IIHS: 31 Booster Seats are Best Bets

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety released a report yesterday that revealed “half of children’s car booster seats can’t ensure a proper fit with all safety belts.”

In their report, the IIHS identified seats that were Best Bets, as well as pinpointed specific boosters that parents should avoid. Booster seats, which are for children who have outgrown forward-facing child restraints, should elevate a child and route the lap and shoulder belts while providing a secure fit.

Out of 62 tested boosters, 31 seats made the IIHS’ Best Bets and five make the cut for Good Bets.

Britax Frontier 85 SICT

NKT fave, Britax, was mentioned several times on the list, as well as Clek, Chicco and Graco, just to name a few.  One brand that received great reviews, and I’m intrigued about, is Harmony.  Anyone have this brand?

If you’re shopping for booster seats, be sure to check out IIHS’ report.  See below for the 2011 Booster Evaluation Results.

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IIHS Rates Best and Worst Booster Seats

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) released its latest reports on children’s booster seat evaluations.  With safety in mind, IIHS, a non-profit organization funded by auto insurers, carries out research and produces ratings for passenger vehicles, as well as for certain consumer products like booster seats.  In reading the report, it’s not just the seat that’s important, it’s how the seat and seatbealt fit the child.  Most booster seats, unlike carseats, utilize a vehicle’s seatbelt.  Carseat.org (link to an informational PDF) says booster seats are typically used by children 4 until 10.

According to IIHS, it’s important to note that the Institute doesn’t conduct vehicle crash tests to evaluate boosters because boosters don’t do the restraining in a crash. It’s the fit of the belt that’s important.  A good booster routes the lap belt across a child’s upper thighs and positions the shoulder belt at midshoulder.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IIHS says that this year’s top-rated boosters outnumber ones that they don’t recommend.  Brands such as Britax, Chicco, Clek, among others make the list.  Read more to find out which seats make IIHS’ list.

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Clek Introduces Two New Designs

Just in time for road trip season, Clek has introduced two new Paul Frank designs to its award-winning line of Olli Booster Seats.

The camoflouge-inspired Skurvy Camo Olli Booster Seat features a puzzle pattern with fun orange accents.  The Julius Hearts Me design highlights everyone’s favorite monkey, Julius, alongside of jewel-toned hearts.

Clek’s Olli, a backless, belt-positioning booster seat, is best suited for children whose height and weight are between 40-57 in./101-145 cm. and are 40-120 lbs.

I thought matching our convertible car seat to our car’s interior would be a good thing.  Now, years later, I’m sort of itching for more color and spunk, something that better matches our pirate and Julius fan.  With Skurvy Camo, it’s almost like Paul Frank had us in mind.

Olli Booster Seats retail for $100 and can be found at baby and kid stores that sell Clek products, including Babies R Us, Diapers.com and Buy Buy Baby.