Hi Ladies...
WHats a good booster for my 4 year old?? He's finally 40lbs, totally ready for a booster, plus my younger one needs it, its time to transfer her out of her baby car seat...
What ever you do make sure it has a 5 point harness.
Take time to cruise this site. A mother who lost her child because she had no clue about the 5 pt harness has developed it to educate the rest of us. She lists the best seats as well!
http://www.kyledavidmiller.org/
http://www.kyledavidmiller.org/our-recommended-seats.html
oops I just looked back at your other responses and see that your first was this site! Yahoo!
Sorry I believe the same as the others. Our son is 5.5 years old and still in a 5 point harness. Britax makes a seat that is a 5 point harness and later converts to a booster. The trained car seat safety specialist at a store we buy our seats said do not move them to a booster until you absolutely have to because when they move out of position the seat is not safe or secure enough.
We recently purchased the Britax Frontier booster w/ the 5 point harness, high back and side impact protection. We paid $220 and consider that an investment in our daughter's safety. Since it goes up to 100 lbs., we know it will last quite awhile. Our 4-year-old daughter absolutely loves it and it's super cushy and comfortable. Very roomy, too. Good luck!
I checked consumerreports.com for Booster seat ratings vs cost and wound up getting the Graco Turbo Booster. I suggest getting the high back version - it's more comfortable for everyda. However, my parents and my in-laws have the low back version for when we fly to see them.
Check Consumer Reports to see what is currently the best rated and then shop around for best price. We got ours at Target.
Hope this helps!
I was in a hurry to get a booster, BUT...2 days later there was a family on Good Morning America that lost their son s in a booster/car accident. They were advocating the need for a 5-point harness, because their son was thrown OUT of their minivan. It completely freaked me out, so I bought another with the 5-point harness. If you serach on youtube.com, you might be able to find the story...try child booster seat safety. My son was bumbed, but I did show him the youtube clip and he understood and thanked me for taking good care of him, which is how he put it :)
We just got our 4 year old the Graco Nautilus.. it is a 5 point harness that goes from 30 pounds to 100! As the child grows and gains weight you just detach parts until it is only a booster. He loves it! It has a cup holder and little side pockets for cars and other treasures. When we took it to be installed the police officer told us she has one for her son and highly recommends it because they fit it so well and it lasts so long. Remember car seats are not only for weight but also height.
Please don't be in a hurry to switch him to a booster - buy him a convertible that goes up to 65 lbs and keep him safer!