Picking a Booster Seat

i've also been booster seat shopping and there's a consumer website (not consumer reports, but can't remember it right now) out there that tests safety and general consumer preference, and i've seen that the graco turbo booster is rated very highly. i think when it's time for us to purchase them, that's the kind we'll get.
good luck on your search!

Most boosters sit on top of the seat. I know it is an expensive seat, but I just bought the Britax Frontier and LOVE it, it does attach by the latch and top teather. The seat is wonderful, and my daughter loves it. When we brought it home she would asked to be buckled in it in the living room and would sit in that thing for 2 hours at a time. They also go up to over 100 lbs and I can't remember the height but there are pics on line of a 5th grader fitting in to it just fine. I know it is an expensive seat, but if you get the 20% off coupons from Babies R us and watch for a special you can get it for around $170. That is what I did.

we have been looking at booster seats for my 3 year old.
I still want her in a 5 point harness.. Britax makes a couple of seats that have a higher height/weight limit. but they are very expensive... The Britax frontier goes up to 80 pounds ..But it is super heavy..like 25 pounds.. And we would need 4 of these seats.. (2 kids x 2 cars...= $1,000)

I am thinking about getting the safety first vantage. I saw it at walmart for $89.50 it is a new seat that has a 5 point harness and uses the latch (the latch is a new requirement so all seats and boosters with a back should have latch.)

The safety first vantage seat goes up to 52 inches and 80 or 100 pounds so it should last until the child is 8 years old .

It is much safer to have the kids in a 5 point harness. So I want mine in a 5 point harness as long as possible..

Boosters are just that, a boost. They sit on top of the seat to make the child the height that the seat belts were designed to hit. So, no latch. We use the Graco Turbo and LOVE IT. We also have a Graco Nautilus, which is a seat that has the 5-pt harnass until 65lb. It uses latch hooks until the child is 45 lbs, then the seat belt to hold it in place until 65 lbs or when you decide to use the seat as a booster (which it converts to). Love them both - my little man was not quite 3 when he was too bit for the standard car seat and we wanted options. Feel free to ask me any questions you have about either seat!

I recently moved my daughter to a booster seat. I waited as long as I could because I really liked having the 5point harness. She weighs about 38lbs and just turned 4, she was also too tall for her car seat.
I bought the Graco Turbo Boost which does have the removable back so eventually it will be a backless booster once she is taller. I was nervous about having her just in the seat belt but it is working great and she loves it. I would recommend the Graco to anyone. Also you asked about the latch, no there is no latch it just sits on the seat and you use the shoulder strap seat belt. I got my booster at KMart when it was on sale and it was only $40, I think they normally run about $60.
Good luck.

I have both a graco and an evenflo booster seat. I really prefer the graco seat.... It seems easier to use and more sturdy. They do make car seats that convert to booster seats to accomadate children up to 100 lbs. I have one that is an Eddy Baurer. Otherwise, the booster seats do not attach with the latch system, they just use the seatbelt.

In my opinion, I did it all wrong with a booster seat. If I could go back I would have picked a booster seat that the back can come off of when they are taller and turn into a backless booster. I know that Graco makes them, I not sure what other one does. Look for functionality and long term use. As far as attaching, they sit on top of the seat and are buckled in with the regular vehicle seat belt. Most require a shoulder belt though, so if you don't have shoulder belts in your car, you'll want to look for ones that will work without.