So, your little one isn't a baby anymore, which is why they now need one of these high-backed booster seats. Gone are the days they could be transported to and from the house snuggled up in their baby car seat. Now, they are an independent self-acclaimed big kid who wants to be treated as such.
Probably by now, they have grown out of their toddler car seat, and you may be wondering what the next step is. After all, children in the UK are legally required to sit in a car or booster seat until they are 12 years old. Fear not, we are here to help.
The best high-backed booster seats at a glance:
• Best high-backed booster seat: Joie Baby i-Trillo FX Children's Car Seat -Buy now from Halfords
• Best for older children: Maxi-Cosi Rodifix AirProtect Children's Car Seat - Buy now from Maxi Cosi
• Best lightweight car seat: Graco Junior Maxi Lightweight High Back Booster Car Seat - Buy now from Halfords
• Best for Disney fans: Nania High Back Booster Seat BEFIX Group 2/3 - Buy now from Amazon
High-backed booster seats are perfect for school-aged children and beyond - most will last until your child no longer requires one. Some have side impact protection, and others have 5-point harnesses to keep them safe. We've put together a list of the very best options for you to peruse; check them out below.
The best high-backed booster seats 2024
Best high-backed booster seat
www.halfords.com
Description
The i-Trillo FX is a brilliant booster seat which can be used once your child reaches 15kg. Parents can rest assured that their child is safe and sound with isofix connectors, belt guides, extra protection for head, body and hips, and a well-padded memory foam seat. You will never need another car seat for your little one as this will last until they are 12 years old. Two cup holders, lightweight, reclining options and easy to install - just some of the additional reasons we love this choice.
Reviews: Reviews are overwhelmingly positive for the i-Trillo FX and focus heavily on the fact that it's well padded and easy to adjust as the child grows. Reviewers say it's easy to clean and many report that their little ones like the cup holders and comfort.
Pros
- Added safety protections
- Lightweight
- well-cushioned with memory foam seat
- Isofix
- Three reclining positions
Cons
- Only two colours available
Best for design
Description
We love Cosatto car seats because of their fabulous designs, which makes them stand out in a sea of mono and duo-tone competitors. Regardless of your kid's style, there is something for everyone, from rainbows to sea monsters and unicorns. The best news for parents is these covers are machine washable. Add in Isofix connectors, cup holders and three reclining options, and this is a good group 2/3 car seat.
Reviews: Reviewers and their children unsurprisingly love the imaginative design range of this car seat, but also rate the adjustability of the headrest and impact protection, which grows with the child. It is a wide seat, so be mindful of checking the size in relation to your car before purchasing as some reviewers have found the seat covers the belt connector.
Pros
- Brilliant patterns
- Side-impact protection
- Reclines, which many car seats for older children do not
Cons
- It's a wide car seat so might not be the best fit for smaller cars
Best for colour options
Description
The Cybex Silver Solution X-Fix Child's Car Seat has received rave reviews from Amazon buyers. The Cybex Silver Solution car seat can be installed with ISOFIX and without. It has an adjustable headrest and reclining options and is available in six colours. An easy to install, comfortable and relatively stylish car seat from a leading brand at a reasonable price-point.
Reviews: The reclining options and headrest adjustability were highly rated by reviewers, particularly for long journeys when children fall asleep but still need the head and neck support. Cybex is known for high quality design and safety testing and the high number of rave reviews support that. There is no cup holder, which other brands often have.
Pros
- Forward-facing
- Six colour choices
- Reclines, which some car seats for older children do not
- adjustable headrest for safety and comfort
- It can be installed with belt or isofix
Cons
- no cup holder
Best for older children
www.maxi-cosi.co.uk
Description
Perhaps one of the best high-backed booster seats for safety features, the Maxi-Cosi RodiFix AirProtect will fit any car that has ISOFIX. The AirProtect design in the headrest absorbs shock in the event of impact. The two reclining positions, sleeping or upright, ensures comfort on long journeys and helps prevent head rolling when the child is asleep.
Reviews: reviewers highly rate this group 2/3 seat for ease of installation and comfort. Mum Robyn said: "Maxi-Cosi is a trusted brand and so we felt reassured by that, particularly in terms of safety. I have no complaints about installation and my son was very comfortable, even on long trips. However, there's an annoying rubbing sound from the styrofoam in the headrest when driving and this doesn't seem to improve when you adjust the height of the headrest."
Pros
- Easy-to-follow belt guide
- Adjustable back and headrest - grows with the child
- AirProtect design feature in the headrest to minimise the shock of impact
Cons
- Only two reclining positions
- Some reviewers report a squeaky sound from the headrest
Best for comfort
www.johnlewis.com
Description
German designed and tested, you can be sure this high-backed booster seat is up to the job of keeping your child safe. It has a shock-absorbing chin-to-chest foam pad that offers unique protection for the neck and chest. The Secure Guard is an optional fourth point in the standard three-point buckle system to help protect your little one's delicate tummy.
It's at the higher end of the price range, but some of the design and safety features are unique. One very useful design feature for parents of three children, is that three of these seats can be installed side-by-side in a wide range of family cars - no mean feat!
Reviews: Reviewers found this to be a brilliant car seat overall but some reported difficulty adjusting the harness. The harness pads also can't be removed for washing without removing the harness first. The vast majority of reviewers say the seat is sturdy, comfortable and stylish. Some mention it's slim enough to fit into smaller vehicles comfortably.
Pros
- Added chest and stomach protection
- Three of these seats can be installed side by side in many family cars
- Super comfy
Cons
- no cup holders
Best lightweight car seat
www.halfords.com
Description
The Graco Junior Maxi has a one-hand, adjustable headrest, which allows parents to quickly and easily adjust the height of the headrest as the child grows. The armrests are also height-adjustable for comfort. Not only is it great value being one of the least expensive options in our selection, but it is one of the lightest car seats in our round-up, meaning it can easily be switched from car to car. However, it doesn't come with isofix.
Reviews: It may not boast high-end features, but the huge number of positive reviews on Amazon from verified buyers indicate that this is a great choice for a budget price.
Pros
- Affordable
- Lightweight
- There are cup holders
Cons
- Only available in two colours
- No isofix
- Less cushioning than other more expensive options
Best for grandparents
www.boots.com
Description
As the name suggests, this car seat is easy to store and transport, making it a fabulous car seat for grandparents and part-time carers. The Fold&Go has isofix connectors and reclines to four different positions. The height and backrest can independently be adjusted for maximum comfort and there is an additional fourth point to the standard three-point buckle for tummy protection in the event of a collision.
Reviews: Reviewers loved the portability of this car seat and the fact that it can be folded and stored away in the house or boot of the car. What's great, they said, is that safety considerations haven't been compromised to achieve the foldability. However, a few reviews mention it's a bulky car seat once in-situ.
Pros
- Foldable for easy portability and storage
- Designed to keep the belt in the right position
- Removable side safety system
- Isofix
- Four-position reclining
Cons
- Quite bulky
Best bargain car seat
www.halfords.com
Description
If you are looking to bag a bargain with one of the best high-backed booster seats, this car seat from Halfords is the car seat for you. Although it is not the most comfortable option given it has less padding than others and doesn't recline, it is safe. It comes with cup holder and machine washable cover.
Reviews: It's clear that those who have bought this car seat think highly of it. Some are disappointed it doesn't have isofix, but on the whole the reviews state that it's easy to install, comfortable, economical and safe. Plus it's from a reliable High Street retailer that will help you fit it correctly.
Pros
- Affordable
- Washable cover
- easy to install
Cons
- Comfort isn't as good as others on this list
- no isofix
Best for Disney fans
Description
Now that your little one is a little older, they are likely to have some firm favourite film characters. This car seat is great for little Disney film fans. Whether it's Elsa and Ana or Lighting McQueen or Buzz Lightyear, there are some fantastic options. We love that your little ones will be excited to get into their car seat and will be secure for the duration of their journey thanks to side impact protection, adjustable headrest and three-point harness.
Reviews: The unique selling point of this car seat is undoubtedly the child-focussed covers, which parents say their children love. Parents themselves are pleased with the adjustability, head support and affordable price tag. Some reviewers say the padding is minimal, making it uncomfortable for longer journeys.
Pros
- Toddler-friendly design
- Tested to ECE R44/04 standard
- economical price
- no isofix
Cons
- Not as padded as others
Best multi-stage without ISOFIX
www.johnlewis.com
Description
The Elevate from Joie can be used from as young as one year old until secondary school. It has ten headrest positions to ensure your child's comfort and safety - in fact, a huge amount of emphasis has been placed on cushioning.
For simplicity of use, the headrest and harness operate together, so you don't have to re-thread the harness when you adjust the chair for growth. Once your child no longer needs a five-point harness at approximately 15kg, it can be tucked away, and the seatbelt can be used.
Reviews: Reviewers were very happy with the quality of the build and the comfort of the seat, commenting on its high level of padding. They felt it was a very safe seat and liked the additional features such as the cup holder. However, some reviewers wished a reclining option had been incorporated into the design.
Pros
- Easy to install
- Great cushioning for comfort
- 10-position adjustable headrest for growth
- full impact protection for the head and upper body
Cons
- Harness can be a tight fit
- no recline option
- no isofix
Car seat guide
To help determine which of the best high-backed booster seats your little one needs, you should be looking for their 'stage group' based on their weight rather than their age. The stage groups for little ones are broken down as follows under ECE R44 regulations with different seat designs as a result.
It's recommended that you should try to keep your child in the lowest stage group for as long as possible to give them the optimal safety features.
Group 0+/1 car seats: Suitable from birth to 18kg, approx. four-years-old.
Group 1 car seats: Suitable for children 9-18kg, approx. nine months to four years old.
Group 0+/1/2 car seats: Suitable from birth to 25kg, approx. six-years-old.
Group 1/2/3 car seats: Suitable for children 9-36kg, approx. nine months to 12 years.
2/3 car seats: Suitable for children 15-36kg, approx. three to 12 years old.
i-Size car seats: Expected to eventually be adopted across all new car seats sold, i-Size was introduced in 2013 as safety regulation ECE R129 with rigorous testing through impact crash trials and new state-of-the-art Q dummies to test impact.
Using a height-based system, i-Size car seats have been designed to take the guesswork out of choosing the right fit, provide better protection from side impacts, and keep children rearward-facing for longer, until at least 15 months or 75cm to protect their fragile heads and necks.
When should a child be in a high-back booster seat?
High-back booster seats, also known as Group 2/3 car seats, are suitable from 15kg. Most high-back boosters state that they are suitable from the age of four. However, you should always go by a child's weight rather than age.
Unlike baby and toddler car seats, these booster seats do not have an internal harness and are instead secured by the car's seat belt. So, it is a good idea to try and keep them in an infant car seat until they meet the maximum weight. Scroll down for our full car seat size guide.
Is a high-back booster safer than a backless booster?
A high-back booster seat is safer than a backless booster or a booster cushion. And there are three main reasons why.
Firstly, a high-back booster has potentially life-saving protection for your child's torso and head against side impacts. In this way, it is more similar to a car seat than a backless booster that just ensures your child is seated at the correct height for a car seat belt.
Speaking of which, high-backed boosters have guides that ensure that the belt is in the correct position for your child's height. Also, a high-back booster can recline, whereas backless seats cannot. As we all know, little ones love sleeping in the car. High-back booster seats stop your little one from slouching forward and causing injuries.
It's also worth knowing that based on new safety regulations launched in 2017, Group 3 car seats, i.e. new backless booster seats on the market, are limited to children who are taller than 125cm and weigh more than 22kg. Previously, these car seats were approved for use by children weighing between 15-36kg, but they've been deemed by the UN as being unsuitable for protecting smaller children from side-on collisions as they have fewer safety features.
Does a five-year-old need a five-point harness?
A five-point harness offers the maximum protection in a car seat. However, once your child weighs 18kg, the harness should be replaced by the seatbelt to ensure optimal safety. If you are unsure, always check the manufacturer's guides on the car seat.
What is ISOFIX?
For a car seat that's seamless to install, ISOFIX is a must. ISOFIX-compatible car seats have two arms that lock onto small metal bars located in the seat of your vehicle to anchor the car seat into place. Plus, they're accompanied by install indicators, so you can be sure it's correctly connected.
Most new cars since 2013 have a pair of ISOFIX anchor points. But it's something worth checking in your car if you want to reap the benefits.
Hannah James is a Parenting and Lifestyle Writer working across Mother&Baby, Yours and Grazia. As a mother of three, Hannah lives, breathes and consumes all things family orientated.