Dedicated Booster Seats

A note about boosters: 

In order for a child to be properly protected by the adult seat belt, they must be a minimum of 40 lbs AND developmentally mature enough to remain seated properly at ALL times, even when sleeping. Some kids are ready at 5, many by 6, and almost all by 7. If your child has outgrown their harnessed seat by height or weight but is not yet developmentally ready for a booster, look at a higher weight harnessed seat with tall top harness slots.

When transitioning to a booster, we prefer to see children in high back boosters; it gives many a better sense of security, provides head support while sleeping, often provides better shoulder belt fit, and in vehicles without head support, is required for adequate head and neck support. Booster seats require a lap/shoulder belt and can never be used with a lap-only belt.

High-back boosters have head support and belt guides to position the shoulder belt.  Backless boosters, do not have head support and a child must have in-vehicle head support up to at least the tops of the ears. Approximate torso height is indicated by highest shoulder belt guide measurement but note that kids fit into seats quite differently and looking at a measurement should only be a starting point.

Not sure if your child is ready This article might help you decide, or for a quicker read maybe this one.

If you are shopping online, consider shopping via our affiliate links with Amazon.ca. Thank you.

Booster Seats (in no particular order)

Chicco KidFit (read a review here)

  • ~$230 at Toys R Us, Best Buy, Walmart, Amazon
  • can be used as a high back or backless booster
  • 40 -110 lb weight range, 38″-57″ height range
  • approximate top shoulder guide measurement: 19.5″
  • does not need vehicle seat back/head restraint support behind it in high back mode; back of the booster must sit flush against the vehicle seat without interference from the vehicle head rest 
  • latchable with premium push-on UAS connectors; must be buckled up in high back mode when not in use even if connected to the vehicle with UAS
  • includes a shoulder belt clip for backless mode
  • expires 8 years from date of manufacture 

Graco Turbo Booster

  • ~$80-$108 depending on cover option, at Toys R Us, Canadian Tire, Walmart, Amazon
  • can be used as a high back or backless booster
  • 40 -100 lb weight range, 43″-57″ height range
  • approximate top shoulder guide measurement: 19.75″
  • does not need vehicle seat back/head restraint support behind it in high back mode
  • is not latchable – buckle up empty boosters
  • expires 10 years from date of manufacture

Evenflo GoTime Sport/LX Booster (read a review here)

  • ~$80-$100 at Toys R Us, Canadian Tire, Walmart, Best Buy, Amazon
  • can be used as a high back or backless booster
  • 40 -120 lb weight range, 44″-57″ height range
  • approximate top shoulder guide measurement: 19″
  • does not need vehicle seat back/head restraint support behind it in high back mode
  • is not latchable – buckle up empty boosters
  • includes a shoulder belt clip for backless mode
  • expires 6 years from date of manufacture

Britax Skyline & Highpoint 2-Stage Booster (read a review here)

  • $170 (Skyline) and $250 (Highpoint) at Amazon, Babies R Us, specialty retailers; see comparison chart here (scroll down).
  • original version did not become backless but current ones do; check packaging and description carefully for “2-stage” in the product name
  • 40 -120 lb weight range, 44″ – 63″ height range in high back mode 
  • 48 – 120 lb weight range, 46″ – 63″ height range in backless mode
  • approximate top shoulder guide measurement: 21.5″
  • Highpoint has SecureGuard clip at crotch for lap belt to route through, in addition to external impact cushions
  • does not need vehicle seat back/head restraint support behind it in high back mode
  • latchable with premium push-on UAS connectors
  • expires 10 years from date of manufacture

Graco TurboBooster Grow with RightGuide Seat Belt Trainer

  • ~$230 at Babies R Us
  • can be used as a high back, backless booster, and RightGuide is removable to use as a “seat belt trainer”
  • 40 -100 lb weight range, 43″-57″ height range for high back mode
  • 40 – 110 lb weight range, 43″-57″ height range for backless mode
  • 50 – 120 lb weight range, 43″-60″ height range for RightGuide Seat Belt Trainer
  • approximate top shoulder guide measurement: 20″ with RightGuide in place, 20.5″ with RightGuide removed
  • does not need vehicle seat back/head restraint support behind it in high back mode
  • latchable with push-on UAS connectors
  • includes a shoulder belt clip for backless mode; shoulder belt clip is mandatory for RightGuide Seat Belt Trainer
  • expires 10 years from date of manufacture

Clek Oobr 

  • ~$399-$489 depending on the cover option, at specialty retailers, Babies R Us
  • can be used as a high back or backless booster
  • 40 -100 lb weight range, 40″-57″ height range
  • approximate top shoulder guide measurement: 21″
  • does not need vehicle seat back/head restraint support behind it in high back mode
  • latchable with premium push-on rigid UAS connectors
  • expires 9 years from date of manufacture

Harmony Dreamtime Elite / Dreamtime Elite with UAS

  • ~$70 at Walmart; Dreamtime Elite with UAS ~$120 at Canadian Tire 
  • can be used as a high back or backless booster
  • 40 -110 lb weight range, 34″-57″ height range
  • approximate top shoulder guide measurement: 19.5″
  • does not need vehicle seat back/head restraint support behind it in high back mode
  • only the Dreamtime Elite with UAS is latchable – buckle up empty boosters without UAS
  • includes a shoulder belt clip for backless mode
  • expires 6 years after the date of manufacture

Peg Perego Viaggio Flex 120

  • ~$350-$380 at Babies R Us, specialty retailers
  • high back booster only
  • 40 -120 lb weight range, 39″-63″ height range
  • approximate top shoulder guide measurement: 23″ (requires 1″ between top of child’s shoulder and the shoulder guide)
  • requires vehicle head restraint support behind it
  • latchable with premium push-on rigid UAS connectors
  • has a narrow mode making it more likely to fit in narrower 3 across situation (always try before you buy)
  • has a wide mode to accommodate children with broad shoulders
  • expires 12 years after the date of manufacture

Harmony Youth Booster Seat (read our ode to it here)

  • ~$20 at Walmart
  • backless booster only
  • 40 -100 lb weight range, 40″-57″ height range
  • narrow seat making it a good choice for 3-across or tight seating arrangements
  • is not latchable – buckle up empty boosters
  • includes a shoulder belt clip
  • expires 6 years after the date of manufacture

Graco TurboBooster Backless Booster 

  • ~$50 Amazon, Toys R Us, Walmart, Canadian Tire
  • backless booster only
  • 40 -100 lb weight range, 43″-57″ height range
  • is not latchable – buckle up empty boosters
  • expires 10 years after the date of manufacture

Chicco GoFit / GoFit Plus 

  • ~$100 at Walmart, Canadian Tire, Best Buy, Amazon, specialty retailers; GoFit Plus ~$128 at Babies R Us, specialty retailers 
  • backless booster only
  • 40 -110 lb weight range, 38″-57″ height range
  • only the GoFit Plus is latchable with premium push-on UAS connectors – buckle up empty boosters without UAS
  • includes a shoulder belt clip
  • expires 8 years after the date of manufacture

Harmony Dash Booster

  • ~$25 at Canadian Tire
  • backless booster only
  • 40 -100 lb weight range, 43″-57″ height range
  • is not latchable – buckle up empty boosters
  • includes a shoulder belt clip
  • relatively narrow making it more likely to fit in narrower 3 across situation (always try before you buy)
  • expires 6 years after the date of manufacture

Clek Ozzi or Olli Boosters

  • ~$100-140 at specialty retailers (Ozzi available at Canadian Tire)
  • backless booster only
  • 40 -120 lb weight range, 40″-57″ height range
  • latchable with rigid UAS
  • Olli has quick release strap at front of seat to disengage UAS
  • expires 9 years after the date of manufacture

Diono Solana

  • ~$35-45 depending on the cover option and $80 for a 2-pack at Canadian Tire, Amazon, specialty retailers
  • backless booster only
  • 40 -120 lb weight range, 38″-63″ height range
  • is not latchable – buckle up empty boosters
  • wider seat option for kids needing more hip room (always try before you buy)
  • expires 8 years after the date of manufacture

Diono Solana 2

  • ~$80 at Canadian Tire, Walmart, Babies R Us, Amazon, specialty retailers
  • backless booster only
  • 40 -120 lb weight range, 38″-63″ height range
  • latchable with UAS connectors
  •  widest seat on our list; great for kids needing more hip room, but it does take up a lot of room on the vehicle seat and may block the seatbelt buckle in some vehicles (always try before you buy)
  • expires 8 years after the date of manufacture