It is time to switch that infant car seat into a booster car seat when your toddler can barely fit his bootie in it. As a toddler, he may be too small for a backless booster, so he will need something with a backrest, preferably a highback. With the many options available in the market today, it can be confusing on which car seat to choose. Fortunately, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has provided a list of the best choices you can consider.
Recaro Car Seats
In December 2009, the IIHS named only nine best bets for booster seats. Among the highbacks that made the list, two are Recaro products–Recaro Young Sport and Recaro Vivo. The Recaro Young Sport is ideal for children between 20 and 80 lbs., while Recaro Vivo is for kids 30 to 100 lbs. with a standing height of 37 to 59 inches tall. Both car seats offer safety features that include EPS (expanded polystyrene) foam, adjustable head rest, reinforced aluminum structure, adjustable seating, extra large head wings, upper side wings and lower side wings. The EPS foam absorbs crash force while the reinforced aluminum makes the structure sturdy. The head wings reduce the risks of head injury, while the upper side wings protect your child from upper body injury to the torso and the lower side wings protect the body from pelvic fractures or injury to the lower body parts. Both car seats are adjustable in height and position; however, they only offer front harness only.
The Recaro Young Sport is a dual combination car seat that allows you to convert it into a booster seat as your toddler outgrows the 5-point harness and seat cushion. As of 2010, the Recaro Young Sport costs approximately $249 while the Recaro Vivo has an average price of $99.
Maxi-Cosi Rodi XR
Another car seat that made the IIHS’ best bet list in 2009 is the Maxi-Cosi Rodi XR. It comes in a dual combination a highback or backless booster. Once your toddler reaches 40 to 100 lbs., you can remove the back and convert the Maxi-Cosi Rodi XR into a backless booster. Adjust the height of the back as your child grows. This car seat reclines and has adjustable side wings for added comfort and safety. The Maxi-Cosi Rodi XR makes installation a breeze with its three-point seatbelt. One perk added is a cup holder for drinks. As of 2010, the average price of a Maxi-Cosi Rodi XR is $199.
Eddie Bauer Auto Booster
If your toddler is growing quickly, another safe car seat is that you can choose is the Eddie Bauer Auto Booster Car Seat, which features eight different positions for the headrest to adjust as your child grows taller. It also can convert from a highback to a backless booster. This product offering from Eddie Bauer provides padded armrests that pivot to adjust to your child’s position.
A few interesting features included are hideaway cup holders, one on each side, featuring gripping inserts so the drinks will not spill, and a storage pouch to hold your toddler’s toys and other things. As of 2010, an Eddie Bauer Auto Booster Car Seat costs approximately $109.
Photo Credit
- sleeping in a car image by Renata Osinska from Fotolia.com
