booster for Subaru Forester (2009)

U

Unregistered

Guest
We are transitioning our 7 year old to a booster seat (which uses a seat belt)- preferably one with a back that can become backless down the road. We purchased an Evenflo Big Kid Amp, but I find it is too wide to fit quite right in my 2009 Subaru Forester (even in a side position in the back seat) and so buckling it is tricky. Any suggestions for a narrower booster, and preferably one with Latch attachments so we don't have to buckle when he's not in it? We don't need to fit three across (only have one other son still in a convertible front facing seat in the other side position). My son is narrow himself, so fitting him in a narrow seat won't be a problem ;) Oh- and we prefer to not spend a fortune if there is a <$150 option.
 
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ketchupqueen

CPST and ketchup snob
Staff member
Can you tell us his weight and seated torso height?

The Graco Affix and Britax Parkway SG-L are both under $150 with LATCH and not exceptionally wide, but they have different fits and capacities, so info on your son's size would help us make better recommendations. :)
 
U

Unregistered

Guest
My son weighs just shy of 50 lbs, and seated torso is 16" to the top of his shoulders, 26" to the top of his head (kinda tall but slim).

I guess another question I have is whether the back makes that much of a difference safety wise. He has noticed most of his friends use backless boosters, and a not-very-nice comment from a friend has made him self-conscious of what he (and the "friend") call his "baby seat". We have headrests in the car, and he doesn't fall asleep often in the car anymore (but on rare occasion he may). My compromise was to go from the Britax Frontier he has been in (which I want to pass down to his little brother anyway) to a booster with a back and seatbelt until he was about 8, then go backless.
 

ketchupqueen

CPST and ketchup snob
Staff member
The back does tend to help kids stay in place while sleeping. Some studies show it makes a difference in side impacts and others show none. Belt fit is the most important thing, and a back can help a lot with that. With such a short torso, a backless is likely not to give ideal positioning in at least some vehicles. And he'd have quite a while to grow in most high back boosters. But I don't think backless at 8 is unreasonable.
 

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