My Top Picks for Combination Boosters and Booster Seats

After your child has met or exceeded the guidelines and is mature enough to transition out of a Convertible Car Seat, you’ll move him/her up to a Booster Seat. I personally prefer to keep my children in a 5-point harness as long as possible and in a Combination Booster Seat.


Based on our experiences- and my countless hours of research, testing and installing for my 8-year-old son and now my 3-year-old son (who has just transitioned from a Convertible Car Seat to a Combination Booster Seat/high back booster with a 5-point harness)…

Here are my picks for Combination Booster/Car Seats in no particular order.

1. Graco Nautilus 3-in-1 Car Seat
I wanted to get a 5-point harness that could grow with my preschooler. We decided to get the Graco Nautilus because, honestly, I found one on sale. I highly considered the Graco Nautilus and the Britax Frontier (below). After using the Nautilus for a while, there are a few things that are taking some getting used to. Compared to the Britax tangle-free harness (which has spoiled me for years), the Nautilus’ harness does twist around a little bit. The Nautilus accommodates children from 20-65 pounds in the 5-point harness (my son is 3.5 years and 27 pounds- he has a ways to go) and up to 100 pounds with both the high back, belt positioning booster and the backless booster. The Nautilus has EPS energy-absorbing foam, and has reinforced steel seat frame. The seat has a 3 position recline, a one-handed, adjustable headrest and a comfortable seat. The only thing I would like to see different is the padded seat insert. I love the insert but it’s one piece and can only be used when the shoulder harness is in the lowest position, as it doesn’t adjust with the height of the seat.

2. Britax Frontier 85
The Britax Frontier seat can be used with the 5-point harness from 25-85 pounds and as a booster up to 120 pounds. The Frontier has a quick-adjust harness (allowing repositioning of the harness without having to re-thread the straps). The Frontier converts to a high back, belt positioning booster seat with a color-coded belt placement guide.

3. Safety 1st Go Hybrid Convertible Booster
Installing in less than a minute (and it really does- after a few installations), the Go Hybrid can be used with the 5-point harness up to 65 pounds. The Go Hybrid then converts to a backless booster and can be used up to 100 pounds. The one thing I dislike about this seat, there’s no option to use it as a high back, belt-positioning booster. Another thing to consider is that this booster must be installed by securing the anchor tether system to your car. This booster uses the seat back (and head rest) of your car, as the back of the booster seat does not have a solid frame. Some nice features- it is very slim and fits nicely in smaller cars, folds easily for travel and is a great option for a second car or grandma’s car (just don’t expect your parents to install it “in less than a minute”). It does have an easy harness adjustment system that can be adjusted without re-threading the straps and it looks like a “race car” seat (according to my oldest son).

Here are my picks for High Back and Backless Booster Seats

1. Britax Parkway SGL Booster Seat
I really like this seat because of the additional safety features. This booster seat comes with the ISOFLEX LATCH connection system, which installs the seat into your car- for stability in the event of a crash also keeping it from becoming a projectile object when not in use. Britax also has a SecureGuard (the red clip between the legs) which helps prevent a child from sliding down in the seat. The Head Restraint quickly adjusts and provides true side impact protection. I will say that when my 8-year-old son was a little younger, the “wings” of the Head Restraint blocked his view out the side window. It wasn’t until he was older, and understood me when I asked him to sit properly in his booster, that I had him sit in this booster seat for the fear that he wouldn’t be properly protected. The seat has high-density foam (for comfort); color-coded belt placement guides, retractable cup holders and can accommodate a child up to 120 pounds. This is one to try out in your car before purchasing! Some boosters with LATCH do not always line up with the LATCH connectors to each individual car causing the seat belt to not properly fasten or fasten at all. Although it can be used without the LATCH.

2. Graco High Back Turbo Booster Car Seat
My 8-year-old son really liked this high back booster seat. The padding is soft and doesn’t make him too hot or too cold. The red belt placement guides make it easy for everyone to use- providing your child with proper placement and use of the booster. The back detaches making it a backless booster seat up to 100 pounds. It’s light and easy to transfer from car to car (good for carpool situations). The headrest is easily adjustable providing your child with the proper support and placement of the shoulder belt. The Turbo Booster also has EPS energy-absorbing foam, padded armrests and hidden cup holders.

3. Evenflo Big Kid Booster Seat
We have this booster as our spare for our 8-year-old son. It works well, has all the features you need- cup holders, height adjustment, comfortable seat, accommodates a child up to 100 pounds, removable back to convert to a backless booster; but it doesn’t have the color-coded belt placement guides and I found the back to be a little flimsy for my liking.

4. Graco Backless Booster
For a much older child, you can’t go wrong with the inexpensive, padded Graco backless booster. My son is 8.5-years-old, 65 pounds and sits in this booster seat. The armrests are height adjustable and there are two hidden cup holders- one on each side.

5. Sunshine Kids SantaFe Booster This backless booster accommodates children up to 120 pounds, has a LATCH connection to keep it in place, has two deep cup holders (to help with preventing spills), the energy absorbing AirTek foam keeps your child cool and comfortable, and most importantly, the seat bottom is angles to help prevent the child from sliding forward in a crash and the longer seat bottom provides a better leg support. This is another one to try out in your car before purchasing! Some boosters with LATCH do not always line up with the LATCH connectors to each individual car causing the seat belt to not properly fasten or fasten at all. Although it can be used without the LATCH.

For more information on correct belt placement and current evaluations for even more Booster Seats, visit the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety HERE

Don’t forget to click HERE to see my top picks for Infant Car Seats and Convertible Car Seats.