It also tucks nicely into a backpack or other smallish bags that a booster rider might carry. At about 1 pound, it’s light enough that most carpoolers can carry it in such a bag or backpack without issue. This Graco has one of the worst sensor results for the head sensor in the review with recorded G-forces more than twice graco car seat the next lowest-performing competitors. The chest clip results are somewhat better and manage to prevent this booster from earning the lowest analysis score in the group, but they are still below the average for the group. The HIC result is enough to give us pause, and we would not use this booster with our children.
Boosters are put through more than 24 individual tests to rank and score their performance compared to the competition. The most critical booster metric is crash testing analysis, which is 35% of the overall product score. This metric’s overall result is derived from the crash test results from the crash test dummy’s head (HIC) and chest (G) sensor data. Our reviews also utilize research and observations from various testers to compare each seat’s performance. Simply attach the seat to the back and then slide in the headrest.
The seat and the child are still held in place by the vehicle seat belt — on a booster, the lower anchors only keep the booster in place if it’s empty during a crash. If this booster isn’t installed with the lower anchors, buckle the vehicle seat belt when the seat is empty. If your goal is an excellent option for little ones to carry themselves or something compact you can use while traveling, then the BubbleBum is our favorite. This simple booster is an inflatable cushion with a shoulder belt positioner that can be quickly and easily deployed in almost any situation. The lower price and better crash test analysis results than the TurboBooster make it a great option for when a high-backed traditional booster would be impractical.
I chose this since it came with good reviews and felt more sturdy than the booster seat in her daddy’s truck. Simply slide onto the vehicle seat and slide the seatbelt into the belt guide. She enjoys her big girl seat and isn’t uncomfortable in it so I’m happy ! I drive an SUV and her dad drives a full size truck so we have no problems with space with the headrest being up.
And as with our top pick, the seat belt slides into the threader from the bottom up (though one tester found Chicco’s version to be more intuitive). The TurboBooster LX has a standard stationary plastic cupholder on one side, and on the other there’s a cupholder that slides in and out of the seat base. These cupholders cannot be removed for cleaning (as the Chicco’s cupholders can).
We see how the TurboBooster could end up on your shortlist, given its smaller size, lower weight, and additional features like armrests and cup holders. However, it is not our seat of choice for any use, be that every day or for travel, and given the lower crash testing results, we’d recommend parents look elsewhere for suitable options based on their goals. Considering comfort factors, we compare the foam support, fabric feel, the seat’s graco convertible car seat design, the depth of the seat bottom and headrest, and the potential for napping. Some boosters offer denser padding, a cushy feel, softer fabric, or a steel frame. Boosters are tested side-by-side by adult testers and children for general comfort compared to the competition. We contracted with the same crash test facility used by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) to conduct our booster seat crash tests.
Press the button or pull the lever upward while simultaneously moving the headrest to the desired height. Release the button or lever to lock the headrest into place. My model is very much her own person and she’s not a fan of this guide so we went back to high back mode for the rest of the review period. C-Grade Pallets marked C Grade have been sorted by one of our sorting teams.
If it’s in backless mode, pull the vehicle seat belt out just a bit, then set it in front of the lap belt guide. The Turbo Booster Youth Car Seat was one of the single best things we bought for our kids safety. The weight and height instructions are clearly printed on the outside of the seat and it is easy to see where the seat belt straps are fed into. They elevate the kids to a higher level and support their backs and heads fantasticly. For taller kids, you can heighten the head rest to a suitable position and the head rest itself is rounded for when the children fall asleep and their heads bob to the left or right. But the best thing I like about these Turbo Boosters is the fact that the seat covers and arm rests are totally washable.