This week's review :
Graco TurboBooster Car Seat
By Debbie Vasen
When the time arrived to transition my child to a booster car seat, I leaped forward with much anxiety. Double-checking her weight and height, I knew that she had outgrown the baby car seat she was currently using. My resistance came from the perception that her current seat held her more securely and thus more safely in the car. Sitting her little body into a booster and strapping on the adult sized seat belt made my heart race. All this anticipation caused me to spend excessive time researching the safety of various booster seats and helped me to decide on the TurboBooster by Graco.
While the TurboBooster is not the most deluxe older kid sized seat available, it provides the maximum safety for the cheapest price. The most significant feature is the open loop belt guide, enabling the car’s seat belt to easily slip through the opening and move as necessary. The guide places the shoulder belt correctly on the young child’s body and allows the strap to adjust and tighten as it would for an adult. Other types of boosters have clips as an alternative to hold the belt in place. Consumer Reports research concluded this design created resistance when the strap tightens in a crash situation. The open loop model of the TurboBooster also installs easier into a car by simply slipping the seatbelt in and out. Personally, we enjoyed how quickly we could move the booster back and forth between our different cars.
The TurboBooster will also grow with your child, as the backrest is height adjustable and removable allowing the booster seat to be used entirely backless. The booster base-only option is an advantageous feature for travel or operating with an older child who relies on the car’s headrest for neck support. The seat is comfortable, but not heavily cushioned or luxurious. If you desire a Cadillac of car seats, there are fancier options available for at least twice the price. The cushioned armrests and head padding of the TurboBooster did provide some additional comfort for long drives or a quick car nap.
My daughter’s favorite feature is the retractable cup holders. With one on each side, she can place a drink in one and snack in the other. As they hide away, they also construct a great place to stash coins, hair bands or other little necessities. As parents we appreciated the washable cover and the slim design allowing another car seat to easily sit next to the TurboBooster.
In conclusion, we found this booster to be a best buy for safety and durability. As a popular seat, we also discovered most of our friends and neighbors own one too.
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