The Crash Test Dummies have “spoken”
On October 1, 2008, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute published the results of their study on the effectiveness of booster seats.
Researchers evaluated the safety belt fit – not crash protection – because booster seats simply position children so that lap and shoulder belts are in the right place to restrain them. However, 13 of the 41 belt-positioning boosters seats evaluated aren’t up to the job.
Best Bets:
- Graco TurboBooster backless with clip
- Fisher-Price Safe Voyage backless with clip
- Combi Kobuk backless with clip
- Fisher-Price Safe Voyage
Britax Parkway- LaRoche Bros. Teddy Bear
- Safeguard Go backless with clip
- Volvo booster cushion
- Recaro Young Style
- Britax Monarch
Good Bets:
- Graco TurboBooster
- Safety Angel Ride Ryte
- Recaro Young Sport
- Combi Kobuk
- Safety 1st/Dorel Apex 65
Not Recommended:
- Safety Angel Ride Ryte backless
- Cosco/Dorel (Eddie Bauer) Summit
- Graco CarGo Zephyr
- Evenflo Big Kid Confidence
- Cosco/Dorel Traveler
- Compass B505
- Compass B510
- Evenflo Generations
- Dorel/Safety 1st (Eddie Bauer) Prospect
- Cosco Highback Booster
- Cosco/Dorel Alpha Omega
- Evenflo Chase Comfort Touch
- Safety 1st/Dorel Intera
Note: Unless the booster name indicates that it is a backless seat, all boosters are highbacks. To read the entire study, click here.
Also, to read Valley Parent’s article, Car Seat 101, click here.
