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Why you need to get rid of your backless booster seat
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Did you know that new stricter rules for the use of backless booster car seats came into force in 2017?
Previously, children as young as three (or 15kg) could use one, but following the change in legislation, no one measuring under 125cm or 22kg will be allowed to travel sitting in one.
Confusingly though, the new legislation only applies to new booster seats coming onto the market!
So parents who already own a booster seat can continue to use it, BUT it’s important to bear in mind the safety issues with using a model without a back.
Under current UK law, all children must use the correct car seat until 12 years old or 135cm tall.
Many parents buy a sturdy Group 0+ and Group 1 car seat for their child, but once they outgrow these, at around age four, switch to a cheaper booster seat.
1. CYBEX Silver Solution X-Fix Child's Car Seat
*For children 15 to 36 kg (approx. 4 to 12 years)
*Suitable for cars with and without ISOFIX
*Available in 9 different striking colour ways
Cybex car seats always offer the latest innovations and features.
The X-Fix takes safety to another level with a three-way adjustable reclining headrest, built-in side impact protection and the option to use Isofix fittings.
The reclining headrest cleverly prevents the child's head from falling forward while asleep, which gives them even greater protection if an accident occurs.
2. Diono Monterey 2, £120
*Adjustable width with an expandable seat back width that fits shoulders up to 50.8 cm
*11 position headrest, adjusts up to 16.5 cm with one hand
*Deep, reinforced sides lined with energy absorbing EPS foam for side impact protection
The seat bottom has extra length for leg support and features thick AirTek™ foam and tapered sides for total comfort. You can also flatpack it to make storage easier - ideal if you’re lacking in space in your home.
3. Britax Adventure Group 2/3 Car Seat
*Seat belt guide correctly positions the three-point seat belt over the child's shoulder and pelvis
*Useful features like a pull out drink holder, snack tray and washable covers
*The side wings of the high back booster car seat are deeply padded to provide impact protection
Lightweight yet sturdy, the Romer has fantastic features, with a handy cup holder, snack tray and a height-adjustable headrest for a super affordable price.
4. Joie Trillo
*Has full body side impact protection from head to hips
*Ultra thick infant body cushion and padded seat
* Intuitive seat belt guides for installing the car seat with a 3-point seatbelt
Full of features like handy cup holders, an adjustable headrest and removable, padded armrests, the Trillo is a practical and comfortable buy for children aged between four and twelve years old. You can also adjust the headrest easily with one hand.
5. Graco Junior Maxi
*For children 15 to 36 kg (approx. 4 to 12 years)
*Dimensions 41 x 41 x 68 cm
*Available in six different colour ways
A purse-friendly model from a well-respected car seat brand, the Junior Maxi will safely transport your child until around age 12.
It's full of features despite the competitive price: with a headrest that can be adjusted with one hand and movable armrests.
It also has two cup holders hidden away for drinks on the go and the covers can be removed and popped in the washing machine for ease
6. Maxi-Cosi Rodi AirProtect
*The seat is simple to adjust and reclines to offer extra comfort
*Easy-to-use belt guides so your child can be safely strapped in and ready to go in seconds
*The seat is specially-designed to give your child’s body added protection
High-backed booster seat with the added security of isofix fittings, as well as huge protective side wings. Has AirProtect® side-impact protection in the headrest, which will divert crash forces away from your child's head by releasing air embedded in the foam headrest device upon impact.
7. Maxi-Cosi Titan
*Suitable for children from around one to 12 years old
*Isofix installation with top tether for added security
*Has a headrest that can be adjusted to 11 different positions
This convertible car seat can transport children until 12 years old in comfort and style, with lots of padding and solid impact protection.
It's first used with a five-point safety harness to buckle up toddlers, before becoming a group 2/3 booster that uses your car's seat belt to secure it.
It can also recline to five different positions, ideal for younger children who need to nap on the go.
Safety experts have long viewed backless boosters as unsafe, as they offer virtually no protection in the event of an accident, particularly from the side.
Studies have shown that 25% of accidents occur with a side impact, so the need for more protection is clear.
So what’s the alternative to a backless booster seat?
High back booster seats for children aged 4-12 (group 2/3) cost a little more, but according to experts are much, much safer.
Which? child car seat expert, Lisa Galliers says: 'A decent high-backed booster seat provides better protection in a front crash, as they're designed to guide the adult seat-belt across the child's body properly, and our crash tests prove they offer much more protection in a side-impact crash than a backless booster seat alone.'
Backless boosters for very young children are clearly being phased out for a reason – so we think it makes sense to replace it anyway to make sure your child has the best possible protection when you’re travelling by car.
So, here are eight of our favourite high-backed boosters for every budget:
Read on:
•The best high back booster seats
This article contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small amount of money if a reader clicks through and makes a purchase from Amazon. All our articles and reviews are written independently by the Netmums editorial team.
