That depends on two things – the size limits of the booster seat and whether it’s legal in your state. In Colorado, for instance, children under age 4 or under 40 pounds MUST be in a harnessed safety seat. It is not safe for a child this small to be in anything but a harnessed car seat. Wait a minute – are booster seats still legal? The American Academy of Pediatrics recently changed their recommendations, removing the minimum age for rear-facing seats. They now recommend keeping your child rear-facing for as long as possible. The fact of the matter is that rear-facing, harnessed car seats offer more protection than any other safety seats. Some people complained about the low height limit in booster mode. This means your child could outgrow the height limit and need another seat before getting much use out of booster mode. The headrest doesn’t adjust, so children sometimes felt their shoulders were cramped. Compilation of customer opinions

It’s not very expensive, comes in 4 color choices, and is one of the easiest booster seats to install. This seat earned a Best Bet rating from the IIHS. It has a 1-year limited warranty and an 8-year expiration from the time of manufacture. This seat comes in 4 colors, has a 1-year limited manufacturer’s warranty, and a 10-year expiration from date of manufacture. Advantages

When do you need a booster seat? Age and weight requirements

Harness storage keeps the straps out of the way for getting in and out easier. A steel-reinforced frame and EPS foam help make this a safe and sturdy seat. Disadvantages The weight limit for harness mode is little low compared to other seats. Also, there’s no overlap between max harness weight and minimum booster weight, which doesn’t leave much wiggle room for switching. Parents with big kids might find the 40lb weight limit problematic. One of the biggest issues was that the headrest wouldn’t always stay up when sitting in the uppermost positions. A few parents noted that the armrests were too short and not adjustable. Some also found the seat was too wide to do a 3-across car seat configuration. Compilation of customer opinions Hi Marie, thanks for your question. We’ve not had the pleasure of reviewing the Pioneer yet, but we’ve looked up some info for you. The Pinnacle and Frontier are both very similar, with the Pinnacle being the more expensive of the three. The Frontier is also slightly lighter and narrower than the Pinnacle. Car seats and boosters have a varying lifespan. There is no standard expiration date; car seats can last anywhere from four to twelve years after being manufactured. Some seats have a stamp indicating their expiration, but it’s vital to note that they should only be used until your child can pass the seat belt fit test.

This booster is a little bit wider than other models and has a nicely padded seat, making it perfect for longer rides. It comes in 4 colors, has a 1-year limited manufacturer’s warranty, and a 10-year expiration date.

When Can We Eliminate the Booster Seat?

The lap belt goes across the top of the thighs, not on the abdomen. The hip bones are the sturdiest part of the body and that is where you want to direct force during an impact. Some parents thought the cup holder and drawer were too small, while some mentioned the drawer is hard to pull out while the child’s in the seat. The LATCH straps can be hard to uninstall due to the hook-style connectors. A few parents reported that the LATCH straps sometimes came loose and didn’t hold the seat in place well enough when it is unoccupied, which could be unsafe in a crash. Kids spend more time in cars than they ever have before, so it’s important to ensure they’re adequately protected at every age and stage. If you have a child who’s 7 going on 27, she may be ready to give up the “baby” seat and ride like a grown up. She might even put up a big fuss about riding in a booster seat, especially if it still looks like it’s made for a little kid. The good thing is, that many booster seats available today have a more mature, grown-up look that your kid may actually love.

If you ever come to a booster seat standoff with your child, be honest. Explain to them what the consequences are for not being properly secured in the car. Children who aren’t adequately secured are 55 percent more likely to be injured in a car accident than those who use a safety seat. Explain that a booster seat will make sure the shoulder and lap belts fit them just right to keep them safe for every trip. Most booster seats are attached to the vehicle seat using only a seat belt and lower anchors, without any upper ties. Once the seat belt is fastened over a child, they rest on the car seat and are held in place. However, some booster seats may be attached to the automobile seat and kept in position using the lower anchors and rope and lap and shoulder belts. Super Cinch Tightener – it’s a one-pull strap on the side of the car seat that lets you tighten the LATCH connection easier Your child must be at least 40 pounds to use the booster seat – even if he is tall, he needs to weigh this much to hold down the seat when the car is in motion. The Evenflo Chase is a 2-in-1 harness to booster car seat. It works as a harnessed seat for kids from 22 - 40 pounds and 28 - 50 inches in height and as a belt-positioning booster for 40 - 110 pounds and 43.3 - 57 inches in height. Seat dimensions are: 18” D x 18.5” W x 29.5” H.Booster Basic R129 meets the new R129 (legally known as ECE R129) standards. In our car seat buying guide, you can learn more about car seat standards and help figure out which car seat is right for you. Always read the vehicle owner’s handbook and the car safety seat manual before using a booster seat. Booster seats frequently include a plastic clip or guide to help you properly secure the vehicle lap and shoulder belts. For further information, see the booster seat instruction manual. The Frontier is not cheap. Some found the seat to be a bit narrow, but that hasn't been a universal complaint. Other minor complaints involved the cupholders which aren’t removable and the fixed armrests which can make it difficult to get the child in and out at times. Compilation of customer opinions

Families like that the booster seat installs easily with LATCH and frequently does not require that parents remove the headrests in the rear to install it. Disadvantages Parents love the simplicity of this seat and that it’s budget-friendly. They appreciate the cup holders and that the seat pad is machine washable and dryable. Some felt the seat was a bit too flimsy. This is a good, basic seat that does its job well enough for everyday use, but for longer car trips you might want something more comfortable. They do not come with a harness, but they are used the same way an adult rides in a car, with lap and shoulder seat belts. They’re made to raise a kid so that the strongest parts of the youngster’s body can be accommodated by lap and shoulder seat belts. This is a very basic harness to booster seat that is great for families on a tight budget. It’s lightweight and easy to use for everyday trips to school and around town.If I remove the car’s headrest entirely, of course it sits flush, but the head piece just dangles above with nothing behind it to support. Is this stable and strong enough in case of a crash? The Diono head piece does not seem strong. It’s made of plastic and it can be raised up and down. We hope that helps answer your question, and we’re sorry to hear that Chicco has not been responsive to your inquiries. It’s available in 7 vibrant color options and is surprisingly affordable considering its flexible design. Diono gives it a 1-year manufacturer’s limited warranty and a 8-year expiration from the date of production. Advantages Just like rear-facing seats, the answer is for as long as possible. The secure straps, side impact protection, and headrests with protective wings are always safer than a seat belt alone. So when can I put my child in a booster seat?