Safety 1st Manga Fix ISOFIX Booster Seat, Group 3 Car Seat ISOFIX, 6 - 12 years, 22-36 kg, Pixel Black

Product Information

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. 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).For car seats without LATCH systems, they rely on the seat belts children use to install. So essentially, there’s no installation method. The booster seat sits directly on top of the vehicle seat, and children use the vehicle belt to secure themselves and the seat. Dr. Scott says you should only use booster seats with both the lap and shoulder seat belts, not the lap belts alone. Safety 1st Store ‘n Go Sport Booster Car Seat: This Safety 1st booster seat doesn’t feature a LATCH system, so installation and transfer are a breeze. There’s also a storage drawer underneath the seat for small items, like sunglasses, a tablet, and more (which we and the kids loved). On the other hand, adjusting the headrest is challenging because you must take the whole seat out to reach a certain piece for adjustment. Moreover, we felt we might break the headrest when changing its height.

A 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. 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. 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. 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.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. Thanks to the smooth, padded fabric, you can use your hand to wipe off crumbs or other debris. Remove the seat covering for messes that absorb into the material by unfastening a few buttons and clips. Toss it in the washing machine with mild detergent and run it on a delicate cycle before hanging it to dry. We appreciate how the seat cover didn’t shrink or change quality after we washed it a few times to eliminate sunscreen residue, deeper food debris, and more. To clean the shell of the booster seat, the company recommends using mild detergent, water, and a soft cloth and air drying.

The headrest and seat covers of the UPPAbaby Alta are machine washable, but we found that brushing out the crumbs was enough to make the booster look like new. We didn’t have any challenges with cleaning the seat, and there were no deep or difficult-to-reach nooks and crannies. Plus, the plastic shell is a breeze to wipe down.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. 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. 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. This high-quality booster is super comfortable, with better crash test analysis and a reasonable price 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.