What is the difference between a high back booster and a booster

One study found that children in high-back boosters were 70 percent less likely to be injured in a side-impact crash than children in seat belts alone. The same study found that in a side impact crash, the risk of injury to children in backless boosters was not significantly different than if they were wearing seat belts alone.

There are high-back boosters that allow you to remove the back so they can be used in backless mode. Before you go this route, consider this: We found that vehicle safety belts fit better on dedicated backless boosters than they did on high-back models with removable backs when used in backless mode.

This was true for fit of both the shoulder belt and lap belt. While high-backs are the safest choice, backless boosters are still much safer than no booster at all, and we can see some legitimate reasons parents might choose a no-back model. And no doubt about it--backless models are easier to transport. This can be important if you have an active, school-aged kid who is still too small to fit vehicle belts and you'll be switching cars while carting him to and from school and activities.

All boosters have a minimum weight requirement for children to use them. Be aware that many backless boosters have higher weight minimums than high-back models. Be sure to check the weight requirements before you use them. But as long as your child can properly fit in a safety seat that uses an internal harness such as a harnessed booster seat , that is the safer place for him or her to ride.

When to move on: The 5-step test When you can answer 'yes' to all of the following questions, your child is ready to safely sit on a vehicle seat without a booster:. And see our Ratings of infant car seats , convertible car seats , all-in-one car seats , and harnessed booster seats for more information. Get Ratings on the go and compare while you shop. Sign In. Become a Member. Remember Me. Forgot username or password? Not a member? Our Mission. Find a Pediatrician.

Text Size. Booster Seats for School-Aged Children. Page Content. As a general guideline, a child has outgrown a forward-facing seat when any of the following situations is true: They reach the top weight or height allowed for his seat with a harness. These limits are listed on the seat and in the instruction manual.

Their shoulders are above the top harness slots. Types of Booster Seats: High-back and backless are 2 standard types of booster seats. If your booster seat has lower anchors or tether attachments, check its manual for installation instructions.

Common Questions about Booster Seats: What if my car has only lap belts in the back seat? What is the difference between high-back boosters and backless boosters? High-back boosters should be used in vehicles without headrests or with low seat backs. Many seats that look like high-back boosters are actually combination seats. They come with harnesses that can be used for smaller children and, later, removed for older children.

Backless boosters are usually less expensive and are easier to move from one vehicle to another. Backless boosters can be used safely in vehicles with headrests and high seat backs.

The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.

Follow Us. Some models even allow for removal of the back, turning the seat into a backless booster perfect for travel, storage and older children who no longer need the added head protection. This type of seat is essentially a high back booster with the added protection of a removable five-point harness.

The longer your child remains in a five-point harness, the safer he or she will be in the event of a crash. But when your child has exceeded the weight and height limitations of a five-point harness, combination booster seats allow you to easily remove the harness system, turning the seat into a high back belt-positioning booster.

Still on the fence about whether or not your child is ready for a booster seat? Learn more about when to switch to a booster seat. Do you know how to keep your little passengers safe? Test Your Knowledge.

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