The combination booster car seat is considered the safest option as it uses a five point harness for the child typically up to about 65 pounds, so your child is more secure for longer in the seat. Then the combination seat is used as a belt positioning booster seat once the child reaches the maximum weight capacity for use of the harness, and then the lap and shoulder belt is used to secure the child.

Some of the top rated booster car seat brands on the market are Britax, Recaro, Evenflo, Graco, Cybex and Diono. These brands have earned “best bet” ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, though it is important to make sure that the brand and model of seat you choose has a good rating as this can vary.

It is important to note that although crash testing is mandatory on booster car seats, the US only requires front crash testing to be done and not side impact testing. Studies have shown that the more protection a child has the better the outcome in a crash, so we do recommend using combination harness and high back booster seat to provide the safest option for your child.