Many models have clips or guides to help you correctly position the seat belt. The belt should fit low and snug on your 5-year-old’s upper thighs. The shoulder section should not touch your child’s neck but should cross the chest and shoulder. If you want to keep your child in a forward-facing car seat a little longer, look for a model with an extended weight and height capacity.
We conduct rigorous testing that includes installing each seat in at least three different vehicles using both installation methods with multiple testers. We test each seats’ padding, covers, harness adjustments, and more. The Britax Allegiance is an affordable convertible choice that provides quality for a reasonable price. The Allegiance has the second-highest score for crash test results with one of the group’s best head sensor results.
This information makes it a great option for those who want top safety indicators. The Extend2Fit can also potentially stay rear-facing for longer than most of the competition , creating a wonderful combination of features that potentially translates to a safer riding experience. The Emblem has a manual LATCH strap, unlike the popular ClickTight models.
I only recommend buying if you have an extra large backseat or plan to forward face right away this car seat won’t fit in my other truck or car. The Magellan is designed to be as comfortable as possible for your child every graco travel system step of the way. The headrest has 14 positions, so it’s always in the correct spot for your child’s height. It also features not one but two cup holders, so your little one can have a snack or toy within arm’s reach .
Some lock-offs work a little better than others, but even those that are challenging, still provide a more secure feeling installation in our tests than seats without a lock-off. We found that options with a lock-off were every bit as secure feeling when installed with a belt as they were with the LATCH . This fact can be a relief when you need to install the seat with a belt, which is highly likely given the weight limitations of LATCH systems.
Even after your child outgrows a booster seat, it’s important for him to stay in the back seat until age 13. If his current forward-facing car seat has a weight capacity that is higher than his current weight and a height limit above his current height, he can still ride in it. A forward-facing car seat with a five-point harness system is the safest option, so keep him there if possible.
The Grow and Go works as a rear-facing, forward-facing and eventually a belt-positioning booster seat. It has three recline positions, two cup holders and a seat pad that snaps on and off for when you need to throw it in the wash. You can easily adjust the harness and headrest in one step, and built-in harness holders keep annoying straps from getting in the way when you’re trying to pull your little one out of the car seat. Lots of parents choose this as an affordable secondary car seat for a caregiver or grandparent’s car too. The straps on forward-facing car seats should generally hit at or above your 5-year-old’s shoulders.
Find the parenting user manual you need for your baby product and more at ManualsOnline. Editors Jennifer Geiger and Jennifer Newman, as well as previous editor Matt Schmitz, are certified child-safety seat installation technicians. Does not have a label with the date of manufacture and model number. Without these, you cannot check to see if the seat has been recalled.