and have minimal space in your luggage, you need to find a safe option that travels well.

Not in the mood to read the full article and just want to find out which is the best?

THE BEST BACKLESS BOOSTER SEAT FOR TRAVEL

Our top pick is the  Hiccapop Backless Booster Seat .  

• Inflates with only a few breaths, deflates to become packable
• Suitable for kids ages 4 - 11 yrs
• Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Exceeds all federal standards for car seat safety in the USA & EU.

Check out the Hiccapop Backless Booster Travel Seat

THE BEST TRAVEL HIGH BACK BOOSTER SEAT 

Our top pick is the  Graco Turbobooster Highback  Booster Car Seat .

• It is super lightweight (8.42 lbs) and slim (16.5"W) design
• Suitable for kids aged 4 - 10 years.
• Can use for weights from 40 - 100 lbs

Check out the Graco Turbo Booster Back Travel Seat

Car seat and booster seat laws around the world may differ, but one thing is for sure - your child should be safely restrained in a car or booster seat until they are at least 10 years of age.

You need a product that is safe, efficient, and easy to check in at the airport . Thankfully, traveling booster seats are designed for exactly that purpose.

Our little Avalee-Rose has her BubbleBum Inflatable booster ready to go!

Here are our top picks of portable car booster seats that you can travel with to keep your toddlers and young kids safe.

Our Top Picks:

• Best Overall: Hiccapop   Backless Booster Seat (I love this one because it is lightweight and packs smaller than most)
• Best Inflatable Booster Seat: Hiccapop   Backless Booster Seat (This one is more comfy and packs up smaller than most)
• Best Travel High Back Booster: Graco Turbobooster Highback  Booster Car Seat (This is the best option if you are planning on renting a car and doing long road trip days)
• Lightest Travel Booster Seat:  BubbleBum Inflatable Backless Booster Car Seat (It weighs only 15 oz, but it doesn't pack up very small though)
• Best Travel Booster Seat for 4 and 5 Years:  Graco Turbobooster Highback  Booster Car Seat (backless booster seats is only recommended for kids aged 6+ and 4 feet in length)
• Best Booster Seat for Travel for Ages 6+: Hiccapop   Backless Booster Seat

Comparison Table of the 10 Best Travel Booster Seat Options

Here are the top 5 of the 10 best travel car booster seat options in an easy-to-navigate comparison chart:

10 Best Travel Booster Seats Reviews

Here’s our complete list of the 10 best booster car seat options for car travel. 

1.   Hiccapop Uberboost Inflatable Booster Car Seat Review

What We Love About It:  You can deflate it and pop it in the carry bag it comes with. Soft and comfy to sit on. Comes with a lifetime guarantee.

What We Didn't Like: Tricky for kids to buckle themselves. Better for short drives rather than long road trips.

This Hiccapop Uberboost Inflatable booster seat is a great travel companion as you can easily deflate the booster seat when not in use and store it away in your luggage.

Not only is the inflatable booster seat easy to pack away, but it is also easy to inflate with only a few breaths.

If you do not have luggage to store the deflated booster seat in, you can pack it away in its very own travel bag for easy storage.

It is suitable for kids 4 yrs+ (40 - 110 lbs) and weights a tiny 1.3 lbs.

Avalee is nearly 7 years old in this photo

It is certified safe and meets federal standards for car safety FMVSS213.

It comes with a patch kit, however if it does leak Hiccapop will send you out a replacement as they have backed the seat against leaks for life.

UberBoost exceeds Federal Motor Vehicle standard FMVSS213.

It is the best best inflatable booster seat and our top pick for a backless booster seat for travel in 2023. 

Hiccapop VS Bubblebum Inflatable Booster Seat:

I thought it might be helpful to just quickly talk about the difference between two of the most popular inflatable travel booster seats.

First of all the Hiccapop seat is bigger and also higher once blown up. My daughter tried both seats and whilst she doesn't mind the Bubblebum she does prefer the Hiccapop for comfort.

The lightest of the two seats is the Bubble Bum Booster seat . It only weighs 15 oz in comparison to Hiccapop that weighs 1.3 lbs. 

When deflated the Hiccapop is rollable and comes with a carry pouch that you can pop it in. Whereas the Bubble Bum is a lot bulkier to pack.

Lastly, another reason why I prefer Hiccapop Inflatable Travel Booster Seat is that it has an anti-slip section on the bottom of the seat that helps to prevent the seat from moving out of space.

It also has a seat belt adjuster that fits into a special loops and that prevents the shoulder belt from cutting into your child's neck. And that's why I prefer the Hiccapop over the BubbleBum seat .

Now, let's circle back to focusing on the Hiccapop booster seat and let's look at the pros and the cons.

• Small and compact 
• Light weight and portable
• Comes with a drawstring carry bag
• Best portable booster seat
• Slightly bigger in comparison to the Bubblebum (so not the best if you want to use 3 next to each other).

>>> Read more reviews of these travel booster seats .

2. BubbleBum Inflatable Backless Booster Car Seat Review

What We Love About It:

• It weighs only 15oz! It is the lightest option on our list.
• Once deflated you can fold it in half to minimize the space it takes in luggage, but we love to just pop it over the handle of our carry-on luggage.

What We Didn't Like:

• It is not the most comfy to sleep on (our 6 year old doesn't sleep in the car much so not a problem for us).
• It doesn't come with a bag or belt, so it unfolds when packed.

The Bubblebum Booster is great for traveling with small kids.

Created by a mom after she identified the need for a travel-friendly booster seat, the Bubblebum is the answer to many traveling safety concerns.

It has been rated a  Best Bet Booster by IIHS for 8 years in a row and meets the safety requirements of both the EU and US. 

It safely holds children aged 4 to 11, providing they weigh less than 100 pounds. 

It’s also small enough to fit three across a seat, or one in between two car seats.

Weighing just 500g, the booster seat deflates and rolls up easily, and comes in a small carry bag. 

Easy to pop on your carry-on luggage (if space inside the luggage is limited) or simply deflate, fold it in half and pop inside your luggage.

You can also choose from a range of colors and designs, making it more appealing to some kids.

Took to Hawaii for our rental car vs paying daily rate.

It was perfect for our 7year old to follow the seat booster law for under 8yrs old ...

Inflates and deflates easy for packing in carry on.

birdflight - Written by a walmart customer- read more reviews

• Globally award-winning
• Meets EU and US safety regulations
• Rated a 'Best Bet' Booster by IIHS 8 years in a row
• Made with memory-foam technology
• Can slip from under child if not installed correctly
• Some complain that the seat deflates for no reason
• A bit narrow for longer trip comfort

>>> Read more reviews of this booster seat .

3. Cosco Topside Backless Booster Car Seat Review

What We Love About It:  Slim design which means you can easily fit 3 next to each other in the car! Armrests is a nice touch (not all backless seats have armrests).

What We Didn't Like: The arm rests are low so tricky to get the seat belt across, but keeps the seat belt snug (which makes Avie complain of a tummy ache). Not as soft as others.

The Cosco Topside Backless Booster is great for traveling with small kids.

The booster seat fits securely in most cars and gives your child the extra height they need to keep seatbelts properly positioned.

100% Worth It!

Baldini - written by a walmart customer- read more reviews.

It traveled the world with us! So convenient and the price you can't beat!

Its easy to install, and according to all the tests it passed the safety rating with flying colors. AS LONG AS You install it properly!

Kid didn't complain, and seemed comfortable even during long drives.

We own the other full carseat but sometimes its a pain to haul it to airports, so this comes along instead!

It safely holds children aged 4 to 11, providing they weigh no more than 100 pounds.

It is easy to move it around from car to car if you change vehicles.

It is small, lightweight (only 2.2 lbs) and compact in design making it easy to fit three of these booster seats across the back seat of most cars.

• Exceeds federal safety standards
• Extra padding for comfort
• Lightweight (2.2 lbs)
• Removable cover for hand washing
• Not as compact as others
• Some find the seat a bit narrow for longer trip comfort

4. Graco Highback Turbobooster Car Seat Review

What We Love About It:  The most comfy booster seat from our list. Slim and lightweight.

What We Didn't Like: It doesn't anchor down or latch, which means that it does mean a bit (basically kept down with the weight of your child and the lap belt).

Another great portable booster seat, the Graco Turbobooster is perfect if you’re planning on doing extended rides during your travels.

It’s designed for children aged between 4 and 10 years. It does have a height limit of 57 inches tall.

With well padded high-back design, this booster seat is as comfortable as it is possible.

Love this seat!

Beth1981 - written by a walmart customer- read more reviews.

We've had the backless turbo booster for awhile now and just recently purchased this high back booster for my daughter.

I feel it's much safer for her height and weight at six years old and gives her more support than the backless booster did.

Also, has the belt loops so the seat belt is positioned correctly. It's padded and very comfy for her.

Like the turbo backless booster, it has the cup holders which are very important.

Basically the same booster only with the back and gives more support for safety, which gives me total piece of mind since we travel frequently.

This car seat comes with extra features that makes it not only great for travel but also for every day use. It has a fully adjustable headrest with 6 different positions.

The booster travel seat also features a durable, non-skid base, and an easy-to-clean material. 

The seat is the lightest (8.5 lbs) from our selection of high back booster seats, which makes it ideal for travel.

Important to note is that this seat (unlike the other high back seats on our list) is not FAA approved as it doesn't have a 5-point harness) - so you can't use it on the plane.

This is currently our pick for the best high back booster for travel for 2023.

• Super comfy
• Lightweight and portable
• Meets Safety requirements for the USA
• 6 Headrest positions
• Not FAA-Approved
• Not as easy to travel with as the backless designs

>>> Read more reviews of this booster car seat .

5.  Chicco GoFit Backless Booster Car Seat Review

What We Love About It:  One of the more comfy backless seats on our list. Foldable drink holders is clever too. Fits in standard booster seat travel bags .

What We Didn't Like: Too big for some planes maximum size requirements for carry-on.

Great for long car rides, the Chicco GoFit, in our opinion, the best backless booster seat, is ideal for family road trips. 

While not as small as other travel booster seats, this seat has a convenient carry handle and is still light enough (only 5 lbs) to carry around.

Perfect for Our Needs

Mellybabyd - written by a target customer- read more reviews.

This booster has been fantastic for carrying easily and using in Uber’s and Lyfts while travelling.

It’s light, has a built in handle for easy carrying, and is a nice sturdy little seat.

I love the foldaway cup holders.

The larger size also means more comfort for kids and a better boost. This booster is designed perfectly for kids aged 4 yrs+ (40 - 110 lbs).

The fabric is all removable and machine-washable, allowing for spills and accidents.

There is a foldable, removable cup holder for water bottles on each side of the seat as well.

It also had integrated lap belt guides and a shoulder belt clip.

This seat doesn't have an anchor or latch, if you want the seat to be more secure then we recommend the GoFit Plus that has a latch system (although rental cars in other destinations around the world might not have a latch).

• Removable dishwasher-safe cup holders
• Built-in carry handle
• Lightweight (5 lbs)
• More comfortable than other backless boosters on our list
• Can't inflate and deflated like others on the list

>>> Read more reviews of this backless booster car seat .

6.  Cosco Finale DX 2-in-1 Booster Car Seat  Review (Best Travel Booster Car Seat)

What We Love About It:  Easy to install. It is lightweight. It can transition from a 5-point harness to a seatbelt booster.

What We Didn't Like: The seat doesn't have much padding. No support for the head if you child still naps during car drives.

This is a super lightweight travel booster seat weighing only 11.5 lbs.

Although this is a highback booster seat, it is very easy to carry around and travel with.

One of the best features of this forward-facing car seat is that not only is it super comfortable for your child, but you can also fit three of these on the back seat of your car.

Simple Design, Easy to Use

Written by a coscokids.com customer- read more reviews.

We love our Finale DX booster seat! It was incredibly easy to install, and looks a lot like a "normal seat", so my son feels like he's a big boy.

The seat itself is super comfy, with lots of padding, so he never complains about being uncomfortable.

We regularly travel long distances and this seat has never given him any discomfort issues.

I would recommend this to everyone!

In the forward-facing position with the harness, this booster is suitable for children weighing from 30-65 lbs and in the belt position, you can have your kid in it up to 100 lbs. (So it is great for most 4 - 8 year olds).

It is also FAA-approved which means you can use it on a plane as well.

• Super light-weight (11.5 lbs)
• Slim design (W 19")
• FAA-Approved
• High-back security
• Bulkier option to an non high-back booster 
• Minimal padding on the bottom

>>> Read more reviews on these booster seats .

7. Evenflo Maestro Sport Booster Car Seat Review

What We Love About It:  Easy to install. It is lightweight and pretty roomy.

What We Didn't Like: The seat is pretty low so hard for little kids to see out the window.

This Evenflo booster portable seat comes is a pretty bulky booster seat, however when judging on the comfort level, it is 4.5 stars in our eyes! 

We purchased this seat for our almost 4-year old daughter. We wanted a car seat that was comfortable for her, easy to install, and travel friendly.

I took a chance by ordering online but this was an excellent choice.

She enjoys the seat, it met our requirements AND the price was great. Highly recommend.

JULIE - Written by a walmart.ca customer- read more reviews

This booster easily converts from the forward-facing highchair with the harness (up to 50 lbs), into the belt-position booster seat (up to 110 lbs). 

As your kid gets older, the shoulder belt guide helps to properly position the car's belt over their shoulder to ensure maximum safety.

It comes with a cup and snack holder and the cover is machine washable as well.

Although you might not fit three of those across in your car's back seat, it is still one of our favorites and most recommended convertible booster car seats.

This is one of the safest travel booster seats. The car seats made by Evenflo have undergone rigorous side-impact and dynamic rollover tests, exceeding industry standards.

This car seat is lighter (9.6 lbs) in comparison to the Cosco Finale DX 2-in-1 (11.5 lbs) which makes it easier to travel with.

This seat is FAA approved when used with the 5 point harness and with a seat has width of 19" it should fit on any plane seat.

This seat is the best travel booster seat for a 4 year old as it offers a comfy head area for nap time and it can also be used on a plane.

• Designed for growing children
• Very comfortable 
• Some issues with balancing the straps lengths

>>> Read more reviews of these portable booster seats .

8.   Safety 1st Grand 2-in-1 Booster Car Seat Review

What We Love About It:  The fabric is nice and soft and breathable and wipes easily to clean. Love the adjustable headrest.

What We Didn't Like: Whilst it is FAA approved the seat is pretty wide (30") which means it will mostly not fit on a plane seat.

The Safety 1st booster seat is designed to fit children aged 4 to 12, weighing 30 to 120 lbs.

The seat is able to grow with your child, thanks to the belt-positioning booster mode that you can use up to 120 lbs.

The Safety 1st booster seat boosts kids up to the perfect height, allowing seat belts to be secured across the body safely and comfortably.

Great booster seat!

Madi - written by a safety1st customer- read more reviews.

Perfect booster seat. Super light weight but heavy duty.

Installed like a dream and fit great in my small car! I have a taller child that sits in it and he says it's "very comfy".

Cup holders fit most of the sippy cups for the car too!

We will probably end up buying another for our second vehicle!

While the seat does not fold up to fit into bags, it is still easy enough to transport, and perfect if you plan on traveling in a car for long periods.

The seat is well-padded and wide enough to keep children comfy the whole trip long.

This booster seat also has a cup holder on each side, which can be pushed in while not in use to save space.

Whilst it is FAA-approved when using the 5-point-harness mode, the seat is 30.19" in width, which means that you will struggle to make it fit on a plane seat which varies from 18 - 23 inches.

• Height-adjustable padded armrests
• Simply remove fabric and pop it in the washing machine
• Easy-to-transport booster seat
• Heavier (11.73 lbs) than other high back seats on our list
• Can take up quite a bit of space on a seat (30" in width)

>>> Read more reviews of these toddler booster seats .

9.  Diono Solana 2 XL Backless Booster Seat Review

The Diono Solana 2 XL Backless booster seat is exactly what you need for quick and easy transporting during a vacation.

The seat is easy to install and simple to use and is, in our opinion, one of the best backless booster car seat options out there.

It’s a great option for catching taxis and Uber as it is super light and weighs only 6.6lbs.

The seat also works well for keeping in family members’ cars for emergency trips, so it can be used even at home.

The Diono Solana 2 XL booster comes with retractable cup holders, one on each side, to hold those important road trip drinks and snacks. 

• Holds children weighing 40 to 120 pounds
• Light weight for easy transporting
• Easy to store away, doesn’t take up much space
• Some complaints about the attached tabs at the back of the seat
• A bit pricier than others on this list

>>> Read more reviews of these lightweight booster seats .

10.   Trunki BoostApak   Car Seat Review

Trunki BoostApak car booster seat is unlike any other booster seat on our guide.

This one is a multifunctional and compact booster seat. The seat is only available to purchase from Amazon UK so if you are planning an overseas European family vacation this booster seat is perfect.

Order your seat and have it delivered to your Airbnb or hotel in Europe ready for when you arrive.

Trunki BoostApak kid's booster seat sits flat on the car seat and it comes with fold-out seat belt guides transforming from backpack to booster in a matter of seconds.

The booster backpack is made from a hard plastic internal shell to provide maximum safety while still providing comfort from the padded, wipe-clean cover. 

The best thing about this seat, in our opinion, is the fact that this seat doubles up as a backpack. It has a packing capacity of 8 liters so is perfect for all those travel essentials. 

It is super lightweight and comfortable to use as a backpack.

A massive plus for families with young kids.

Yes, this seat is suitable only for kids over 4 years old and up to 11 years.

• Compact size
• Comfortable and multifunctional 
• Only available to order from Amazon UK
• Not approved for booster seat use in USA

When Can You Use A Booster Seat?

A booster seat is used to raise the child so that the car's regular lap/shoulder seatbelt fits properly. It should be used for children between 4 and 8 years old, or who are shorter than 4 feet 9 inches tall.

For children taller than 4 feet 9 inches, a high back booster may be appropriate until the age of 8 and then switch to a backless booster seat.

This can be determined on an individual basis as children will reach certain heights at different ages.

Children should stay in a booster seat until they are big enough to fit properly in a car’s lap/shoulder seatbelt, usually between 8 and 12 years old, depending on their height.

It is important to make sure that the lap portion of the seatbelt crosses low over your child's hips and the shoulder portion is across their chest.

If it does not fit correctly, they should stay in a booster seat until they reach an appropriate size. 

Booster Seat Laws In Countries Around the World

Booster seat laws vary by country and state, but in most countries booster seats are recommended for children under the age of 12 or shorter than 4 feet 9 inches.

But regardless of laws, it is important to keep your child safe no matter where you are in the world, so I recommend you either rent a booster or take your own with.

In Australia , every child must use a car seat or booster up until the age of 7 - after that, it's at the discretion of parents/caregivers.

Important to note that Australia is not a big fan of backless boosters and some of the inflatable ones on our list are illegal to use. More about the car seat laws in Australia here .

In most countries in Europe , a child must use a booster seat until they turn 12 or reach 135 cm (4 feet 5 inches) in height - whichever comes first.

We used to rent our car seats for road trip in Europe, but now we just pack our Bubble Bum seat which is legal to use in Europe.

In Canada , children under the age of 8 or less than 4'9" in height are required to use a booster seat while traveling in a car, but the laws vary by province/territory .

In the United States , booster seat laws vary by state . All states require that children under a certain age or height use a booster seat while in the car. It is important to check the laws of your individual state for specifics.

In most countries in Asia , booster seats are recommended for children up to the age of 10 or shorter than 4 feet 9 inches. However, this isn't really enforced in many countries in Asia.

Considering how chaotic the driving is in many Asian countries I highly suggest you choose use a booster seat to keep your kids safe.

In most countries in Africa , such as South Africa and Namibia, booster seats are compulsory for children up to the age of 7 (but recommended for up to the age of 10). More on their laws here .

We just don't travel without a booster seat. It is so important to look after our kids and too often I see families who adjust into holiday mode so much that they think it will be okay to relax on car safety (especially in Asian countries where car seat rules are not enforced).

Make sure that your kids are riding safely and legally when traveling abroad or locally by either renting or taking along your own booster car seat.

Travel Booster Car Seat Buyer’s Guide

Before you buy any booster seat, but especially a travel one, make sure you’ve checked the following features.

1. Lightweight

Your chosen booster seat should be light enough that it doesn’t weigh you down.

Choose a seat that doesn’t weigh too much and won’t be uncomfortable to carry with you in between car rides.

This is especially important if you plan on taking taxi rides instead of using a rented car.

2. Is it compact and easy to store?

When purchasing a traveling booster car seat, you want to be able to store it away from both during your travels and once you’re back home.

Ideally, you want something that folds up, deflates, or fits easily into a bag.

This goes hand-in-hand with the lightweight feature of the seat, as both of these allow you to move from point A to B without causing too much of a hassle.

3. Can it be adjusted to your child’s age and height?

Some booster seats are adjustable, allowing you to keep using them as your child grows.

Not only does this allow you to save money, but it also means that once you find a trusted seat, you can use it for years to come.

4. Is it certified for use in the country you’re traveling to?

It’s important to remember that booster seat laws differ from country to country.

Before purchasing a travel booster seat for car use, be mindful of the country you’re traveling to and what its laws are.

Some countries require children of younger ages to be in a car seat and not a booster seat.

While other countries are fine with booster seats, but they need to be used until the child is older.

If you’re frequent travelers, like us, then it’s best to look for a travel booster seat that is certified in most countries, so that you won’t have to buy multiple seats.

Click Here to See Our Pick  of the B est Back Booster Travel Seat for Travel  

Click Here to See Our Pick  of the B est Backless Booster Travel Seat for Travel

Best Booster Seat for Travel FAQ's

Here are some quick answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the best booster seats for travel.

1. Can you take a Backless booster seat on an airplane? 

Yes you can, however you might not be able to use it on the seat. Some of our high back boosters are FAA-approved when using it with the 5-point-harness only.

However none of the boosters that require a shoulder belt will be allowed to be used on a plane seat.

2. Should I bring a booster seat on a plane?

Safety when traveling is the number one priority so we will always say yes as you may want to use the booster seat when you reach your final destination.

However, it is important to note that you might not be able to use the booster seat on the plane seat as booster seats require a lap-shoulder seat belt when using (unless you have a 2-in-1 seat and your child is still young enough to use the 5-point harness which can work on a plane seat).

3. How do you fly with a booster seat?

You can only a 2-in-1 booster seat for air travel (when it has a 5-point-harness).

For backless or shoulder belt-only boosters, you can either take the booster seat on the plane as carry on (and stow it in the overhead bin) or check the booster seat in.

4. Does a booster seat count as a checked bag?

No, the booster seat does not count towards your checked luggage items so you can check your booster seat in for free into the hold in addition to your other checked luggage.

We always recommend that you double with your airline as they may have different rules and allowances.

5. Can you gate check a booster seat?

Yes, you can. 

6. How to pack a booster seat for checked baggage?

We recommend that you always place your booster seat in a protective carry bag or cover to try and protect the seat from any damage or soiling. 

7. What age do kids switch to backless booster?

Generally, it is recommended that kids switch to a backless booster seat when they reach 4 feet and are between 6 and 12 years old.

At this height and age, the car's regular lap/shoulder seatbelt should fit them properly without the need for an additional level of protection provided by the booster seat. 

Verdict on the Best Traveling Booster Car Seat

So, which is the best booster seat for travel? Well, that largely depends on your child’s age and weight, as well as your travel plans and needs.

Our daughter is 6 years old and we personally prefer to use a backless booster for travel so that it is easy to pack (and so lightweight). We prefer the Hiccapop or Bubblebum inflatable seats.

For kids younger at aged 4 or 5, who might still fall asleep on car rides, we much prefer a high back booster. Our preference is for Graco Turbobooster as it is the lightest high back seat on our list.

It’s also important to note that even the best backless booster seats (unless they are 2-in-1 with a 5-point harness) are not allowed to be used in the airplane seat itself.

If you prefer to have added protection for your child during your flight, the Airplane Safety harness  is the best option.

Now that you’ve read our top picks of travel booster seats, we’d love to hear yours!

• Which booster seats have you used while traveling?
• Do you take your own booster seats or rent them when you arrive?

Let us know!  

Tip:  For more information you can also visit our travel car seat for 3 year old guide.

Helpful Links:   

• Here is our guide to  the best baby travel gear .  We also suggest you  check out our baby travel guide  as well.
• Here are our picks for the options for the  travel car seats  and the  best car seat alternatives .
• Check out this  booster seat user guide  for best practices.

Keen for all the info? Keep reading.

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The Very Best Booster Seats

In this article

• Best overall
• Best (less expensive) overall
• Best high back
• Best backless

Best booster seat for older kids

• Best adjustable
• Best lightweight
• Best for travel

Switching from a car seat to a booster seat is a major transition that hinges not just on the age of your child but also their weight, height, and maturity level. Booster seats are made for children who have outgrown their harnessed car seat but aren’t tall enough to safely use a regular seat belt. Seat belts and cars are designed to fit adults four feet nine inches and taller, so instead of sitting across the bony hips of an adult, the lap belt of a seat belt ends up going across the belly of a 4-year-old, explains Eli Gurock, founder and CEO of the baby-gear and toy retailer Magic Beans . Booster seats literally give your child the boost they need to ensure proper seat-belt placement. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration , most kids should use either a high-back or a backless booster seat until they are between 8 and 12 years old.

The American Academy of Pediatrics echoes this recommendation, and 48 of 50 states have laws on the books requiring kids to use boosters until they reach a certain age, height, or combination of both. All booster seats also have a minimum weight requirement (typically 40 pounds) that your child must meet before they can safely make the switch from a harnessed car seat to a booster seat.

Finally, there is the question of whether your child is ready to use a booster seat from a behavior standpoint. Alisa Baer, pediatrician and co-founder of thecarseatlady.com , says parents and caregivers must consider their child’s ability to sit in a booster without slouching, leaning, or yanking on the seat belt.

As with car seats, every booster seat on the market in the U.S. has to pass strict Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards before it can be sold. So you can trust that all booster seats will provide a baseline level of protection. That means the best one for you and your family will likely come down to additional factors like the size of your car or your kid’s particular opinions about everything from color to how cushy the seat is under their butt. To help you get a head start, I talked to parents and experts about the booster seats they like best for a range of different situations.

What we’re looking for:

Height and weight requirements.

Most booster seats have a minimum weight requirement of around 40 pounds and a maximum weight limit of around 100 pounds. It’s crucial to respect these boundaries and not transition your child too soon or keep them in a seat once they have outgrown it. This is because all seats are tested to meet certain safety standards based on their specific size constraints.

Similarly, there are minimum and maximum requirements for height. These ensure a proper fit with a harness or the car’s seat belt. If your kid is on the tall side (or you just want the seat to last as long as possible), you’ll want to look for a booster seat with higher height limits or one that is adjustable or convertible. I listed the maximum weight and height limit of each seat below. For booster seats that can be used both with a harness and without, I listed the weight limits for each mode.

There are three main types of booster seat, and all of them serve the same purpose: to boost a child’s body and ensure proper seat-belt placement.

High-back booster: High-back boosters have more structure around the head and shoulders to position the shoulder belt, give your child a place to rest their head, and minimize forward head movement , side impact, and whiplash in the event of a crash.

Backless booster: Backless boosters are much lower profile and more portable. They usually have the same weight and height restrictions as harness-free high-back boosters and often work best for older kids who still need to use a booster but don’t want to be seen as babyish, or as a space-saving option to keep in your trunk for carpooling or when traveling. They are also generally less expensive and take up less space in the back seat of a car.

Convertible booster: To get the most use out of a booster seat you can buy one that starts out as a forward-facing car seat with a five-point harness that can be removed or stowed away once your child is ready to transition to the regular seat belt. In some cases, if you are buying a high-back booster seat for an older kid and won’t need to use the seat with a younger one, it’s easier to get the one without a harness. There are also some convertible seats that are designed to go from high-back to backless boosters as children get older and bigger. These convertible seats are often marketed as “grow with you” or “3-in-1,” “4-in-1,” or “all-in-one” convertible car seats and can be a good investment for families who would like to use the same car seat for many years and multiple children.

LATCH vs. seat-belt secured

The LATCH system (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) is a standardized system that allows you to secure a car seat or booster seat to your vehicle via anchors located within the vehicle’s seats. LATCH-equipped booster seats connect directly to your car’s LATCH anchors, providing added stability and keeping a booster seat more secure, even if there isn’t a kid sitting it, so it doesn’t slide around when it’s not in use or become a projectile in the event of a crash.

LATCH-equipped booster seats come with either rigid or flexible LATCH connections. Rigid LATCH uses alligator-like clips that come directly out of the car seat or base without any straps or rotation. They provide a more secure connection. Flexible LATCH connectors are attached to a pull strap that can be tightened or loosened, either by hand or, depending on the seat, with some type of tightening mechanism. Both options are safe and meet FMVSS requirements, but rigid LATCH is easier to install and doesn’t require any manual tightening or adjusting, ensuring correct installation. Always check the LATCH weight maximums for both your vehicle and your booster seat, and ensure that the combined weight of your child and the seat falls within the published limits.

Booster seats without LATCH rely on the vehicle’s seat belt to hold the seat, and the child, in place. These types of booster seats are usually lighter and more portable. They are also less expensive and can be used in any car with a seat belt. This may be helpful for families with older cars that don’t have LATCH anchors.

Extra safety and specialty features

Every car seat and booster seat on the market in the U.S. must pass strict Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards before it can be sold. But those standards are contingent on you installing the seat in your car correctly and your child meeting the height and weight requirements for the seat. Outside of that, you might want to consider additional safety features, like side impact cushioning, and details that make a booster seat easier to use and more comfortable for your kid, like cupholders and extended footrests. I’ve highlighted the notable safety and convenience features of each of the car seats in our list.

Booster seats range from $40 to over $300 depending on the complexity of the seat and added features. I’ve sorted the seats on our list into one of four price categories listed as $, $$, $$$, and $$$$, respectively: under $100, under $200, under $300, and over $300.

Best booster seat overall

Max height and weight: Harness: 65 pounds, 49 inches; Booster: 120 pounds, 63 inches | Seat type: Convertible | LATCH type: Rigid or seat-belt installation depending on child’s weight | Extra safety and specialty features: Forward-facing harness-to-booster, ClickTight installation system, one-handed head and harness adjustment, 2 recline positions, 2 cupholders, 4 colors | Price: $$$$

This convertible booster from Britax can transition from a forward-facing car seat with a five-point harness to a high-back booster that uses the car’s seat belt. Strategist senior editor Winnie Yang has been using it for three years with her now 8-year-old daughter and bought it after using (and loving) a Britax car seat that also has the brand’s ClickTight installation system. ClickTight is a mechanical tightening system that allows you to get a very snug and secure install in your car without breaking a sweat.

Yang was looking for a booster seat that had a five-point harness option she could eventually stop using once her daughter was ready for the regular seat belt, since the harness provides more protection for smaller children in the event of a crash. She likes that the harness and headrest are easy to adjust one-handed and that the ClickTight makes it really easy to install. According to Yang, being able to remove the cover and throw it in the washing is a nice touch, and the ample cup and snack holders are a convenient feature even if they do end up mostly filled with rocks and other treasures.

Strategist senior editor Jen Trolio has also used this seat with her two kids, both in harness mode and booster mode, and along with Gurock recommends it as an easy and gradual way to transition from a bulkier harnessed car seat to a booster seat. Its combination of an easy install, streamlined design, welcome comfort and convenience features, and dual use as both a harnessed seat and a booster seat make it my pick for the best booster seat overall.

Best (less expensive) booster seat overall

Max height and weight: Harness: 65 pounds, 49 inches; Booster: 120 pounds, 57 inches | Seat type: Convertible | LATCH type: Flexible latch or seat-belt installation depending on child’s weight | Extra safety and specialty features: Slim enough to fit 3 across in many backseats, memory-foam cushioning, 2 cupholders, 11 colors | Price: $$$

For about $100 less, this convertible car seat from Diono also allows for use with a five-point-harness that can be removed once your child is ready to transition to the booster mode that uses the car’s seat belt. It is technically a 3-in-1 seat that can be used rear-facing from infancy, but New York deputy editor Alexis Swerdloff started using as when her son was 5 years old. She says he seems very comfortable in the seat even when sleeping and that the straps are easy to buckle and tighten. The headrest is adjustable, and the seat can be folded up so that the booster will fit in an airplane’s overhead compartment. The Diono is also one of the slimmest seats on the market and can fit three across the backseat in many cars. Because it can be used both rear-facing and front-facing, in addition to its being a high-back booster seat, it’s a fantastic value.

Best high-back booster seat

Max height and weight: 100 pounds, 57 inches | Seat type: High-back convertible | LATCH type: Rigid | Extra safety and specialty features: Slim enough to fit 3 across many backseats, 12 degrees of recline, 1 cupholder, 11 colors | Price: $$$$

Tot Squad founder Jennifer Saxton , a certified CPST ( child-passenger-safety technician ), likes that this seat has a rigid latch system and that it reclines so your kid can take a nap comfortably. Clek is known for making very durable, well-thought-out products but also expensive ones. This is the most expensive seat on the list by about $90. What you get for the extra cost is a stylish, slim, and minimal-looking booster seat that can be converted from high-back booster to a backless booster as your child grows.

Best backless booster seat

Height and weight requirements: 100 pounds, 57 inches | Seat type: Backless | LATCH type: Seat-belt installation | Extra safety and specialty features: Lightweight, shoulder cincher, ClearTex material, cupholders | Price: $

This backless booster weighs just five pounds, and since it rests on the back seat of your car while your child is secured by the car’s seat belt, moving it between cars takes just a few seconds. Trolio likes it for carpools and travel and appreciates that it has a clip for cinching the seat belt at the child’s shoulder to help achieve the safest possible fit. Because it also has cupholders, cushioning, and Greenguard Gold–certified ClearTex fabric, it’s a good-value backless booster for everyday use with older kids.

Height and weight requirements: 110 pounds, 57 inches | Seat type: Convertible | LATCH type: Flexible LATCH with SuperCinch | Extra safety and specialty features: Quick release button, ClearTex fabric, 2 cupholders, 9 colors | Price: $$

This harness-free option can be used as a high-back or backless booster. It comes recommended by Trolio, who previously used three-in-one and all-in-one editions of the Graco Extend2Fit convertible car seat for her now 6- and 8-year-old daughters. Trolio ultimately replaced the Graco seats because they were still quite bulky in booster mode. Both of her daughters have used this KidFit, which is more streamlined in the back seat. It has a flexible LATCH system to secure it to your car’s anchors with Chicco’s SuperCinch feature to ensure a snug fit. (SuperCinch is similar to Britax’s popular ClickTight system.) If you’re hopping between cars, you’ll like that the seat has a quick-release button to unlatch it. Other features include cupholders and Chicco’s Greenguard Gold–certified ClearTex fabric. (For slightly younger kids who would still be safer in a harness, Trolio recommends the similar Chicco MyFit Harness Booster with ClearTex , which her 6-year-old used with a harness until she was ready to transition to a seat belt.)

Best adjustable booster seat

Height and weight requirements: 120 pounds, 63 inches | Seat type: Convertible | LATCH type: Rigid | Extra safety and specialty features: Extended height limit, independently adjustable headrest and backrest, 1 cupholder, 3 colors | Price: $$$

For a booster seat to fit your child properly, it should guide the seat belt over their lap , across their chest, and between their shoulder and neck . This can be tricky for kids who are taller in their torso versus their legs. The Peg Perego Viaggio Shuttle Plus 120 is unique in that its headrest, backrest, and side wings can all be adjusted independently of one another, making it easier to get the right fit. When your child is ready for a backless booster seat, the upper portion of the seat can be removed from the base.

Best lightweight booster seat

Height and weight requirements: 100 pounds, 57 inches | Seat type: High-back | LATCH type: Rigid | Extra safety and specialty features: Extra seat-belt routing at the crotch, 1 cupholder, 4 colors | Price: $$

While most rigid LATCH booster seats are on the heavy side, the Uppababy ALTA booster seat weighs just 16.6 pounds, making it easier to move from car to car or car to house. It is the second-lightest booster seat on the list, bested only by the inflatable travel booster seat below. It’s also more ergonomic with an adjustable headrest that has seven different positions and extra seat-belt routing at the crotch, and not just at the shoulder, to further ensure correct seat-belt positioning. The included cupholder can be removed to save space.

Best booster seat for travel

Height and weight requirements: 100 pounds, 57 inches | Seat type: Backless | LATCH type: Seat-belt installation | Extra safety and specialty features:  Inflatable, shoulder-cincher, 4 colors and patterns | Price: $

Trolio and Saxton, as well as Renee McCabe , injury-prevention and Safe Kids coordinator for Safe Kids Greater Augusta, and Jennifer LaBracio, gear editor at Babylist , all pointed us in the direction of this inflatable Bubblebum travel booster seat, which compresses into a stuff sack about the size of a two-liter soda bottle for easy portability. Trolio finds it especially helpful when she is going to have extra kids in her car on the way home from school or soccer practice. Like the Chicco GoFit backless booster, it also has a clip for cinching the seat belt at the child’s shoulder to help achieve the safest possible fit. Boosters are not approved to use on airplanes, but McCabe notes that the Bubblebum is ideal for hopping in cars or Ubers. While the seat requires a bit of extra belt threading at the lap, it offers peace of mind that you aren’t taking unnecessary risk, even for short trips.

Our experts:

• Alisa Baer , pediatrician and co-founder of thecarseatlady.com • Eli Gurock , founder and CEO of the baby-gear and toy retailer Magic Beans • Kecia Healy , CPST instructor and member of the New York State Child Passenger Safety Advisory Board • Jennifer LaBracio , gear editor at Babylist • Renee McCabe , injury-prevention and Safe Kids coordinator for Safe Kids Greater Augusta • Ashlee Neuman , deputy editor at the Bump • Jennifer Saxton , founder of Tot Squad and CPST • Alexis Swerdloff , New York deputy editor and parent • Jen Trolio , Strategist senior editor and parent • Winnie Yang , Strategist senior editor and parent

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Today’s Top Clicked

7 Best Travel Booster Seats For Babies & Toddlers (2024 Update)

What is a travel booster seat?

A travel booster seat will offer the convenience and comfort of feeding at home, while you’re on the go with your little one. Whether it’s a day trip, or an extended vacation, simplifying mealtime is something that any parent appreciates.

Why do you need one for travel?

Feeding your child while you’re in an unfamiliar environment can be a stressful experience for both you and your little one. The food may be unfamiliar, and the restaurants you’re visiting might not have all the amenities of home, like a comfortable place for your child to sit.

1) Because Your Baby Needs to Eat. Changes in routine can be stressful for baby. If he/she is overwhelmed by new sights, sounds, and tastes, even the smallest detail like an uncomfortable seat (or worse no seat at all for baby), can cause a total disruption in mealtimes. Especially if you have a longer trip planned, you’ll want to make sure that you bring along somewhere comfortable to sit. You can even get baby accustomed to using the booster seat at home before you leave for your trip!

2) Because Baby Proofing Standards Might be Different. Whether it’s a short trip to visit Grandma in a neighbouring town, or an extended trip to an exotic location, the standards for baby equipment might be dated or simply different. Sticking with a familiar seat that you know meets your safety standards, and that you are comfortable installing on a variety of chairs will ensure that you can relax and enjoy your meal, without worrying that the booster seat isn’t safe.

Here are my top 7 picks for the best travel booster seat (and why I love them):

1. polar go anywhere booster seat, blue/espresso.

(If Convenience is Your Priority)

Pros:  This travel booster seat offers some of the best safety features, packed into a very light and compact package – so small that it won’t be any trouble at all to take it along on vacation, to visit other people’s houses, or restaurants. Its only 1.5 pounds and packs into a convenient messenger bag, but doesn’t sacrifice safety – its one of the only ones I’ve found with a 5 point harness to keep your child fully secured. It also features wipeable material, which makes it easy to clean up inevitable spills. It is suitable for up to 33 pounds, and 3 years of age.

Cons:  One drawback is that this seat is not recommended for children under 12 months, and doesn’t have a tray so you must have a spot at the table or a surface for your child to eat on. This would make it a little less useful for casual adventures like picnics or barbeques where a table might not be available. Another drawback is that the height of the booster seat back requires a higher back chair, which might not be available at all restaurants, so you may not be able to fully secure the chair to the seat, which would also negate the use of the five-point harness.

View on Amazon.com ➜

2. The First Years On-The-Go Booster Seat,Safari

(if Easy Folding and a Higher Weight Range are important to you)

Pros:  This on-the-go booster seat is like magic – it inflates using a self-inflating valve, and weights just one pound so its easy to pack or take along wherever you go. When you’re ready to set up, just open the valve and it will inflate to a full-size seat with a T-shaped adjustable safety belt. When mealtime is over, just open the valve and the seat will deflate, ready to disappear and get packed up quickly. If only it could make your baby’s meal disappear as quickly! The seat is suitable for ages 9 months and up, and will accommodate up to 50 pounds, so should last your child for a few years of on-the-go feeding.

Cons:  Be sure to allow the cushion to fully inflate and ensure the valve is totally plugged. If not totally inflated and secured, the child’s weight may compress the cushion bottom when the child is seated. Parents should also make sure to shake out the chair before folding, as sometimes crumbs will catch in the fold of the fabric where the back meets the chair’s bottom.

3. Fisher-Price Healthy Care Deluxe Booster Seat, Blue/Green/Gray

(If Quality is Your Main Concern)

Pros:  In my opinion this booster seat is the gold standard for booster seats. It is easy to clean, thanks to its all-plastic construction. It also grows with your child, as it offers three different seat height configurations, and adjustments to move the tray closer to your child. This booster seat also offers a covered plastic tray, so that the eating surface stays clean, and the removable tray is dishwasher safe. The seat back and tray are fully removable for older children, and it folds conveniently. The straps also make it easy to adjust and strap securely to nearly any chair.

Cons:  The fact that this is hard plastic means that it is not as portable for farther trips that require air travel for example, but when my kids were younger we kept them in the car at all times to have them handy for trips to restaurants.

4. Chicco Caddy Hook On Chair, Red

(If Being Right at the Table is Your Priority)

Pros:  For a totally inventive take on a booster seat, this seat means that your child doesn’t even need a chair to sit on! The innovative seat clamps securely onto the table, bringing your child right up to table height. It folds flat for portability and easy storage, and features a nylon seat that can be wiped in case of any spills, and the seat also fully removes from the frame so it can be thrown into the wash. It has a 3 point harness and protective rubber gripping so it won’t damage the table or pinch little fingers. The weight restriction is up to 37 pounds.

Cons:  While the clamp is a very innovative idea, be aware that depending on the table design, the clamps may not work as intended –it is designed to work with tabletops that are at least ¾ of an inch thick and requires at least 6 inches of clearance. Also, be aware to clamp the seat on as close to the middle of the table if possible, not at one end of a longer table, to minimize the risk of the table tipping. Of all the travel seats, it is also a bit heavier, weighing in at 7 pounds.

5. Guzzie+Guss 201 Perch Table Chair, Black

(If Style is a Priority)

Pros:  As another (albeit pricier option) for the clamp style chair, Guzzie+Gus have introduced the perch chair. It weighs slightly less, at 5 lbs and will accommodate children up to 37 pounds. It clamps on to tables with 10cm of clearance for the clamp, and a clamp opening of 3.75”.

Cons:  Because of the clamp design, this chair may not clamp properly on tables with a lip under the table. It also leaves a slight gap between the child and the table, allowing food to fall to the floor (which could be a benefit, as the chair would be cleaner) but would be prevented if the chair had a tray option available.

Get a quote in less than 30 seconds at LadderLife.com ➜

6. Baby HighChair Harness

(If Portability is Important)

Pros:  This style is super portable and easy to pack – it folds up into a travel pouch, and is as easy to pack as a sweater and just as lightweight. Because its made from premium cotton, its comfortable for your little one, and machine washable. The guidelines state that it can be used for children up to 44 lbs, and the best part is that it is truly universal – it just slips over any chair and will keep baby from wriggling off their seat.

Cons:  This style of travel high chair is really not a booster seat, but rather a harness that keeps your child on their chair. However, if your little one needs the additional height in order to reach their plate and not spill their food, this might not suit your needs.

7. My Little Seat Infant Travel High Chair, Hula Loops, 6 Months

(If You’re Looking for Convenience & Safety)

Pros:  If a five-point harness with ease of packing is a priority to you, this might be the perfect travel feeding solution for you and your little one. This design is a fabric harness designed to fit over the back of a chair, and includes an adjustable five-point buckle harness to keep baby secure. This design folds up into a matching pouch, the same size as a diaper so can fit easily into any luggage and even your daily diaper bag for ease of feeding on the go. As long as your baby can sit unassisted, this seat is suitable for them to use, and will last them until they are 35 pounds.

Cons:  With its one-piece construction, this seat can be a bit restrictive if the chair back Is very high. When it is placed on a higher chair back, the seat portion that baby is meant to sit in actually does not touch the seat of the chair, so you may need to use something to prop baby up – although this might not be a bad thing, as it would also protect the chair from being spilled on.

Polar Go Anywhere Booster Seat, Blue/Espresso

The Polar Go Anywhere Booster Seat, Blue/Espresso is our overall top recommendation. It's the highest quality product we have found with the most affordable price making it the best value on our list..

FAQ’s about Travel Booster Seats

1. what age should my child be to use a travel booster seat.

For most of these booster seats, your child should be able to sit independently before using them. Different products vary by manufacturer and some of these will adjust to suit a child up to 4 years old.

2. What is the highest weight that a travel booster seat can accommodate?

The weight limits vary based on the manufacturer, but most will work for a child between 35-44 pounds.

3. What different styles are available?

There are a few different styles of travel booster seat available:

– Travel Highchairs/Folding Boosters – imagine a high chair without the legs – this style gets strapped to a regular dining chair, and most can be folded for easier storage. These designs can be either fabric with cushioning or hard plastic seats for a boost.

– Clamp-On Seats – Rather than attaching to a chair, this style clamps directly onto a table using a metal frame.

– Fabric Seat Harnesses – This style is a piece of fabric secured to the chair, with straps or fabric that wraps around your little one to keep them in place on their seat. Just note that these won’t give your baby any height to help reach the table.

4. My child is very squirmy, will a travel booster seat help?

A Travel booster seat can definitely help keep your child seated and on their chair, but be aware that for particularly squirmy babes, you’ll want to make sure that whichever seat you choose has adjustable buckles to tighten and secure the booster to the chair so baby can’t knock the seat off the chair. In addition, for very squirmy little ones, a five-point harness might be something you want to consider.

5. If I am bringing my travel booster on the plane, will I have to pay extra?

Most of the travel boosters can be packed into a piece of checked luggage (and some will even fit right into a diaper bag), but for the larger seats made of hard plastic, you may get charged as a piece of checked luggage. This varies by airline, but it’s definitely something to keep in mind.

6. Can I use a travel booster seat on a plane as a safety harness?

No, we don’t recommend using these travel boosters for airline safety purposes as they are not FAA-approved. For that purpose, we love the  CARES Child Aviation Restraint System .

7. Can I use a travel booster seat in a booth at a restaurant?

Some of these would be suitable to use in booth seating to raise the height of your little one but would not secure to the booth seating. If having it buckled and secured is important to you, you might consider using the clamp style at the end of the booth.

As you can see, there are a variety of options for travel booster seats, which allows you to choose the style of booster seat that suits your travel plans, your baby and your family best. Make sure you consider your baby’s age, weight, and how active/squirmy they tend to be at mealtime. Other things to consider are ease of packing, ease of installation/set up, and your budget.

Whatever style of booster and budget you choose, if it keeps your baby happy (not hangry), you can concentrate on making vacation memories instead of stressing.

Vehicle Safety

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Car Seats and Booster Seats

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Car seats and boosters provide protection for infants and children in a crash, yet car crashes are a leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 13. That's why it's so important to choose and use the right car seat correctly every time your child is in the car. Follow these important steps to choose the right seat, install it correctly and keep your child safe.

Find the Right Car Seat for Your Child

The process, car seat types, car seat recommendations, find & compare seats.

• Parts & Tips

Car Seat Installation Instructions

• Registration

Follow these steps to help you through the process of finding the right car seat, installing it correctly, and keeping your child safe.

Find the right car seat

• Learn about the four car seat types
• Follow NHTSA’s car seat recommendations based on your child’s age and size
• Find and compare car seats and ease-of-use-ratings using NHTSA’s Car Seat Finder

Install your car seat correctly

• Understand the parts and tips used for installation
• Follow our detailed car seat installation instructions and videos
• Get your car seat inspected at a station nearest you

Keep your child safe in a car seat

• Register your car seat and sign up for recall notices to receive safety updates

Learn about the four types of car seats, while keeping in mind the following tips:

• As children grow, how they sit in your car will change. Make sure you use a car seat that fits your child’s current size and age .
• Not all car seats fit in all vehicles. Make sure the car seat is the right fit for your vehicle (PDF, 1.77 MB). Test the car seat you plan to buy to make sure it fits well in your vehicle.
• Buy a car seat that can be installed and used correctly every time.

Rear-Facing Car Seat

The best seat for your young child to use. It has a harness and, in a crash, cradles and moves with your child to reduce the stress to the child's fragile neck and spinal cord.

• Infant Car Seat (Rear-Facing only) : Designed for newborns and small babies, the infant-only car seat is a small, portable seat that can only be used rear-facing. Most babies outgrow their infant seats before their first birthday. When that happens, we recommend that parents purchase a convertible or all-in-one car seat and use it rear-facing.
• Convertible Seat : As a child grows, this seat can change from a rear-facing seat to a forward-facing seat with a harness and tether. Because it can be used with children of various sizes, it allows for children to stay in the rear-facing position longer.
• All-in-One Seat : This seat can change from a rear-facing seat to a forward-facing seat (with a harness and tether) and to a booster seat as a child grows. Because it can be used with children of various sizes, it allows for children to stay in the rear-facing position longer.

Forward-Facing Car Seat

Has a harness and tether that limits your child's forward movement during a crash.

• Convertible Seat : As a child grows, this seat can change from a rear-facing seat to a forward-facing seat with a harness and tether.
• Combination Seat : As a child grows, this seat transitions from a forward-facing seat with a harness and tether into a booster.
• All-in-One Seat : This seat can change from a rear-facing seat to a forward-facing seat (with a harness and tether) and to a booster seat as a child grows.

Booster Seat

Raises and positions a child so the vehicle’s lap-and-shoulder belt fits properly over the stronger points of a child’s body, the hips and across the chest.

• Booster Seat With High Back : This type of booster seat is designed to boost the child’s height so the seat belt fits properly. It also provides neck and head support and is ideal for vehicles that don’t have head rests or high seat backs.
• Backless Booster Seat : A backless booster seat is designed to boost the child’s height so the seat belt fits properly. It does not provide head and neck support. It is ideal for vehicles that have head rests.
• Combination Seat : As a child grows, this seat transitions from a forward-facing seat with a harness into a booster.

Should lie across the upper thighs and be snug across the shoulder and chest to restrain your child safely in a crash. It should not rest on the stomach area or across the neck or face.

There are many car seat choices on the market. Use the information below to help you choose the type of car seat that best meets your child’s needs or print out NHTSA’s car seat recommendations for children (PDF, 370 KB).

• Select a car seat based on your child’s age and size , then choose a seat that fits in your vehicle, and use it every time.
• Always refer to your specific car seat manufacturer’s instructions (check height and weight limits) and read the vehicle owner’s manual on how to install the car seat using the seat belt or lower anchors and a tether, if available.
• To maximize safety, keep your child in the car seat for as long as possible, as long as the child fits within the manufacturer’s height and weight requirements.
• Keep your child in the back seat at least through age 12.

Recommended car seats based on your child's age and size

Attach top tether from the car seat to the tether anchor in the vehicle.

Fasten lower anchor attachments on the car seat to the lower anchors in the vehicle., lower anchor attachments.

Used to install the car seat in a vehicle with lower anchors

Used to secure a forward-facing car seat and limit forward head movement in a crash

The tether is located on the top rear of convertible, combination, and all-in-one car seats. It’s adjustable and has a hook and strap that connects to one of your vehicle’s tether anchors. Most rear-facing car seats in the United States do not use a tether for installation. However, installations vary from model to model, so you must review your particular car seat’s instructions and your vehicle’s owner manual carefully.

Follow your car seat manufacturer’s instructions regarding when and how to use the tether for your particular seat. NHTSA recommends always using a tether with a forward-facing car seat—installed with your vehicle’s seat belt OR the lower anchors—as long as it is permitted by both the car seat and vehicle manufacturers. IMPORTANT: Both installation methods are designed to work with the tether to achieve the highest level of safety for child passengers restrained in forward-facing car seats.

Lower Anchor Weight Limits

Lower anchors have weight limits set by the vehicle and car seat manufacturers. You can determine the lower anchor weight limit by checking the warning label or installation diagrams located on the side of the car seat. If your car seat does not have a label, you can determine the maximum allowable child weight for lower anchor use by subtracting the weight of the car seat (usually available in the car seat’s instruction manual) from 65 pounds.

Lower anchor weight limit = 65 lbs – weight of car seat

Know the Facts

Once your child outgrows the vehicle or car seat manufacturer’s established limits for the lower anchors, stop using the lower anchor attachments and reinstall the car seat using the vehicle’s seat belt.

Once you've become familiar with vehicle and car seat parts used for installation and NHTSA's tips to install your car seat, you're ready to follow these detailed car seat installation instructions and videos by type. 

How to Install Rear-Facing Car Seats

• Rear-Facing-Only Infant Car Seat
• Convertible Car Seat
• All-in-One Car Seat

How to Install Forward-Facing Car Seats

• Combination Car Seat

How to Install Booster Seats

• High-Back Booster Seat
• Backless Booster Seat
• Combination Car Seat as a Booster Seat
• All-in-One Car Seat Used as a Booster

Car Seat Inspection

Get your car seat inspected.

Whether you’ve just installed a car seat or need help installing or using one, get help at a car seat inspection station near you. Certified technicians will inspect your car seat free of charge, in most cases, and show you how to correctly install and use it. Some locations now offer virtual inspections.

Can’t find an inspection station near you? You may be able to find a tech through Safe Kids Worldwide .

Register Your Car Seat

Congratulations — you chose the right car seat and installed it correctly. Now it’s time to register your car seat with the manufacturer to receive recalls and safety notices so your child can remain safe. Also, you can sign up with NHTSA to receive e-mail alerts about car seat and booster seat recalls.

Register your car seat to receive important safety updates

Registering your car seat makes sense.

The car seat manufacturer can contact you directly about recalls and safety notices. 

Registering your car seat is easy

Send in the card that came with your car seat or complete a quick registration on the manufacturer’s website. Your child’s safety could depend on it. 

If you are unable to register your child’s seat with the manufacturer, contact NHTSA at [email protected] .

Also, get recall notices from NHTSA

In addition to registering your car seat to receive recalls and safety notices from your car seat manufacturer, you can sign up to receive e-mail alerts from NHTSA about car seat and booster seat recalls.

• Car Seat Glossary of Terms Learn about vehicle and car seat parts and more.
• Training Contacts by State for Child Passenger Safety Find your state's Child Passenger Safety Training Contacts.
• Car Seat Use After a Crash Make sure you know the difference between a minor crash and a moderate to major one before deciding to use a car seat after a crash.
• NHTSA’s Car Seat Recommendations for Children Use these recommendations to help you choose the type of car seat that best meets your child’s needs.
• Keeping Kids Safe - A parent’s guide to protecting children in and around cars (PDF) This booklet will help you better understand today’s vehicle safety features, car seats and how to keep kids safe in and around vehicles.
• Used Car Seat Safety Checklist Thinking about using a second-hand car seat? If you can check off each one of these statements, then it may be okay to use one.
• FAA's Flying With Children Keep children safe no matter how you are traveling – find more information on flying safely with children from the Federal Aviation Administration.

Search for more resources

Looking for more, explore other topics in vehicle safety.

Taking a booster seat on an airplane? Here’s what you need to know in 2023

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This article about taking a booster seat on an airplane is written by certified Child Passenger Safety Technician Melissa Conn and may contain affiliate links.

While there’s plenty to know about flying with a car seat , flying with a booster seat is much more straightforward. As long as your child is big enough and mature enough to ride in a booster seat (often not until age 5 or 6), making the switch can make your travels a heck of a lot easier.

Many parents wonder “can you bring a booster seat on a plane?” There are a few details to know in advance for a successful trip! Be sure to read these quick tips for bringing a booster seat on an airplane before you go:

Flying with a booster seat is easy

Booster seats are generally lighter than harnessed car seats. In fact, there are tons of awesome travel booster car seats to choose from that or ultra-light or even fold up for easy carrying and storage! Some booster seats weigh as little as 1 pound, while others can fit in your child’s carry-on backpack.

If your child is at least 40 pounds but you think he might not be mature enough to ride in a traditional booster seat in the car, take a look at the Ride Safer Travel Vest . It folds up small and doesn’t weigh much, so it’s easy to take in a carry-on but will keep your kid safe.

Can you use a booster seat on an airplane?

A booster seat’s job is to position a lap-shoulder seatbelt correctly on a child’s body. Since airplane seatbelts only have a lap portion, you can not use a booster seat on an airplane .

Even with some of the new premium seats that have lap-shoulder belts, you likely won’t be allowed to install a booster seat.

If you’re thinking about using a combination car seat (sometimes called a harnessed booster seat) on a plane, you’ll probably see a sticker with the following language – which can confuse both parents and flight crews:

When used with the harness system: This restraint is certified for use in Motor Vehicles and Aircraft. When used without the harness system as a belt positioning seat: This restraint is not certified for use in Aircraft.

That just means that if you’re using a travel car seat like this one , it’s fine to use it on a plane in harness mode but not in booster mode. That’s an example of “FAA approved booster seats” but only because it has a harness option. If your booster seat doesn’t have a harness mode, it’s not FAA approved. There’s no such thing as an airplane booster seat.

The vast majority of booster riders don’t need a car or booster seat on a plane since they’re over 40 lbs, the weight at which the FAA says airplane seatbelts fit kids well enough. But if it’s a choice between checking your harnessed booster seat or using it on board, I’ll choose using it on board with the harness every single time – find out why .

Want to know all my best secrets? Click here to learn how to travel with your car seat like a pro!

Can a booster seat be a carry on?

Yes, a booster seat can be a carry on! We’ve taken booster seats on airplanes many times… but it depends on the size. If you’re bringing a backless booster, it’s easy to stick under the seat in front of your child or in the overhead bin. For a traditional booster seat, we bring this one thanks to its integrated carry handle and road trip friendly cup holders. If we won’t be doing too much driving, we love this inflatable booster seat that packs down into our son’s backpack. Read my in-depth Bubblebum review here.

If your child isn’t ready for a backless booster seat, your best bet for taking a booster seat as a carry on is to pick up a folding booster seat. Sadly my favorite folding booster seat (pictured below) has been discontinued. The next best option is the Peg Perego Viaggio Flex 120 , which should fit in most overhead bins but perhaps not on the smallest regional hopper planes.

There are plenty of other travel highback booster car seats to choose from, but many of them fold too big to take as a carry on. If need be, you can remove the back of a normal booster seat and check it in a hard-sided suitcase and bring the backless portion as a carry on. Even if your luggage gets lost, you’ll still be able to use the backless portion on its own in a pinch.

Do you need a booster seat bag?

There are a few travel booster seats that come with a “ booster seat bag ” or give the option to purchase one separately. Do you need one? It’s really a matter of personal preference.

If you’re bringing a full-size backless booster seat with you, it may be easier to take it through the airport in a booster seat bag . That’ll give you the option of carrying it with the shoulder strap or putting it over the handle of wheeled luggage. We don’t own one yet, but I might buy one before our next trip! We should be able to fit both our new Graco Turbo GO ( full review here ) and our Ride Safer Travel vest ( full review here ) inside.

Make sure a booster seat is the right choice for your trip

Before you commit to traveling with a booster seat, make sure it’s the right choice for your child and your trip. What exactly does that mean?

• Your child should meet the minimum size and age requirements of their booster seat – each seat has its own standards.
• Your child should be mature enough to sit correctly in the booster seat 100% of the times, even if they’re tired after a long flight across many time zones.
• Be sure that your child meets the booster seat requirements of whatever country you’re visiting. Some of them are much more stringent than in the US. Find more information on booster seat rules for Australia , Costa Rica and Europe .

Booster seat on airplane FAQs

You can take a booster seat on a plane to transport it, but you can’t use a booster on a plane unless it has the option to be used in a harness mode.

You can take a high back booster on a plane to transport it, but you can’t use a high back booster on a plane unless it has the option to be used in a harness mode.

If you are bringing a backless booster seat, the best option is to take it in (or as) your carry-on luggage. If you are traveling with a highback booster seat, the safest choice is to separate the seat and the back; put the back in the overhead bin or pack it in your luggage and bring the seat on board as a carry-on. Alternatively, you can bring a booster seat that folds small enough to fit in the overhead bin .

If you choose to check your booster seat, most airlines don’t count it against your checked luggage allowance. Passengers are generally allowed one (sometimes two) free “baby items” per child.

Usually you can check a booster seat for free, but it’s recommended to bring at least the bottom of the seat on board with you.

In my experience flying a wide range of airlines, flight crews do not count backless booster seats (or folded travel highback booster seats) as a carry-on or personal item. My kids have put them under the seat in front of them with a small back pack on top or next to it, and sometimes we’ve put it in the overhead bin.

2 thoughts on “Taking a booster seat on an airplane? Here’s what you need to know in 2023”

I’m wondering about the width of harnessed boosters in order to use on a plane. I can’t find any that are within the “16.5″ / 17.3″ “ width of Alaska Airlines seats. Can you install a seat with the arm rests up? Can it be wider than the seat? I’m so lost.

Thanks for stopping by! Yes, you generally CAN put the arm rest up to install. It only becomes an issue if you’re putting two kids side by side in very wide car seats. If you share your kid’s age/height/weight I’m happy to help you choose one that’ll work well 🙂

Safe travels,

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• Car Seats /

Best Car Seats for Travel

Our favorite travel-friendly infant, convertible & booster seats for the baby days through the big-kid years., by jen labracio.

Ever try to lug a 20-pound car seat through an airport while thinking to yourself, “There has to be a better way?”

Traveling with babies and young children can be a great adventure, but it can also be a bit of a logistical nightmare. Where will they sleep? (A travel crib or a travel bed usually do the trick.) Can you fly with breastmilk ? (Yes.) How do you keep a toddler entertained on a long flight? (Thoughts and prayers.)

Car seats can be especially confusing when you’re away from home. Most present a bit of a conundrum: you want your to keep your little one safe and secure, but you don’t want to throw out your back lugging a big, bulky car seat around with you wherever you go. The good news is there are plenty of travel-friendly car seat options on the market—you just need to know what features to look for.

Babylist’s Top Picks for the Best Travel Car Seats

Best infant car seats.

• Lightest Infant Car Seat: UPPAbaby Aria Car Seat
• Best Affordable Infant Car Seat: Evenflo Litemax 35 Infant Car Seat
• Best Luxury Infant Car Seat: Nuna Pipa Rx Infant Car Seat with Relx Base
• Best Infant Car Seat + Stroller: Doona Infant Car Seat & Stroller

Best convertible car seats

• Best Convertible: Cosco Scenera NEXT Convertible Car Seat
• Longer Lasting Convertible: Evenflo Sonus 65 Convertible Car Seat
• Most Compact Convertible: WAYB Pico Travel Car Seat

Best booster seats

• Best High-back: Graco TurboBooster 2.0 Highback Booster Car Seat
• Best Backless: Cosco Rise Backless Booster Car Seat

In This Article

• How We Chose the Best Travel Car Seats
• Our Top Picks

What Is a Travel Car Seat?

Do you need a travel car seat, features to look for in a travel car seat, babylist’s picks for the best car seats for travel, infant car seats, lightest infant car seat for travel.

UPPAbaby Aria Infant Car Seat - Jake

The UPPAbaby Aria, one of our top car seats for infants , hit the market in early 2024 and we couldn’t be more excited about it. The brand’s OG car seat, the Mesa , is a popular choice for expecting parents but is a few pounds heavier than many comparable seats. The Aria comes in much lighter, weighing just under six pounds without the canopy and inserts, making it the lightest infant seat currently on the market. This is great if you’re using the seat daily, but even better if you’re using it for travel.

The Aria is GREENGUARD Gold Certified and can be installed with or without its base, another travel plus. (It features something called a European belt path , a routing system that makes installing the seat without its base safer and more secure.) A no-rethread harness makes fit adjustments easy and there’s a load leg and an anti-rebound bar for safety and stability. We also love the XL canopy for shade and darkness and that you won’t need adapters if you’re connecting the seat directly to a Vista or Cruz stroller.

Additional Specs

Best affordable infant car seat for travel.

Evenflo Litemax 35 Infant Car Seat - Knowville Gray

You don’t have to spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars on a travel-friendly infant car seat. Evenflo’s LiteMax (another of our top baby car seats ) costs a bit over $100 and weighs only eight pounds, making it affordable and travel-ready. You can install it without its base—it even has a European belt path. There’s a full-coverage canopy and an ergonomically designed handle for easier carrying.

If you don’t mind spending a bit more and are looking for some extra safety features, check out the LiteMax DLX , which features a load leg. (Just remember that the load led extends from the base, so if you’re using just the seat you won’t have that benefit.) And for another affordable infant car seat for travel, check out Graco’s SnugRide 35 Lite LX Infant Car Seat . It weighs just over seven pounds and can be installed without the base when you don’t feel like bringing it along.

Best Luxury Infant Car Seat for Travel

Nuna Pipa Rx Infant Car Seat with Relx Base - Granite

The Pipa Rx is a stellar combination of safety + convenience and works just as well as an everyday car seat as it does for travel. It’s pricey, but it’s also a sleek, modern seat with two key features that make it ideal for travel: weight and ease of installation. The Pipa weighs just over seven pounds, making it one of the lightest infant car seats on the market—a huge plus when you’re carrying it through the airport or taking it in and out of your car. And like other seats on our list, you can install it without the base using your vehicle’s seat belt and the European belt path.

It’s also packed with high-end features that you’d expect in a higher-priced seat. It’s GREENGUARD Gold Certified and doesn’t contain any added fire-retardant chemicals, and there’s an oversized canopy for shade. Safety-wise, it excels, featuring both a load leg and an anti-rebound panel (both extra safety features that help absorb impact and rebound in the event of a crash).

For another high-end, travel-friendly seat, check out the Clek Liingo . It’s a bit heavier, but it features LATCH anchors built right into the car seat itself, meaning you can skip the base and the seat belt and install it securely in seconds.

Best Infant Car Seat Stroller Hybrid for Travel

Doona Infant Car Seat & Stroller - Nitro Black

There’s nothing quite like the Doona. This one-of-a-kind hybrid stroller + car seat is a favorite of on-the-go parents and is a great item of baby gear to own if you’ll be traveling frequently with your little one during their first year or so.

The Doona transforms from an infant car seat into a stroller with the click of a button. When it’s time to get in the car, the stroller legs and wheels pull up and fold under the car seat. It’s a dream if you’re looking to cut down on the amount of gear you’re lugging around when you’re away from home and if you’re looking for a seat that’s easy to get in and out of ride shares or rental cars. (It’s a great seat for city dwellers too.)

Convertible Car Seats

Best convertible car seat for travel.

Cosco Scenera NEXT Convertible Car Seat

Most convertible seats aren’t designed for travel. Weighing in at an average of about 20 pounds, convertibles don’t snap into strollers and are heavy, bulky and meant to be installed in your car and stay there. For parents who travel frequently or don’t own a car, getting around with a convertible seat poses quite the challenge.

The Next, which is ranked as one of our best convertible car seats , solves for this dilemma. It weighs about 10 pounds—light for any car seat but especially so for a convertible. It’s easy to sling over your shoulder while you’re walking through the airport or install in an airplane seat or a ride share. (It’s FAA-approved for plane travel.) It’s totally no-frills and can be a bit tricky to get a secure install, but it’s slim, safe and affordable and can be used both rear- and forward-facing.

A Longer Lasting Travel-Friendly Convertible Pick

Evenflo Sonus 65 Convertible Car Seat - Rocco Red

The Sonus 65 is a travel-friendly convertible car seat and a good choice if you’re looking for a seat with a higher height and weight maximum than the Cosco Scenera Next. It weighs a bit more, but only by about a pound, and you’ll be able to use it until your little one reaches 65 pounds or 50 inches as opposed to the Next which maxes out at 40 pounds and 43 inches.

In addition to its extended use capabilities, the Sonos is an affordable seat with a few noteworthy features. It’s a fairly narrow seat, so it won’t take up much room across your back seat and can be used three across. There’s also a built-in ventilation system, a reinforced frame, five shoulder strap positions and two integrated cup holders for drinks and snacks.

Most Compact Convertible Car Seat for Travel

WAYB Pico Travel Car Seat

The WAYB Pico is like no other convertible car seat on the market. Designed specifically for families who travel or are frequently on the go, it’s one of the pricer options on our list but is a worthwhile investment if you’re looking for an innovative, safe and incredibly compact convertible car seat option.

The creators of the Pico were inspired to create a completely unique convertible-style seat after watching parents struggle trying to lug car seats through airports and in and out of taxis and ride shares. There’s no feature here that hasn’t been completely (and ingeniously) thought through. The Pico’s frame is made from lightweight, aerospace-grade aluminum; there’s a five-point harness and seat fabric made from a cool, breathable mesh; and the seat installs either via a seat belt or LATCH system. The Pico weighs just eight pounds and folds up for easy transport either by hand or in the brand’s carry bag .

One thing to keep in mind: the seat is forward-facing only, so if you’re looking for a rear-facing convertible for travel, this isn’t a good fit for you.

Booster Seats

Best booster seat for travel.

Graco TurboBooster 2.0 Highback Booster Car Seat

Booster seats use a vehicle’s seat belt as a restraint and were developed to help elevate children in a car’s seat, making adult seat belts fit better on smaller bodies. You’ll have to wait quite a while until you transition your little one from a convertible car seat into a booster; most experts recommend waiting to make the leap until your child maxes out their forward-facing car seat, meets the height and weight requirements of the booster and is mature enough to sit properly upright (no leaning, twisting, moving around etc.).

There are two types of boosters: high-back and backless. Graco’s TurboBooster falls into the first category, with a high back and a seat belt guide to thread your vehicle’s shoulder belt for a proper fit. Due to their height, no high-backs are particularly great for travel, but this one is one of the best you’ll find in terms of price (affordable) and weight (just over eight pounds). It’s also easy to install and fits a wide variety of children well, and transitions to a backless booster for years of use.

Best Backless Booster Seat for Travel

Cosco Rise Backless Booster Car Seat

Most experts recommend using a high-back booster for as long as possible , but once you’re ready to make the switch to a backless model, your life is going to get a whole lot easier (and a lot lighter!). Cosco’s Rise is a no-frills seat that’s affordable, lightweight and compact, making it ideal to toss into a bag or even a tote for travel. The wide base and high armrests make it easy for your child to buckle in themselves and there’s a shoulder belt positioning clip to ensure you’ll get the proper fit.

How We Chose Our Best Car Seats for Travel

• We analyzed results from Babylist’s Best Baby Products survey , which polled 6,000 Babylist users and asked them to share the baby products they love the most and why.
• We utilized insight from the Babylist editorial team, including Gear Editor Jen LaBracio, an expert in the baby space for over six years and a mom of two who has written hundreds of baby gear guides and personally researched and tested hundreds of baby products, including many travel car seats.
• We reviewed customer reviews from hundreds of real Babylist parents.

There’s no specific category or true definition for a “travel” car seat; instead, what defines a travel-friendly car seat is more about its features. Things like a light weight, compact design and ease of portability are all factors to consider when you’re shopping for this type of seat.

Determining if it’s worthwhile to invest in a car seat just for travel depends on your family’s lifestyle. If you’re a family who tends to stay close to home or use your own car when you’re traveling, you can likely skip a travel-friendly seat. But if you’re planning on hitting the road (or the skies) frequently with your little one in tow, then purchasing a car seat specifically for travel can make your life on the go a whole lot easier.

Also keep in mind that you don’t have to use a travel-friendly car seat just for travel. A compact, lightweight car seat is a great choice if you’re an urban family that doesn’t own a car, for example, if you need a seat for a grandparent or other caregiver or if plan to switch your seat frequently between cars.

There are some specific features to keep in mind when you’re shopping for a car seat that’s well-suited for travel.

• Weight. This is a biggie. Lugging around a heavy car seat isn’t a fun way to spend any part of your vacation. Choose the lightest seat you can within your budget—your lower back can thank us later.
• Design. A slim, compact seat is easier to transport than a big, bulky one. Keep this in mind when choosing what type of seat you’ll purchase for traveling.
• Ease of installation. Does spending 40 minutes trying to install a car seat in your rental car sound like fun? Make sure the car seat you choose for travel can be installed quickly and easily in the widest range of car makes and models.
• FAA-approved. This one’s important if you plan on doing a lot of travel via plane. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that kids ride in child safety seats on airplanes —but you’ll need to make sure your seat is approved for airplane use . Look for a label on the seat that reads “certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft” to be sure. This includes infant seats, convertibles, forward-facing seats and some harnessed boosters.

Jen LaBracio

Senior gear editor.

Jen LaBracio is Babylist’s Senior Gear Editor, a role that perfectly combines her love of all things baby gear with her love of (obsessive) research. When she’s not testing out a new high chair or pushing the latest stroller model around her neighborhood, she likes to run, spin, listen to podcasts, read and spend time at the beach. In her past life, she worked for over a decade in children’s publishing. She lives outside of Chicago with her husband and their two boys, Will and Ben.

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A Guide to Booster Seats: Requirements, Proper Fit, and Safety

As your child grows, you’ll have to navigate your fair share of car seat transitions. One of these milestone transitions is the switch to a booster seat. With all the available options, the world of booster seats can feel like a maze. Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place!

In this guide, we’ll walk you through when your child is ready for a booster seat, the different types available, whether you need to install a booster seat with LATCH, and much more. Keep reading to become a pro in all things booster seats.

When Can My Child Safely Use a Booster Seat?

Before answering the question of when to switch to a booster seat, we need to clarify what a booster seat is and the differences between a 5-point harness and a vehicle seat belt. If you picture a booster seat, you'll likely think of a belt-positioning booster seat. These seats elevate your child's height, ensuring the seat belt rests properly across their chest and hips as intended. A belt-positioning booster seat may have a high back, removable back, or no back at all.

While a belt-positioning booster may be more well-known, some car seats convert into booster seats. These seats are called all-in-one car seats or combination seats. An all-in-one car seat can support a child from birth to booster seat. Meanwhile, a combination seat, also known as a harness to booster seat, features a forward-facing setting with a harness and converts into a booster seat.

It's also essential to recognize the differences between the 5-point harnesses used in car seats and the vehicle's seat belts. The 5-point harness snugly secures a child at five key points: both shoulders, both hips and between the legs, distributing the forces of a crash more evenly across the body and minimizing movement. On the other hand, vehicle seat belts are designed with adults in mind, offering protection across the lap and shoulder, which may not adequately secure a smaller body.

Booster seats have specific age, weight, height, and maturity requirements. For most belt-positioning booster seats, your child should be at least four years old, weigh a minimum of 40 pounds, and be taller than 38 inches. Your child should also be able to sit relatively still and not fidget, slouch, or move the seat belt behind their shoulder.

Because kids tend to grow like weeds, you may opt for a seat with both harness and booster seat configuration or an all-in-one car seat . As your child grows, it's essential to understand the stages of car seat progression. From infant to booster, each car seat comes with its own height and weight requirements. If you're unsure, it's always best to consult your car seat's safety manual before switching your child to a new seat or configuration.

So back to the original question, how do you know when to switch to a booster seat? If your child has exceeded the height or weight requirements for their current car seat (and also meets the minimum requirements for the booster seat), or you notice that your child's shoulders are above the shoulder harness slots on their forward-facing car seat, they might be ready to make the switch.

However, it's also up to the parent or caregiver to decide whether their child is mature enough to remain seated in the correct position for the duration of the ride. This decision is equally critical because a child's ability to stay correctly positioned directly impacts the effectiveness of the booster seat in providing protection in an accident.

How Do Booster Seats Work?

Belt-positioning booster seats work by elevating the child to the appropriate height needed to use the vehicle’s seat belt when riding in the backseat. The booster seat positions the lap belt across the child's thighs, rather than their belly, optimizing safety.

Most booster seats include a shoulder belt guide designed to position the seat belt comfortably between the shoulder and neck, mitigating the discomfort caused when the seat belt rubs against your kiddo’s neck. Additionally, the inclusion of armrests helps guide both the lap and shoulder belt, ensuring that the seat belt is positioned correctly for an appropriate (and comfortable) fit.

Booster seats should not be used where the vehicle seating position has a lap-only belt. The vehicle seat must have both a lap and shoulder belt for the proper installation of a booster seat.

Alongside bolstering safety, a booster seat also elevates the overall comfort of car rides for your little one. These seats are often equipped with features like cup holders, breathable cushioning, and adjustable height positioning to keep your kids as happy as they are protected.

Can I Safely Install My Booster Seat Without LATCH?

While you may be accustomed to using LATCH for your child’s car seat, it’s important to understand that not all booster seats are required to have LATCH attachments. However, LATCH can be a convenience. When used for a booster seat, the purpose of LATCH is to hold the seat in place during loading and unloading. We all know kids tend to climb over seats or wiggle around, and LATCH simply helps to keep the booster seat from sliding around. In the unfortunate event of a crash, LATCH also helps prevent the booster seat from becoming a projectile.

If you’re using a combination seat (harness + booster) or an all-in-one car seat in its booster mode, many manufacturers allow you to use the LATCH system even if your child is over the weight limit for the lower anchors. This is because the LATCH system will help keep your booster seat in place when no one is using it. When your child is in the booster seat, the vehicle seat belt and safety systems do all the work in a crash, holding the child and car seat in place.

As you're selecting a booster seat, always refer to the instruction manual provided with your specific model to review the booster seat weight, age, and height limits. This will also provide you with precise guidance on how to properly install the seat and use any available features, including LATCH.

High-back Vs. Backless Boosters

When choosing a belt-positioning booster car seat , you'll encounter two options: high-back and backless boosters. The choice between these two depends on your child's age and needs, as well as your preferences.

High-back boosters provide a built-in easy to use shoulder belt-guide and backrest for children to comfortably stay seated during every ride. The high-back boosters are best suited for the easier transition from 5-point harness into the booster modes of useThese features can provide a sense of security and comfort during the transition phase. Because of the added cushioning around the head and torso, these seats can also offer a more comfortable ride than their backless counterparts.

However, there are situations where a high-back booster seat might not be the most convenient choice, such as when you're traveling. Backless booster seats can be a practical alternative in these cases.

With a backless booster seat, it's important to ensure that your child's ears are positioned below the top of the vehicle’s seat back or headrest for optimal safety and proper seat belt placement. If the seat back is too short, it’s best to opt for a high-back seat.

Booster Seat Recommendations

While your little one might go through a heap of toys in no time, their trusty booster seat is here for the long haul. With years of use ahead, exploring your options becomes essential. At Chicco, we offer a range of booster seat choices, ensuring you find the perfect fit for your child's needs and your peace of mind!

All-In-One Car Seats

The all-in-one car seat is the ultimate solution for parents seeking versatility and longevity. From the earliest days to the big-kid booster stage, this type of car seat offers exceptional value, making it a perfect fit for growing families. It effortlessly converts from rear-facing mode for your infant to forward-facing for your growing toddler and finally to a booster seat.

At Chicco, we designed the OneFit ClearTex , to be your companion from day one to year ten. With standout features including a 9-position recline, innovative space-saving CupFolders that fold in, and the ability to accommodate infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and big kids, our all-in-one car seat is your ticket to a seamless journey. While the height and weight limit for the Chicco OneFit ranges from 5-100 lbs and up to 57 inches, making it an ideal option for all stages of the car seat journey, it’s important to remember that if you choose a car seat from a different manufacturer, the height and weight limits may vary.

Harness + Booster Car Seats

The harness + booster car seat is a versatile companion that effortlessly adapts to your child's growing needs. With both harness and booster modes, this type of car seat is designed for forward-facing use only. Harness mode accommodates children who are at least 2 years old and weigh between 25 and 65 lbs, while the booster mode is suitable for kids 4 and up weighing 40 to 100 lbs. It starts with a reliable 5-point harness and then seamlessly transforms into a belt-positioning booster, offering convenience.

Chicco offers options like the MyFit , MyFit ClearTex , MyFit Zip , and the MyFit Zip Air , each providing exceptional features. From a customizable 4-position recline and a 9-position headrest to dual-density foam padding for optimal comfort and convenient CupFolders, our harness + booster car seats ensure that your child's journey is enjoyable.

High-back Booster Seats

The high-back booster car seat offers the best of both worlds — combining a high-back booster seat with a backless booster seat, making it an excellent choice for your child's journey. Designed for easy installation, it can be effortlessly secured using LATCH, ensuring smooth loading and unloading.

Chicco carries a range of options, including the KidFit , KidFit Adapt Plus , KidFit ClearTex Plus , KidFit Zip Plus , and the KidFit Zip Air Plus . These high-back booster seats come equipped with features like double foam padding and a contoured seat that guarantees a cozy ride. As your child grows, the car seat converts to a backless booster seat, accommodating their changing needs.

Other notable features include a convenient 2-position backrest, the SuperCinch LATCH tightener for seamless LATCH installation, and a one-hand release mechanism for quick removal.

Backless Booster Seats

Backless booster car seats offer a versatile and convenient solution for your child's riding needs. Our lineup includes the GoFit , GoFit ClearTex , GoFit ClearTex Plus , and the GoFit Plus , each designed to provide comfort and proper seat belt positioning during every ride. The GoFit Plus stands out with its LATCH installation feature for added seat stability. While the GoFit and GoFit ClearTex models do not include LATCH, rest assured that their effectiveness is not compromised. LATCH is a convenience feature, and the seatbelt remains the primary source of protection in the event of a crash.

These backless booster car seats boast features such as double foam padding and a contoured seat, ensuring your child's comfort throughout their journey. The built-in carry handle adds portability, while the lap belt guides and shoulder belt clip ensure correct seatbelt positioning. They are also available in a playful assortment of colors to add a touch of fun to your child’s travels!

Booster Seat Safety FAQs and Tips

• How Long Should My Child Use a Booster Seat? Your child should use a booster seat until they are tall enough to pass all the requirements of the seat belt test - their feet should reach the floor, knees should be over the edge of the seat, and the vehicle seat belt should fit appropriately across their collar bone and around their lap. Children can typically stop using a booster seat between ages 10-12.
• Test the Booster Seat: Install the booster seat in your car. Make sure it’s flat against the seat’s back. Have your child sit in the booster seat and ensure they have the proper form (they aren’t slouching, their legs bend naturally, the seat belt is worn appropriately across the thighs and between the shoulder and neck, etc.)
• Make Sure Your Child is Comfortable Using the Booster Seat: Booster seats are easy to install and transfer between vehicles, so whether your child is riding in their grandparent’s car or yours, they’ll always have a seating option that they can easily take with them.

As your child grows, their car seat needs evolve, too. Before switching to a booster seat, you may have questions about the proper installation and all the options out there. When installing your booster seat, remember that you can use it without LATCH, as it's simply an added convenience and not a safety feature.

Take your time with this transition and maximize each mode of use to ensure you give your child the highest level of protection possible. In some cases, a delayed transition allows your child to benefit fully from the protective features of their current seat before moving on to the next stage.

For more insights and valuable parenting tips, explore the Chicco Baby Talk blog .