Which Car Booster Seat Do You Like?

i know everyone will start off by saying how much they love britax (which is a awesome line of car seats!) i personally use the cosco alpha omega (which goes up to 100lbs) for my 13mo old daughter. anyways i was looking at car seats that are in the price range that you stated and these where the ones i would suggest to you. i think it would be best to keep your son in a booster with a 5 point harness as long as possible.good luck i hope you find a suitable seat!
the first one is the cosco gothem high back booster-
http://www.target.com/Cosco-Gotham-High-Back-Booster/dp/B...

and the second one is the evenflo chase dxl high back booster-
http://www.target.com/Evenflo-Chase-DLX-Booster-Seat/dp/B...

We too are Britax fans, I have 2 Regents now. JMO but NO 3yr old should be in a plain booster. They still need a 5pt harness since they cannot comprehend the great importance for a seatbelt and keeping it in the right position. Plus the fact that they are just too small for a big booster, it doesn't hold them in the seat very well. If you do a little searching there are several seats that are now available in a 5pt with higher weight limits. Graco just came out with one called the Nautilus 3-in 1? Walmart has it for $150. It holds kids from 20lbs-65lbs. It is not near as comfortable as a Britax but that may not be an issue for you as a second seat.

All that being said, the best seat is the one that fits your car best and your child.

Please watch this video, and I think you might change your mind. After the video they have a link on the side where you can purchase a better carseat, if you need one donated they have those as well. Please just watch the video...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azgBhZfcqaQ

I don't recommend a booster for a 3yo. My 5 1/2 year old is still in a 5pt harness (Britax Regent). She'll stay in it as long as she can. I think it goes to 85lbs. I have a 3yo son and can't imagine him in a booster. (this is just my opinion).

I know you said it is just going to be an extra so I assume your son won't be riding in it much but please consider buying a 5pt harness seat.

Still want a booster or more info on your options, then check out: http://www.car-safety.org/ I think they give recommendations at this site.

M.

Sorry- this may be a little long!

I will start by offering this website: http://www.aap.org/family/carseatguide.htm has every carseat sold in the US listed at the bottom with the height/weight safety guidlines for each. That could help narrow your search. It also has aproximate price of each seat- Very helpful!

Now- I am a HUGE Britax fan! It is the only brand that my son has used other than the carrier kind. They are the top of the line for safety marks and comfort for the child. When DS out grew his Roundabout (convertable that goes to 40 lbs) at 26 M, all the seats I could find for "Forward facing youth seats" only used harness to 40 lbs, then dropped to belt positioning shoulder restraint. At TWO YEARS OLD, I was NOT ready to use the car seat buckle! We found the Britax Regent at that point. It goes to 80lbs and 4'5" always in 5 point harness. I liked the assurance that he would not outgrow it physically before I was ready to let him drop to one of those $40-$50 boosters. He is 3y 4m now and still does not complain obout getting "buckeled up" in his seat. 5 points is MUCH safer than a regular belt booster. So- overall, my advice would be buy the Regent as his everyday seat, and move the convertable to the extra car. I know that is about 3 times what you wanted to spend, but even if CA goes to the 8 years/80 lbs car seat law (which they are gearing up for) his seat will serve him all the way through.

If $$ Britax is not an option, use the site I gave you to see what seats do fit what you NEED in the seat at the $$ you can afford.