8 Safest Kids Booster Seats On the Market

Booster Seats are for kids aged 4 – 8 years. They are the transition seat from traditional baby car seats, to no car seat at all.

There are plenty of Booster Seats on the market today, all of them meet the Australian Standard (Australia has very strict standards) – but how do you go about choosing one that is right for you? And are some booster seats safer than others? We will go through the 8 Safest Kids Booster Seats on the Market!

Table of Contents:

1. Kids Car Seats and the Law in Australia
2. What Car Seat Do I Need for What Age?
3. Where is the Safest Place to Put My Child in My Vehicle?
4. List of 8 Safest Kids Booster Seats on the Market

1. Kids Car Seats and the Law in Australia

In Australia, everyone that carries a child under the age of 8 years in their vehicle must have a car seat or booster seat that meets the Australian Standard AS/NZS 1754. That sounds confusing, but to make it easy, every car seat you buy at reputable dealers will meet these standards automatically. It is the law that every child car seat bought or sold in Australia must meet these standards. But if you want to double-check, look for the sticker on the back of the car seat that should read: AS/NZS 1754.

Every car seat needs to be:

• Suited to your child’s size (regardless of age)
• Be correctly installed in your vehicle (using anchors)
• Have the straps adjusted to your childs specific needs

2. What Car Seat Do I Need for What Age?

Regardless of a child’s age, place them in the car seat that is best suited to their size! You can tell when a child is starting to outgrow a car seat when your child reaches the shoulder height marks on the car seat.

Newborn – Six Months of Age

For newborns through to six months of age, you must use a rear-facing baby car seat that has been anchored.

Six Months – Four Years of Age

Kids aged from six months old to four years of age must use a forward-facing car seat with an in-built harness and anchors. You can also choose to have the seat rear-facing if you wish.

Four Years – Seven Years of Age

From aged four years through to seven years of age, you must use either a car seat or booster seat that has been properly anchored.

Ages Seven and Up

For kids ages seven years and up, they can either use a booster seat or car seat if it still fits them, alternatively, you can use a child safety harness or a standard seatbelt. But again, it is up to a child’s size, not age. So if they are still small enough to fit in a booster seat – keep them safe in the booster seat until they grow out of it.

3. Where is the Safest Place in My Vehicle to Place My Child?

The safest place in your vehicle is the very back row (if you have a seven-seater) or in the middle of the back seat for most cars. The reason the middle is the safest place is that it is the furthest away from any potential impacts. However, if you have more than one child that isn’t possible.

Remember that most modern cars are built to withstand side impacts, and the sheer safety of car seats now means that even if your child is seated next to the window, they are as safe as they can be!

List of the Best Kids Booster Seats in Australia

1. Nuna Aace Booster Seat

• Suitable for ages 4 – 8 Years
• Australia’s only 5-Star Booster
• Weight: 6.75kg

The Nuna Aace Booster Seat is the safest booster seat on the market with Australia’s only 5-star rating for a booster seat. It has 8 different height adjustments in the headrest, three different ‘depths’, that gives growing legs extra support.

The Nuna Booster Seat is also slimline so if you have two or three car seats in the back of the car, you will have plenty of room.

Reviewers say that the booster seat is easy to install, is compact, affordable and easy to use. The only con’s I found was that it doesn’t have a lockable recline adjustment.

2. Britax Safe-n-Sound Kid Guard

• Suitable for ages 4 – 10 Years
• Weight 7.25kg

The Safe-n-Sound Kid Guard Booster Seat will suit your child until they are 135cm. It has expandable lower side wings and an extendable seat base so it grows with your child. The headrest has 9 different adjustment points.

It has a slimline design so perfect for smaller vehicles or multiple seats – you could easily fit three of these across your back seat.

It’s no secret that I’m a fan of the Britax Brand, it is all I used for my boys as I saw how they were made at the factory and the safety testing involved on all of their products.

3. Mothers Choice Levi Convertible Booster Seat

• Suits ages 12 months to 8 years
• Good choice for smaller vehicles

This booster seat has two different ‘modes’ one for Toddlers (from 12 months to 4 years of age) and then the booster mode when the child’s shoulders reach the middle height marker. The seat headrest then extends to suit your child’s size.

A narrow booster seat so is suitable for smaller vehicles or multiple car seats. It has two cup holders, a machine washable cover. This booster seat has Canstar approval.

BUT: There were a few negative reviews of this seat, mainly due to the lack of padding which made it uncomfortable for some children. It was also one of the most expensive booster seats on the market.

4. Infasecure Emerge Caprice

• Suitable for ages 12 months – 8 years
• Weight is 9kg

This is a booster seat that is really going to last, and last, and last! Suitable from ages 12 months through to a large 8-year-old, this hard-working booster seat will pay for itself over its life.

Has a six-point harness for safety, a ‘Twist & Lift’ one-handed headrest and harness adjustment so you can get your child’s perfect fit in seconds. It has a gradual recline for sleeping and a very strong blow moulded shell. The only negatives I could find were that some users found the ‘uprightness’ of the car seat to be uncomfortable for their child>

5. Maxi Cosi Rodi Booster Seat

• Suitable for ages 4 years +
• Colours: Cabernet and Nomad Black
• Comes with a lifetime warranty

The Maxi Cosi Rodi Booster Seat was created with safety in mind. It has a two-position recline (for comfort when your child falls asleep) and offers the latest state of the art technology with side protection – which reduces the risk of head injury by 35!.

Lightweight so if you have to move the booster seat from car to car, you can do that with ease.

The only negatives of this booster seat are that your child may grow out of it before they turn 8, and it doesn’t come with a mat to protect your car seat.

6. Britax Safe-n-Sound Tourer Booster Seat

• Suitable for ages 4 – 8 years
• Unique Design
• Budget Price
• Weight 1.83kg

This booster car seat is lightweight and used with the standard three-point seatbelt making it very easy to use and a good transition from ‘little kid’ to ‘big kid’. The Tourer Booster Seat has a ‘Slideguard’ clip that stops the seatbelt from rising up. It is a comfortable and safe seat that will absorb any force endured in an accident.

The perfect booster seat for Grandma’s car!

7. Mothers Choice Zeal Booster 4 – 8 Years

• Suitable for ages 4 – 8 Years
• Slimline Fit for Small Cars
• Weight: 4.2kg

The Mothers Choice Zeal Booster has ‘Air Protect’ side impact protection, wicking fabric to keep your child cool, the headrest extends 5 positions and two swing-out cup holders.

The cover is machine washable (yay cause they get damn filthy) and there are armrests to keep your child comfortable. A comfortable, compact booster seat that would suit the budget-minded or Grandma’s car.

8. Joie Trillo Booster Seat

• Suitable for ages 4 – 8 Years
• Well Priced

The Joie Trillo Booster Seat is suitable for a 4 – 8-year-old or 15kg through to 30kg child. It has a seven-point heigh adjustment (so will last your child a long time as they grow) and has an extra anchor point to help keep the seat in place and added safety.

The booster seat has a ‘head to hip’ side impact protection and luxury ventilated memory foam for comfort. It also has armrests and hide-away cup holders.