Car seat alternative: how to choose a booster for your child?

A booster is a seat with armrests (rarely with a short back, but more often without it), which is attached to the back seat and is fixed with straps. His task is to lift the child so that the seat belts do not pass through the neck, which is very dangerous, but along the chest. It is good to have a booster in the case when your child often travels in a taxi, for example (recall that the movement of children in cars without a car seat or booster is prohibited by law in Ukraine). Or you are planning a car trip. Also, the booster is convenient if you have two cars, - it is much easier to transfer it from one to another car. But the main advantage of the booster is its price. Compared to a car seat, it is three or even six times cheaper. You can buy it for 1.5-3 thousand hryvnia.

Category

Boosters are designed for children from 3 years old to 12 years old, and there are two categories: 15-36 kg and 22-36 kg. You can put a child in the booster who is not less than 120 cm and not less than 15 kilograms. It is important that these two points are taken into account. Under this condition, the seat belt will be correctly fastened - pass over the chest of the child, and not over his neck.

Which booster should you choose?

Baby products, on which the life of the baby depends, must be chosen with all care and caution.

Material

Boosters are made of foam, plastic or metal frame. Option one is the cheapest and most unreliable. These boosters are very fragile, although light, of course. But in the event of an accident, they are unlikely to be saved.

Plastic boosters are the most popular option. It is as lightweight as foam. But at the same time they are more reliable, and cheaper in price than metal-frame ones. Boosters with a metal frame are the most reliable. They are sturdy, heavy, bulky, and provide the best safety for your child.

Fasteners

The mounting system of the current boosters is quite diverse. Some are put in the back seat, sit on them as a child and fasten them using the car's standard seat belts. And some boosters are fixed with special fasteners. Best of all Isofix and Latch systems.

Practicality 

It is important to choose a booster with your child / istockphoto.com

When choosing a booster, it is definitely necessary to take into account the wishes of the child. Do not buy an item through the Internet. After all, the child needs to sit on it, determine whether the rigidity of the chair itself is suitable, whether the seat is narrow. Also note if the cover is removable. Small muds can stain it, and the booster will need to be washed. There are also transformer boosters. With a slight movement of the hand, they turn into a backpack that the child can carry on their own.

You will also be interested in:

which car brands are most often involved in an accident

5 rules for renting a car for a family trip