What Car Booster Seats Are Effective?

Oct. 1, 2008 — -- For the first time ever, child booster seats that are used in cars have been put to the test.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, with the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, recently evaluated the effectiveness of 41 car booster seats and found that 13 did "such a poor job of improving the fit of lap and shoulder belts for children that the Institute doesn't recommend them at all."

Check out the full list below.

Booster Seat Evaluations by The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

Not Recommended

Safety Angel Ride Ryte backlessCosco/Dorel (Eddie Bauer) SummitGraco CarGo ZephyrEvenflo Big Kid ConfidenceCosco/Dorel TravelerCompass B505Compass B510Evenflo GenerationsDorel/Safety 1st (Eddie Bauer) ProspectCosco Highback BoosterCosco/Dorel Alpha OmegaEvenflo Chase Comfort TouchSafety 1st/Dorel Intera

Good BeltsGraco TurboBooster backless with clipFisher-Price Safe Voyage backless with clipCombi Kobuk backless with clipFisher-Price Safe VoyageBritax ParkwayLaRoche Bros. Teddy BearSafeguard Go backless with clipVolvo booster cushionRecaro Young StyleBritax Monarch

Good BeltsGraco TurboBoosterSafety Angel Ride RyteRecaro Young SportCombi KobukSafety 1st/Dorel Apex 65

Note: Unless the booster name indicates that it is a backless seat, all boosters are highbacks. Go to iihs.org for the full list of model numbers and manufacture dates.

For more information, check out the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's web site at http://www.iihs.org/.