Transitioning your child from a forward-facing car seat to using the vehicle’s seat belt is a significant milestone. A backless booster seat is the perfect tool for this stage, providing the necessary lift to ensure the seat belt fits safely and comfortably across your child’s stronger body frames. These seats are known for their portability, making them ideal for carpools, travel, and moving between vehicles.
With so many options on the market, selecting the right one can feel overwhelming. This roundup focuses on the key factors of safety, support, and convenience to help you make an informed decision. We’ve compiled a list of ten top-rated backless booster seats, highlighting the unique features that make each one a strong contender for your family’s needs.
The Best Backless Booster Car Seats for Big Kids
- Chicco GoFit Plus Backless Booster Car Seat with Latch
- Graco TurboBooster LX Backless Booster with Affix Latch
- Cosco Topside Backless Booster Car Seat, Lightweight
- Diono Solana, No Latch, Pack of 2 Backless Booster Car Seats
- Chicco GoFit Backless Booster Car Seat Without Latch
- Graco TurboBooster 2.0 Backless Booster Car Seat
- Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus 2-in-1 Belt-Positioning Booster
- Britax Grow with You ClickTight Harness-2-Booster Car Seat
- Diono Solana, No Latch, Single Backless Booster Car Seat
- Safety 1st Grow and Go 3-in-1 Backless Booster Car Seat
Chicco GoFit Plus Backless Booster Car Seat with Latch
The Chicco GoFit® Plus is designed for convenience and stability. It is equipped with a LATCH system that helps keep the seat securely in place when your child is getting in and out of the vehicle. An innovative quick-release handle allows for one-handed removal, making it incredibly easy to transfer between cars.
Comfort is a priority with the ErgoBoost contoured seat, which features double foam padding for support during long rides. A built-in carry handle enhances its portability, solidifying its role as an excellent travel booster seat for children from 40 to 110 pounds.
Graco TurboBooster LX Backless Booster with Affix Latch
The Graco TurboBooster® LX is a trusted choice for families transitioning their children to a seat belt. It helps safely transport big kids from 40 to 100 pounds, boosting them up to ensure the vehicle’s seat belt fits properly across the lap and shoulder.
This model includes a front-adjust LATCH system, which allows you to quickly and easily secure the booster to the vehicle seat. This feature prevents the booster from becoming a projectile in the vehicle when it’s unoccupied, adding an extra layer of safety and convenience.
Cosco Topside Backless Booster Car Seat
The Cosco Topside offers a simple, effective, and budget-friendly solution for providing your child with the necessary lift. It is designed for children weighing 40 to 100 pounds, helping to position the seat belt correctly for their height.
One of its standout features is its lightweight and compact design. This makes it exceptionally easy to move between vehicles, and it serves as a perfect portable car booster seat for carpools or travel. It focuses on the essentials without sacrificing safety.
Diono Solana, No Latch, Pack of 2 Backless Booster Car Seats
The Diono Solana is a long-lasting booster designed to accommodate your child from 40 to 120 pounds, potentially being the only booster you’ll ever need. This two-pack is perfect for families with multiple vehicles or more than one child in the booster stage.
It includes two built-in elastic cup holders to keep drinks and snacks within easy reach. The seat features contoured premium fabrics with layered foam padding for comfort, and the covers are removable and machine washable for easy cleaning after adventures.
Chicco GoFit Backless Booster Car Seat Without Latch
This version of the Chicco GoFit provides the same core safety and comfort features as the Plus model, but without the LATCH attachment. It is designed for children from 40 to 110 pounds who can sit properly throughout the car ride.
It functions as a reliable belt-positioning booster, using integrated lap belt guides and a shoulder belt clip to ensure a proper and secure fit with the vehicle’s seat belt. The ErgoBoost contoured seat with double foam padding offers consistent comfort for your growing child.
Graco TurboBooster 2.0 Backless Booster Car Seat
The Graco TurboBooster 2.0 is a top-rated option that has earned high marks from leading consumer publications. It is ProtectPlus® Engineered, which means it is designed to provide robust protection in frontal, rear, and rollover crashes.
Beyond its safety credentials, it is built for growing comfort. The seat includes height-adjustable armrests, allowing you to customize the fit as your child grows, ensuring they remain comfortable and the seat belt is properly positioned for years.
Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus 2-in-1 Belt-Positioning Booster
The Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus is a versatile 2-in-1 seat that can be used as both a high-back and a backless booster. It features Superior DuoGuard for enhanced head and torso support, with a 10-position height adjustment that moves from the waist for a more comfortable and secure fit.
This model uses premium LATCH connectors with a SuperCinch tightener for easy installation and a quick-release for simple removal. A significant benefit is its ClearTex materials, which are made without flame retardant chemicals while still meeting all federal flammability standards.
Britax Grow with You ClickTight Harness-2-Booster Car Seat
The Britax Grow With You ClickTight is a durable 2-in-1 system that grows with your child from a forward-facing harness seat to a high-back belt-positioning booster. This long-term versatility makes it a valuable investment for many families.
It features the innovative ClickTight installation system for a secure and simple setup every time. You can adjust the 9-point harness and headrest with just one hand for a perfect fit as your child grows, with no rethreading required.
Diono Solana, No Latch, Single Backless Booster Car Seat
This is the single-seat version of the Diono Solana booster, offering the same great features for those who only need one. It is built to last for 8 years and support children from 40 to 120 pounds, providing long-term value.
It includes two built-in elastic cup holders and is upholstered in contoured premium soft fabrics with layered foam padding for all-day comfort. Like its twin-pack counterpart, the cover is removable and machine washable, making maintenance simple.
Safety 1st Grow and Go 3-in-1 Backless Booster Car Seat
The Safety 1st Grow and Go is a versatile car seat that adapts to your child’s growth. While specific features for the backless booster mode are not listed here, 3-in-1 seats typically transition from a forward-facing harness to a high-back booster, and finally to a backless booster.
This type of seat is designed to be a long-term solution, accommodating your child through multiple stages of development. It is engineered to provide consistent safety and support as your child’s seating needs change from toddler to big kid.
How to Choose a Backless Booster Car Seat
When it’s time to move your child from a high-back booster to a backless one, the choices can feel overwhelming. I know I spent a lot of time comparing models before making a purchase. The main thing to remember is that a backless booster seat isn’t just a cushion; it’s a crucial piece of safety equipment designed to correctly position the vehicle’s adult seat belt over your child’s body. The goal is to find one that offers the best combination of safety, comfort, and ease of use for your family’s needs.
First and foremost, you need to check if your child is ready. Most safety experts and regulations state that a child should be at least 40 to 80 pounds and over 4 feet tall to use a backless booster. More importantly, they must be mature enough to sit properly the entire ride without slouching or leaning over, as this can displace the seat belt. The seat belt should lie snugly across the middle of the shoulder and chest, not on the neck or face, and the lap belt must fit low and tight across the upper thighs, not the soft stomach.
Look for key safety features. All boosters sold in the US must meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213, but many go beyond that. I always look for seats with belt-positioning guides. These are rigid arms or clips that help route the vehicle’s seat belt correctly and keep it in place, which is especially helpful if your child moves around. A deep, sculpted seat is also a big plus. It helps keep the child centered and prevents them from sliding around during turns. Some models even come with additional side-impact protection built into the base or sides of the seat, which adds an extra layer of security.
Don’t forget about practical considerations. Weight and portability are huge factors. One of the main advantages of a backless booster is how easy it is to move between cars or take for carpools. Look for a lightweight model, preferably with a carry handle. Ease of cleaning is another big one. Spills and crumbs are inevitable, so a seat with a removable, machine-washable cover is a lifesaver. Finally, consider the height adjustment. Many boosters offer multiple height settings to ensure a perfect belt fit as your child grows, which can extend the life of the seat. By focusing on these factors, you can confidently select one of the best backless booster car seats for safety and support for your growing kid.
FAQ
What is the main safety purpose of a backless booster seat?
The primary job of a backless booster is to elevate your child so that the vehicle’s lap and shoulder seat belts fit them correctly. Without a booster, the seat belt will often cut across a child’s neck and ride up on their belly, which can cause serious internal injuries in a crash. The booster positions the lap belt low on the hips, touching the upper thighs, and guides the shoulder belt to cross the middle of the chest and shoulder. This ensures the strong bones of the pelvis and rib cage absorb the crash forces, not the soft tissues of the abdomen.
At what age and size can my child use a backless booster?
It’s less about age and more about size and maturity. Most manufacturers recommend a child be at least 40 to 80 pounds and 4 feet tall. However, the most critical factor is the 5-step test: Can the child sit all the way back against the vehicle seat? Do their knees bend comfortably at the edge of the seat? Does the lap belt fit low on the hips? Does the shoulder belt cross the middle of the shoulder? Can they stay in this position for the entire trip? If you answer “no” to any of these, they still need a booster, and a high-back model might be a safer starting point.
Are backless booster seats as safe as high-back boosters?
For a child who meets the size and maturity requirements, a backless booster is very effective at correctly positioning the seat belt, which is its core safety function. However, high-back boosters offer two potential additional benefits. They provide head and neck support if your vehicle seats have low backs, and they often have integrated side-impact protection with deep wings. If your car has high seat backs or headrests, and your child sits properly, a backless booster is a safe and convenient option. The best choice depends on your specific vehicle and your child’s sitting behavior.
How do I install a backless booster seat correctly?
Installation is straightforward, which is a major advantage. You simply place the booster on the vehicle seat and have your child sit on it. Then, you buckle the vehicle’s seat belt as you normally would, making sure to thread it through any belt guides or positioning clips on the booster. The final, most important step is to check the belt fit on your child every single time. Ensure the lap belt is low and snug on the hips and that the shoulder belt is centered on the shoulder. The booster should not move around easily when the child is buckled in.
Can I use a backless booster seat on an airplane?
Generally, no. Backless booster seats are not approved for use on airplanes because they require the vehicle’s seat belt to function. Airplane lap belts are designed differently and a booster cannot position them correctly. For air travel, you would need to use an FAA-approved child restraint system, which is typically a forward-facing harnessed car seat that is certified for aircraft use. Your backless booster is perfect for use in rental cars and taxis at your destination, but it should be stored in the overhead compartment or checked during the flight itself.