Booster options for second car

[Nenibay]

I was thinking of getting a booster seat for my husband to keep in his car for the one or two times a month that he picks her up from school. She's almost 6, about 45lbs. She's in a 5point harness car seat in my car where she normally is for rides. But I'm looking at booster options and they range from 40-200$! Anyone have a good option for a second car. Affordable but easy to install and safe are the main requirements. Where do I begin lol?!? I went to BRU and was overwhelmed. I want to take advantage of the trade in so I only have a few days!

[jeaniebueller]

You are just looking for a belt booster? For my H's car, we just bought a standard Graco booster like this: www.walmart.com/ip/Graco-Highback-TurboBooster-Booster-Car-Seat-Landmark/42338332 Its fine, has a cup holder. For a second car, I wouldn't spend over $60.

[Deleted]

We have Graco turboboosters, evenflo amps, and bubble bums.

The Graco are fine, but made in China so that's why we now have evenflo amps. They are a good seat. My 6 year old who is 39 pounds sits in one just fine. Both the Graco and evenflo are around $40.

The bubble bums we have only because my mom's car is too narrow to fit three seats across unless you get creative so we use bubblebums in her car. They are a no back booster so probably not what you want for this instance. We also use them for travel since they are inflatable. They are made in China unfortunately, but there isn't an American made equivalent yet.

[anna7602]

We use a Graco Turbobooster. It's great and I don't remember it being expensive. My parents and ILs have the same one for DD in their cars.

There is no "installation." You just thread the seat belt through the high back loop, if you're using the back, and click the seatbelt in.

I've never driven a car with a booster and no kid sitting in it, so maybe there's something else you have to do to secure the seat in this case?

[Nenibay]

Sept 28, 2015 10:03:53 GMT -5 anna7602 said:

We use a Graco Turbobooster. It's great and I don't remember it being expensive. My parents and ILs have the same one for DD in their cars.

There is no "installation." You just thread the seat belt through the high back loop, if you're using the back, and click the seatbelt in.

I've never driven a car with a booster and no kid sitting in it, so maybe there's something else you have to do to secure the seat in this case?

I was confused bc there was one brand at BRU (graco affix) that uses the latch to hold the seat in place and the belt from the car for the strap.
I wasn't even thinking about having to secure the seat if nobody is in it!

[darnkatz]

We have the Graco Affix. The anchors are there so that the seat doesn't become a flying projectile in an accident.

[penguingrrl]

Technically an unoccupied booster should be buckled in to prevent it from becoming a projectile in an accident. But I'm totally crazy about proper carseat use and never remember to do that. LATCH boosters are just a way to prevent a seat from becoming a projectile and as far as I'm aware aren't proven to be safer than non-LATCH boosters.

For a secondary car for a 6 year old a backless would be fine. I have consistently seen a fabulous belt fit with the cosco backless you can get for $13 at Target (don't know the model name). It gives among the best belt fits I have seen. The graco turbobooster in both high back and backless modes is also great.

[julygal]

We have the highback Graco turbobooster for our 2 older kids. They were around $40 and are great and have good belt positioning on both my kids. If I were buying now, I would consider the Graco booster that uses latch to hold the seat in place when its empty.

[Nenibay]

Sept 28, 2015 10:09:22 GMT -5 darnkatz said:

We have the Graco Affix. The anchors are there so that the seat doesn't become a flying projectile in an accident.

How do you like it? I am having trouble finding reviews.

[darnkatz]

Sept 28, 2015 10:16:39 GMT -5 Nenibay said:

Sept 28, 2015 10:09:22 GMT -5 darnkatz said:

We have the Graco Affix. The anchors are there so that the seat doesn't become a flying projectile in an accident.

How do you like it? I am having trouble finding reviews.

I like it. It's easy to take the high back part off for traveling or storing (we no longer own a car, so it has to be stored in the closet) and fairly easy to put back on, my daughter likes sitting in it, and it's light. The anchors are kind of pointless for us now because we don't have a car, but I still like using them. I feel like the seat doesn't shift around as much when we're turning, if that makes sense. I had her sit in one of SIL's extra boosters once, and the seat kind of shifted when we made turns, even with her in it.

[Nenibay]

Sept 28, 2015 10:22:49 GMT -5 darnkatz said:

Sept 28, 2015 10:16:39 GMT -5 Nenibay said:

How do you like it? I am having trouble finding reviews.

I like it. It's easy to take the high back part off for traveling or storing (we no longer own a car, so it has to be stored in the closet) and fairly easy to put back on, my daughter likes sitting in it, and it's light. The anchors are kind of pointless for us now because we don't have a car, but I still like using them. I feel like the seat doesn't shift around as much when we're turning, if that makes sense. I had her sit in one of SIL's extra boosters once, and the seat kind of shifted when we made turns, even with her in it.

Thanks. The shifting makes a good point!