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High Back Vs. No Back Booster Seat

At around the age of 4 years old and 40 lbs., children get to a point where they are too large to comfortably and safely ride in a traditional car seat, but they are not yet developed to a point where they can wear a seat belt alone and be safe. It's at this point that a booster seat becomes a necessity to keep them safe in a car.

  1. Convenience

    • When comparing high back booster seats with no back booster seats, the no back variety are generally lighter and more manageable. This makes the no back variety a good fit for families who need to move the booster seat frequently from car to car.

    Cost

    • Though there are more and less expensive versions of both varieties of booster seat, the no back versions are generally less expensive than the larger high back booster seats.

    Benefits

    • The high back booster seats have tested better for safety than the no back version, particularly in side impact crashes where high back boosters provided nearly 60 percent more protection than no back boosters or safety belts alone, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

    Comfort/Head Support

    • High back booster seats tend to keep a child more properly positioned than no back booster seats. When children are sleeping, the high back booster is better at keeping the safety belt positioned where it needs to be in order to provide maximum protection.

    Other Considerations

    • Many companies produce a combination booster, which is a high back booster where the back can be removed turning the seat into a no back booster. This option offers the best of both worlds by providing the safety and more secure positioning of a high back booster for longer rides and the convenience of a no back booster for quick or frequent switches from car to car.

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