We appreciate the machine washable seat pad for when—not if—messes strike. The company says you can wash the seat pad separately in cold water on a gentle cycle. It’s also safe to tumble dry separately on low heat for 10 to 12 minutes. Diono Monterey 5iST FixSafe: The machine washable and plush fabric, great durability, and folding capability of the Diono Monterey 5iST FixSafe are its saving graces. Unfortunately, the seat is heavy (18.7 pounds), was somewhat challenging to install, and felt inconvenient to carry around due to an awkwardly placed carrying handle. The Graco Nautilus 2.0 LX has several features for premium comfort, such as a 10-position headrest, a four-position recline, and padded seating. We had zero issues using any of the booster seat’s features; everything worked as it should, including the dual cup holders. We appreciate the bright red seat belt guides beneath the armrests and under the headrest to help kids know where their seat belt goes. While kids missed having two cup holders (there’s only one), they didn’t struggle to fit or keep drinks in it. Before transitioning your child to a booster seat, ensure they're ready for the change. According to our experts and the AAP, keeping your child in a forward-facing car seat is safest until they outgrow the weight and height limitations. Moreover, if their shoulders are above the top harness slots or the tops of their ears reach the top of the seat, they should transition to a belt-positioning booster.

To find the best booster seats, we began our research by studying AAP, NHTSA, and IIHS safety guidelines. We also spoke with parents and medical professionals, including Jessica Jermakian, DSc,Vice President of Vehicle Research for the IIHS; Heather Trnka, Injury Prevention Coalition Supervisor at Akron Children’s Hospital; and Denise Scott, MD, a JustAnswer pediatrician, to learn more about what to look for in a booster seat. This high-quality booster is super comfortable, with better crash test analysis and a reasonable priceA 10-position headrest grows with kids, though you may have to tinker with the adjustment to get a proper fit for the seat belt. Once you find a secure and comfy fit, use the colored paths under the armrests and headrest to guide the lap and shoulder seat belt into place. While we have other booster seats with LATCH systems on our list, our favorite is the Peg Perego Viaggio Flex 120 because it's a dream to install with its rigid LATCH connectors. The manufacturer recommends this booster seat for kids weighing 40 to 120 pounds and measuring 39 to 63 inches tall. The seat weighs 14 pounds, which is about right for its size, yet doesn't feel heavy. Lastly, avoid inflatable booster seats, as they may deform under the forces of a crash, explains Dr. Jermakian. Inflatable booster seats are less stiff; if a collision happens, you need a unit that's stiff enough to keep the seat belt across the pelvis and shoulder. Under the forces of a crash, inflatable boosters may cause a child's hips to slip under the belt, which can cause the seat belt to move into the soft areas of the abdomen and result in serious injury, Dr. Jermakian adds. We love the sleek look and solid construction of this Nuna booster seat. It reaps a nine-position height-adjustable headrest—via a one-handed handle—to accommodate growing kids. A cool feature of the adjustable headrest is that it widens the shoulder area during adjustment.

The UPPAbaby Alta Booster Seat boasts a feature no other booster we tested has: a lap belt positioner. This special piece helps kids 40 to 100 pounds and 38 to 57 inches tall find a proper fit easier. A booster seat is a vital piece of gear that reduces the risk of nonfatal injuries in vehicle crashes by 45%, particularly among children ages 4 to 8. Children should transition to a booster seat once they max out their forward-facing harness seats' height and weight limits. A removable, machine-washable seat pad makes for easy cleanup every time. Unsnap buttons on the underside of the base and unhook tabs on the top of the seat to remove the padding. Wash the seat pad in cold water with gentle soap on a delicate cycle and drip dry. Shake crumbs and other loose debris out of the seat and use a vacuum for the rest. The consensus among the kids who rode in this booster seat during our test was clear: They all thought it was super comfortable—and now we understand why. A seven-position headrest, multiple recline options, padded material, and armrests allow for a better fit and added comfort as kids grow. Like the other booster seats on our list, you push a handle on the top of the headrest to make it move up or down. To find the best booster seats, we researched safety guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). We also spoke to parents and medical professionals. With this guidance in mind, we researched top-rated booster seats and considered their design, installation, ease of use, durability, safety features, and value. We then narrowed our list down to 19 booster seats that met our criteria and sent them home with our parenting editors to use with their children, ages 4 to 8, and in their personal vehicles.Experts agree children should stay rear-facing until at least age 2. The recommendations from both the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and NHTSA are that babies stay rear-facing as long as is allowed by the seat, and at the very least until they are 2 years old. Children can move to a booster as young as four years old. Still, despite the convenience of a booster, BabyGearLab agrees with the experts that children stay in their 5-point harness car seats as long as the manufacturer's recommendations allow. Depending on the car seat, this shift from a 5-point harness usually happens between 40-65 lbs. While parents love marking milestones as their little ones grow, transitions from one level of safety seat to another should not occur until your child has reached the maximum limits of the seat as defined by the manufacturer. Each time you move to a new level of safety seat, there is a reduction in the protection it provides. Don't be in a hurry! The UPPAbaby Alta reaps a median price for booster seats, which is fair for its nice quality and great performance. The entire unit is in excellent condition after the initial testing period, with no wear and tear or other quality issues. We found the process of changing the position of the armrest slightly inconvenient: you have to remove a screw, press a button on the base, and reinstall the screw. On each side of the seat, you’ll also find a hide-away cup holder that folds into the base when not in use. Also, don't be in a hurry to ditch your booster (even if your kid complains and begs). Safety regulations are there for a reason. The recommendation is 4'9" tall before moving from a booster to the vehicle seatbelt. Once again, we recommend you keep children in the booster until they reach the limit advised by the manufacturer. While the armrests don’t adjust, they’re cushy for added comfort. Parents and kids alike will love the removable, dishwasher-safe cup holders that fold into themselves to save space. Additionally, the seat is a breeze to clean—simply toss the seat pad in the washing machine (cold water on delicate cycle with mild detergent, then hang dry).