Parents have been warned against buying eleven popular booster seats in this year’s report card from Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

In the second year of the ratings, the Institute took sixty seats out for a test, focusing on proper belt fit as its biggest criteria.

In a release listing where all sixty seats fell in the ratings, Institute Senior VP for Research Anne McCartt said the correct positions of the safety built is what really matters when picking a seat – rather than design features or price.

“Our ratings make it easier to pick a safer booster for kids who have outgrown child restraints,” McCartt says.

So what should you buy? Or better  yet, what should you avoid?

The real losers this year were three-in-one systems, which start out with restraints for young kids built in, then graduate to use as a booster with a car seatbelt. Half of the boosters that aren’t recommended are three=in-ones which the Institute says “leave the lap belt too high on the abdomen and the shoulder belt too far out on the shoulder.”

The Institute is recommending parents avoid a three-in-one set up entirely, despite the desire to save a little money by buying something that will last longer. If you have one already, the Insitute says keep it – “Any booster is better than none at all. Take a look at the belt fit, and if it’s not doing a good job replace it when you can with one that works better.” None are being recalled, and the Institute has no jurisidiction over recalls.

What to buy:

Best Bets:

Combi Dakota backless with clip, Recaro Young Sport highback (combination seat), Recaro Vivo highback, Maxi-Cosi Rodi XR dual-use highback, Evenflo Big Kid Amp backless with clip, Eddie Bauer Auto Booster dual-use highback, Cosco Juvenile Pronto dual-use highback, Britax Frontier highback (combination seat), and Clek Oobr dual-use highback.

Good Bets:

Combi Kobuk dual-use backless with shoulder belt clip, Maxi-Cosi Rodi dual-use highback, Evenflo Symphony 65 3-in-1, Britax Parkway SG dual-use highback, Graco TurboBooster SafeSeat Wander dual-use highback, and Graco TurboBooster SafeSeat Sachi dual-use highback.

NOT Recommended:

Harmony Secure Comfort Deluxe backless with clip, Combi Kobuk dual-use highback, Evenflo Express highback (combination), Eddie Bauer Deluxe highback (combination), and Evenflo Sightseer highback. Also on the list are 3-in-1s including the Safety 1st Alpha Omega Elite, Alpha Omega Elite, Eddie Bauer Deluxe 3-in-1, Safety 1st All-in-One, Alpha Omega Luxe Echelon, and Alpha Omega.

Image: Amazon (Oobr Booster Seat, one of the best bets)

Check out Babble’s own review of the Oobr.

More by this author:

• Half a Million Car Seats Recalled

• Another Baby’s Death Prompts Reissued Crib Recall

• Beware Old Recalls on Kid Products

• Just in Time for Winter Kids Boots Recalled

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