The Product: Baby Booster Seat

As kids grow up, so do their car seats. Once your child outgrows his/her convertible car seat, they should be properly restrained in a booster seat until they are at least 8 years old, unless they are 4'9" tall. If your child is getting too big for their convertible car seat, but you are not ready to move up into a booster, you may want to consider the Radian 65 instead.

Recommendation: Britax Monarch Booster Seat Review

We recently tested the Britax Monarch Booster Seat for our daughter. Similar to the discontinued Britax Parkway, the Monarch is equipped with True Side Impact Protection, making it one of the safest and most comfortable boosters on the market. The Monarch's side "wings" with EPS foam provide extra side impact protection and support for the torso and are designed to serve as good head/neck support for naps.

The Monarch's expanding padded armrests and adjustable headrest allow the booster to adjust with your growing child.  We have found that the removable back and the color-coding belt threading positions are easy to understand and have reduced the potential of improper use.  The Britax Monarch has some other neat features including a two position recline, as well as built-in cup holders for snacks and drinks, which our daughter loves. When your child is bigger and no longer needs the belt guide or the top support, you can simply remove that portion and use the base portion on its own, so you will not have to buy another booster seat. Having read many reviews, I am confident that this is the best booster seat on the market today.

Devil's Advocate:

Although the added padding around the head increases the seat’s safety, make sure it doesn’t drive your child crazy by having them try it out in the store. Some kids may find the side wings claustrophobic. If this is the case, the Graco Turbo Booster is a good option as its head support has a little more breathing room.