Choosing a booster and IIHS ratings

I need help choosing a booster for ds. He is 47 pounds and I think 44 inches, I will have to double check the height. He's 4.3, but this will be my back up seat. He rides harnessed in a frontier ( hate it) which of course in unmovable and installed for life, so I need a back up. It's not something he will be using right away but I want to start thinking about what I want. The most important thing is fit, and keeping in mind he's a younger rider. I looked at the IIHS ratings, I want something from best bets category. So my short list is

Maxi Cosi Rodi XR
Recaro Vivo - I'm afraid this looks a little narrow? Or is it my perception? I'm thinking ahead with this concern
Recaro Young Style - Can't find this anywhere, is still made? not sure about the price on this one

I believe those were the only HBB's on the list, other than the Frontier, which I've already got. I'd love suggestions. Anything you can tell me about those boosters or any others I might be missing, that you like. I really love the SG feature on the Parkway...but thought if I'm going to pay that much, I would get something from the best bets list. Or do you think I"m putting too much weight on those ratings? Sorry for all the questions!

Welcome.

I think you're putting too much on the ratings. They're a great guide, but not the be all and end all. The Parkway SG I don't think was out in time to be tested. However, if it fits YOUR child, then great (and it fits most kids just fine). Your child isn't crash test dummy shaped, so no guarantee the best fits will fit him.

We recommend the Graco Turbobooster, Recaro Vivo, and Parkway SG for a small kid. The Young Style isn't made anymore, the Vivo is its replacement.

Wendy

Right. The IIHS list doesn't rate safety (per se), it rates fit. The way a booster fits your child is EXTREMELY important, but the key there is "your child." Unless your child has the exact same proportions as a 6-year-old-sized crash-test dummy, your results may vary.

The most important thing is that the lap belt sits low, touching the thighs, and that the shoulder belt crosses the middle of the shoulder--not the neck and not hanging off the arm.

I don't have my notes close, but last year at our update one group was telling us how they did their ratings. It was one that does easy of use. They got a group of techs together and handed them seats and asked them to rank them. The gal said even though they were tech, lots of the seats were totally new to them. I doubt most fequent this board. I might be wrong though. So, I might look at it a little, but not to much.

We have a son about the same age and size. DH just bought an extended cab. We needed a seat for ds for in there. His Husky won't fit, because we need 3 across. We got a turbo. Ds liked the pattern and it was on sale at Target for $45. We owned 3 turbos for our 2 older kids and liked them. He will only ride in the truck when we pull the camper over the summer.

The IIHS tests are very general. They test with an average sized dummy in four typical seating configurations and assess how well the belts fit. There is no actual crash test or real world statistics involved. That's still a good starting point for parents, especially if you look at how the belts should fit. The problem is that any particular booster might fit better or worse with your child, in your vehicle. Unfortunately, the only way to know for sure is to try it at a store or get a good return policy. That said, my impression is that many of the higher rated models do tend to work better in a wider variety of situations than some lower rated ones. The design of the belt guides does have an effect.

Anyway, don't limit yourself to "Best Bets". The "Good Bets" are all worthy of consideration, too. The main thing you might take from the ratings is that if you buy a model that is not recommended or not listed, just be sure to check the fit carefully. It might well work fine for you, but it might not!

For example, one thing that they don't consider at all is that some booster shoulder belt guides can "catch" the shoulder belt, depending on where the vehicle shoulder belt retractor is located. If a child leans forward or pulls on the belt and it doesn't retract, that could be a very serious safety issue also. Even the highest rated boosters may have this problem in some vehicle seating positions, though many do pretty well in most vehicles.