The short answer
The Britax Skyline is the high-back to look at first for a tall child (Britax lists it to 120 lb and 63 in, and IIHS rated the 2023 model a BEST BET for belt fit in high-back mode), the Evenflo GoTime LX is the value pick that Evenflo lists to 120 lb and 60 in for children at least 5, and the Diono Solana 2 XL is the backless booster for big kids (Diono lists 40–120 lb and 38–63 in; IIHS rated the 2023 model a BEST BET). Check your child’s height and weight against the seat’s label; we could not confirm that Amazon ships the IIHS-rated versions.
Our verdict
Our Top Picks
A large child still needs a booster until the adult seat belt fits, and a bigger, taller or wider child can outgrow a booster’s limits, or its armrests, before that happens. This guide compares seven seats sold on Amazon: six belt-positioning car boosters and one harness-to-booster seat. Each is certified to the federal car-seat standard, FMVSS 213: for six seats the maker says so in a manual or on its website, and the seventh, the Britax Skyline, appears in the American Academy of Pediatrics’ 2026 car-seat product listing, which lists only seats that meet FMVSS 213. Every seat limit below is the maker’s own figure, named as the maker’s; rules from NHTSA, the AAP and IIHS are credited to them. Before you buy, check your child’s height and weight against the seat’s label and manual. They are the limits that count.
Booster finder
Find the right booster for a big kid
Pick the kind of seat your child needs and a price tier. The suggestion is our editorial starting point, drawn from the seven seats below, not a test result. Check your child's height and weight against the seat's label before you buy.
Tiers are relative to the boosters in this guide; live prices are in the comparison table below.
Compare the picks
Compare the 7 Booster Seats
Every limit in this table is the maker’s, for the model we link, from the maker’s manual or website (linked in each review); “not stated” means the maker source we could read gives none. Limits can differ between production runs, so the label on your seat is what counts: check your child’s height and weight against it.
Britax SkylineTop Pick for Big KidsTall kids, high-backHigh-back to backless$139.99 Prime
Evidence: IIHS rated the Skyline introduced in 2023: BEST BET highback, Check Fit backless; the production version Amazon ships not confirmed
Evenflo GoTime LXBest Value High-BackHigh-back, budget, backless modeHigh-back to backless$55.99 Prime
Evidence: IIHS rated the GoTime LX introduced in 2023; whether the version sold now is that version is not confirmed
Diono Solana 2 XLBest Backless for Big KidsWide kids, backless, carpoolsBackless only$51.67 Prime
Evidence: IIHS rated the Solana 2 introduced in 2023; the listing is titled 2022 and the production version Amazon ships is not confirmed
Chicco KidFit ClearTex PlusEveryday 2-in-1, LATCHEveryday, high-back, backless modeHigh-back to backless$109.99 Prime
Evidence: IIHS rated KidFit Zip Plus and Zip Air (same KidFit base, per BabyGearLab); ClearTex Plus not listed
Cybex Solution G2Armrest-Free High-BackWide kids, high-back, storageHigh-back only$239.96 Prime
Evidence: BabyGearLab, this exact model
Graco TurboBooster 2.0CR-Rated Budget High-BackBudget, high-back, second carHigh-back to backless$69.99 Prime
Evidence: Consumer Reports, this exact model
Graco Nautilus 2.0 LXHarness First, Then BoosterHarness, younger big kids, backless modeHarness$219.99 Prime
Evidence: maker specs only, no independent test
Is Your Big Kid Ready for a Booster?
Size is not the same as readiness. A heavy 4- or 5-year-old may pass the 40 lb minimum that every maker here sets for at least one mode long before they can sit still in a booster, and a tall 9-year-old may still need one. The rules from the two bodies that set them are short:
- Harness first, to its limits. NHTSA: “Keep your child in a forward-facing car seat with a harness and tether until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer” (NHTSA). The American Academy of Pediatrics says the same: use a harnessed seat “for as long as possible—up to the highest weight or height allowed by their car safety seat manufacturer” (HealthyChildren.org). Some harness seats go to 65 lb; the Graco Nautilus 2.0 LX is one (Graco’s figure).
- Then a booster until the adult belt fits. NHTSA: “Keep your child in a booster seat until he or she is big enough to fit in a seat belt properly.” The AAP puts that point “typically when they have reached 4 feet 9 inches in height and are 8 to 12 years of age,” and adds that “most children will not fit in most vehicle seat belts without a booster until 10 to 12 years of age.”
- Back seat until 13. The AAP: “All children younger than 13 years should ride in the back seat.” NHTSA: keep your child “in the back seat at least through age 12.”
Weight does not decide when a child can leave the booster. The Car Seat Lady, a child passenger safety site, puts it plainly: “A child’s weight doesn’t factor into readiness to ride without a booster,” and a larger tummy can make it harder to keep the lap belt on the lap. To check whether the adult belt fits, use the 5-step test from Car Seats for the Littles, a site run by certified child passenger safety technicians. Seat your child without a booster. They can ride without one only when all five are true:
- The shoulder belt sits firmly across the middle of the shoulder, not the neck.
- The lap belt lies low on the hips, at the top of the thighs, not on the belly.
- Their bottom is all the way back against the vehicle seat.
- Their knees bend at the edge of the seat with feet on the floor.
- They can stay like that for the whole ride.
So should a 7-year-old be in a booster? Almost always yes, by the AAP’s 4’9″ guide, unless they still fit a harnessed seat within its maker’s limits.
How We Picked Boosters for Bigger Kids
How this guide was built
built from manufacturer documentation and published third-party reviews and ratings; we have not tested these products ourselves.
What we compared
- Belt-positioning car boosters only. Every pick is a high-back, backless or harness-to-booster seat certified to FMVSS 213, by its maker’s own statement or by the AAP’s product listing. No dining boosters, inflatable boosters or travel vests.
- Room to grow, by the maker’s numbers: the booster weight and height limits in the manual or on the maker’s site, since those decide how long a large child can stay in the seat.
- Room across the hips and shoulders: armrest-free designs, flexible sides and published or measured widths, attributed to whoever measured them.
- Independent evidence: IIHS belt-fit ratings where IIHS rated that model, or, flagged as such, a sibling on the same base; then Consumer Reports, BabyGearLab and Car Seats for the Littles on belt fit, ease of use and room.
- Stocked on Amazon: each pick was in stock, new and sold by Amazon.com when we checked.
Sources and what IIHS ratings mean and what we left out, and why
Sources and what IIHS ratings mean
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rated boosters from 2008 to 2024 and has now stopped (IIHS). Its BEST BET rating means, in IIHS’s words, “a booster provides good seat belt fit for typical 4- to 8-year-olds in almost any car, minivan or SUV”; a Check Fit seat has “varied results depending on child size and vehicle model” (IIHS, 2024). These were belt-fit evaluations, not crash tests: IIHS says its “ratings are based on how the belt fits when the vehicle is stationary,” measured on a dummy the size of an average 6-year-old (IIHS, 2022). A BEST BET is a good sign, but it says nothing direct about a 10-year-old who is 4’8″, so check the fit on your own child in your own car.
IIHS no longer publishes its per-model ratings list. We checked the IIHS releases we could read (its 2016 and 2017 Status Reports, its 2022 inflatable-booster release and its 2024 release). They name three of our models (Britax Skyline, Evenflo GoTime LX, Diono Solana 2, each as introduced in 2023, so check that your seat is that version) and two siblings of a fourth (Chicco KidFit Zip Plus and Zip Air). Some makers say on Amazon that their seats are IIHS BEST BETs; we cite only IIHS’s own lists. We also cite Consumer Reports and BabyGearLab on belt fit, ease of use and room, and Car Seats for the Littles on fit for the Skyline. One pick, the Nautilus 2.0 LX, rests on Graco’s manual plus Safe in the Seat’s spec listing, with no independent test. Each review’s Evidence line says which.
What we left out, and why
- A seat IIHS rated Check Fit. The Peg Perego Viaggio Flex 120 has high limits and no armrests, but IIHS rated it Check Fit in high-back mode in 2016 (IIHS Status Report), so we left it out.
- Inflatable boosters. In 2022 IIHS removed its BEST BET from two inflatable boosters (BubbleBum, Hiccapop UberBoost) after research pointed to “a greater risk that a child could slide under the lap belt” with a low-stiffness base (IIHS). Several travel lists, including the earlier version of this page, recommend them; we do not.
- Vests and belt adjusters. Travel vests are not boosters. The AAP calls add-on seat-belt adjusters “unapproved” and says they “should not be used” (HealthyChildren.org).
- Seats we did not find on Amazon. We did not find the Nuna AACE, Consumer Reports’ highest-rated booster and BabyGearLab’s top pick, or Diono’s Monterey line stocked on Amazon when we checked.
Detailed Reviews
Britax Skyline, Top Pick for Big Kids
Parents of a tall child who needs a high-back; check your child's height, weight and seated shoulder height against Britax's label first (seated shoulder height up to 21.5 in in high-back mode).
$139.99 from AmazonAs of Nov 10, 09:13 UTCVerdict
A high-back that Britax lists to 120 lb and 63 in; IIHS rated the 2023 model a BEST BET for belt fit in high-back mode and Check Fit in backless mode, so use it as a high-back.
Evidence: Independently reviewed, same series. IIHS booster ratings (2024): Skyline introduced in 2023, highback mode (backless mode rated Check Fit).
Britax lists the Skyline for children 40–120 lb and 44–63 in tall as a high-back booster, with a seated shoulder height of up to 21.5 in, and 48–120 lb and 46–63 in as a backless booster. Britax’s page gives no minimum age. The headrest has 10 positions, quick-push lower connectors hold the seat in place, and Britax gives its weight as 11 lb.
IIHS rated the Britax Skyline a BEST BET in highback mode in its 2024 release, but Check Fit in backless mode, meaning “varied results depending on child size and vehicle model.” That release covered models introduced in 2023, and we could not confirm which production version Amazon ships. Go by the limits on your seat’s label (Britax’s current figures give backless use from 48 lb); the label does not tell you whether yours is the version IIHS rated. Car Seats for the Littles reviewed an earlier production of the 2-stage Skyline, whose backless minimum was then 40 lb. Their 8-year-old model, 56 in and 80 lb, “fits him with room to grow,” though they found he had “approximately 1.5 inches of growth left before his shoulders touch the bottom of the headrest,” so Britax’s seated shoulder-height limit (up to 21.5 in) may end high-back use before the 63 in standing-height limit. They measured the seat at 16.5 in wide at the armrests, with 12 in of internal width at the child’s hips (earlier production).
Specs (linked: Skyline, Dusk)
Pros
- The tallest high-back limit here, 63 in, with 120 lb (Britax); only the backless Diono matches both
- IIHS BEST BET for belt fit in high-back mode (the 2023 model IIHS rated)
- 10-position headrest and lower connectors (Britax)
Cons
- IIHS rated the backless mode Check Fit, so it is best kept as a high-back
- Britax’s 48 lb backless minimum is higher than any other seat here (the rest start at 40 lb)
- The production version Amazon ships was not confirmed against IIHS’s 2023 rating
Who should buy it
Parents of a tall child who needs a high-back; check your child’s height, weight and seated shoulder height against Britax’s label first (seated shoulder height up to 21.5 in in high-back mode).
- Type: high-back booster, converts to backless; lower connectors
- Child limits (Britax): high-back 40–120 lb and 44–63 in; backless 48–120 lb and 46–63 in; minimum age not stated
- Headrest: 10 positions (Britax)
- Seat weight: 11 lb (Britax)
- Width: 16.5 in outside at the armrests; 12 in inside at the child’s hips (Car Seats for the Littles’ measurements, earlier production)
- Standard: listed in the AAP’s 2026 product listing of seats that meet FMVSS 213
- IIHS: BEST BET in highback mode, Check Fit in backless mode (2024)
- Expiration: 10 years (Britax)
- Price tier: $$
Evenflo GoTime LX, Best Value High-Back
Families with a school-age child (Evenflo's minimum is 5) who want a high-back that converts to backless for later; check your child's height and weight against Evenflo's label.
$55.99 from AmazonAs of Nov 10, 09:13 UTCVerdict
A low-priced high-back-to-backless booster that Evenflo lists to 120 lb and 60 in for children at least 5; IIHS rated the 2023 model a BEST BET in both modes, and the version sold now may differ.
Evidence: Independently reviewed, same series. IIHS booster ratings (2024): GoTime LX introduced in 2023, highback and backless modes (the AAP’s 2026 listing and Evenflo’s current manual give different limits; whether the version sold now is the one IIHS rated is not confirmed).
Evenflo’s manual lists the GoTime LX for children 40–120 lb and 44–60 in, in both high-back and no-back modes, and sets a higher minimum age than most: “at least 5 years old.” That makes it a seat for a big child who is already school age, not for a heavy preschooler. The back comes off for a backless booster later, and Evenflo gives seven headrest positions and a seat weight of 7.1 lb. Evenflo says its car seats “meet FMVSS 213 and FMVSS 302 federal safety standards” (Evenflo).
IIHS rated the GoTime LX a BEST BET in highback and in backless mode in its 2024 release, which covered models introduced in 2023. The AAP’s 2026 product listing gives different figures for it (44–57 in, at least 4 years), so the seat sold now may differ from the one IIHS rated. Go by Evenflo’s current manual and your seat’s label. IIHS’s rating describes belt fit for typical 4- to 8-year-olds and says nothing direct about a larger child; it is not a crash test, so check how the belt sits on your child.
Specs (linked: GoTime LX, Quincy Blue)
Pros
- 120 lb limit in both modes (Evenflo) at an entry-level price
- IIHS BEST BET for belt fit in both modes for the model it rated
- Light enough (7.1 lb, Evenflo) to move between cars
Cons
- Evenflo’s 5-year minimum age rules it out for younger big kids
- Height limit of 60 in (Evenflo), below the 63 in of the Britax and Diono picks
- The current version may differ from the one IIHS rated (see above)
Who should buy it
Families with a school-age child (Evenflo’s minimum is 5) who want a high-back that converts to backless for later; check your child’s height and weight against Evenflo’s label.
- Type: high-back booster, converts to backless
- Child limits (Evenflo manual, both modes): 40–120 lb; 44–60 in; at least 5 years old
- Headrest: 7 height positions (Evenflo)
- Seat weight: 7.1 lb (Evenflo)
- Standard: FMVSS 213 (Evenflo’s car-seat page; the manual says it “meets all applicable requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards”)
- IIHS: BEST BET, highback and backless modes (2024 release, models introduced in 2023)
- Price tier: $
Diono Solana 2 XL, Best Backless for Big Kids
Parents of an older, broad child who sits well without reminders and rides in seats with head restraints; check your child's height and weight against Diono's label.
$51.67 from AmazonAs of Nov 10, 09:13 UTCVerdict
A wide, deep backless booster (Car Seat Lady) that Diono lists to 120 lb and 63 in; IIHS rated the 2023 Solana 2 a BEST BET (the version Amazon ships is not confirmed), for older kids whose cars have good head support.
Evidence: Independently reviewed, same series. IIHS booster ratings (2024): Solana 2 introduced in 2023, backless.
Diono’s manual (hosted on the Amazon listing) lists the Solana 2 for children 40–120 lb and 38–63 in tall and gives no minimum age. It is backless only, with LATCH connectors; Consumer Reports notes that on boosters, LATCH is for positioning and securing the seat and isn’t “intended to provide additional crash protection.” The Car Seat Lady recommends it for wider kids: “This booster is wide and deep, which means big kids with long legs will have thigh support.” The site also flags two catches. Its width “can be an issue in some vehicles with narrow seats,” and it lifts a child high, which “can be an issue for taller kids if their head starts getting too close to the roof” or rises above the vehicle head restraint.
IIHS rated the Diono Solana 2 a BEST BET for belt fit in its 2024 release, which covered models introduced in 2023. Amazon’s listing is titled “Solana 2 XL 2022”, and we could not confirm which production version Amazon ships; we found no way to tell from the label whether yours is the rated version, so check how the belt fits your child. Like every backless booster, it relies on the car for head support. The AAP says backless boosters “can be used safely in vehicles with headrests and high seat backs,” so check that the vehicle head restraint comes up behind your child’s head.
Specs (linked: Solana 2 XL, Black, single seat)
Pros
- Wide, deep seat with thigh support for long legs (Car Seat Lady)
- 120 lb and 63 in limits (Diono), tied for the highest here; IIHS rated the 2023 Solana 2 a BEST BET
- Inexpensive enough for a second car or carpools
Cons
- Backless only: needs a vehicle head restraint behind the child’s head
- Raises a child high, which can put a tall child’s head near the roof (Car Seat Lady)
- Width can crowd narrow vehicle seats (Car Seat Lady)
- The version Amazon ships was not confirmed against IIHS’s 2023 rating
Who should buy it
Parents of an older, broad child who sits well without reminders and rides in seats with head restraints; check your child’s height and weight against Diono’s label.
- Type: backless booster only; LATCH connectors
- Child limits (Diono manual): 40–120 lb; 38–63 in; minimum age not stated
- Standard: FMVSS 213 (Diono manual)
- Expiration: 8 years from purchase (Diono manual)
- IIHS: BEST BET, backless (2024 release, models introduced in 2023)
- Price tier: $
Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus, Everyday 2-in-1, LATCH
Parents of a big booster-ready child of average build who want one seat that works as a high-back now and a backless later; check your child's height and weight against Chicco's label (57 in, and 100 lb in high-back mode).
$109.99 from AmazonAs of Nov 10, 09:13 UTCVerdict
A padded high-back-to-backless booster with LATCH; IIHS rated two KidFit siblings, the Zip Plus and Zip Air (same base, per BabyGearLab), BEST BETs, not this version, and its limits are lower than the 120 lb picks.
Evidence: Independently reviewed, same series. IIHS booster ratings (2024): KidFit Zip Plus and KidFit Zip Air, highback and backless modes.
Chicco lists the KidFit ClearTex Plus for children at least 4 years old and 44–57 in tall, from 40–100 lb in high-back mode and 40–110 lb as a backless booster, and says it “meets or exceeds Frontal Impact Standard FMVSS 213b.” The headrest has 10 height positions, and LATCH connectors with a one-pull tightener are there “for seat stability” (Chicco). Chicco says ClearTex products “have no flame retardant chemicals.” Those ceilings, 100 lb and 57 in in high-back mode, are lower than the 120 lb and 60–63 in of several picks here (their makers’ figures), so a very tall child may outgrow the back sooner.
IIHS did not list the ClearTex Plus itself in the releases we could read, but rated two KidFit siblings, the KidFit Zip Plus and KidFit Zip Air, BEST BETs in both modes in 2024. BabyGearLab says the KidFit models are “a family built on the same base with different fabric choices and some bells and whistles,” and, based on information from Chicco, that the ClearTex version is the same seat it reviewed, with a different fabric and LATCH pull edge design. Consumer Reports, which tested the KidFit Plus, a sibling on the same base, said it “scored well in CR’s tests for its fit in both the highback and backless seat modes.” BabyGearLab measured the KidFit it tested at 18.4 in wide, “one of the wider options,” which matters in a narrow middle seat.
Specs (linked: KidFit ClearTex Plus, Obsidian)
Pros
- High-back and backless modes with LATCH and a 10-position headrest (Chicco)
- Same KidFit base as two IIHS BEST BET siblings (BabyGearLab)
- Flame-retardant-free ClearTex fabrics (Chicco)
Cons
- Lower limits than the 120 lb picks (their makers’ figures): 100 lb in high-back mode and 57 in (Chicco)
- Wide (18.4 in, BabyGearLab) for a three-across back seat
- The IIHS rating is for sibling KidFit models, not this one
Who should buy it
Parents of a big booster-ready child of average build who want one seat that works as a high-back now and a backless later; check your child’s height and weight against Chicco’s label (57 in, and 100 lb in high-back mode).
- Type: high-back booster, converts to backless; LATCH
- Child limits (Chicco): at least 4 years; 44–57 in; 40–100 lb high-back, 40–110 lb backless
- Headrest: 10 height positions (Chicco)
- Width: 18.4 in (BabyGearLab’s measurement of the KidFit it tested, which it says is the same seat)
- Standard: FMVSS 213b (Chicco)
- IIHS: KidFit Zip Plus and Zip Air rated BEST BET (same KidFit base); ClearTex Plus not listed
- Price tier: $$
Cybex Solution G2, Armrest-Free High-Back
Parents of a wide child who want an armrest-free high-back that folds away; check your child's height and weight against Cybex's label.
$239.96 from AmazonAs of Nov 10, 09:13 UTCVerdict
A premium high-back with no armrests and flexible side wings that Cybex lists to 120 lb and 60 in, and that folds for storage.
Evidence: Independently reviewed, exact model. BabyGearLab: Solution G2.
Cybex lists the Solution G2 for children 40–120 lb and 43.3–60 in tall, “from approx. 4 to 12 years,” and certifies it to FMVSS 213. It is a high-back booster only, with rigid LATCH connectors, a recline (one-hand, per the Amazon listing), a height-adjustable headrest and side wings Cybex says flex to give “extra room when needed.” Cybex says it folds to take “up to a third less storage space” and weighs 12.8 lb.
BabyGearLab found that “the lack of armrests makes it easier for children to pull the belt across their laps.” It also noted that the back padding “thins out as you go higher, leaving little near the top for taller riders,” a comfort point worth weighing for a tall child. We found no IIHS rating for this model in the IIHS releases we could read.
Specs (linked: Solution G2, Black)
Pros
- No armrests and flexible side wings for a broad child, with Cybex’s 120 lb limit
- Folds smaller for the trunk or a closet (Cybex)
- Rigid LATCH secures the seat to the vehicle and helps keep it in place as your child gets in and out (Cybex)
Cons
- Premium price, and no backless mode
- Thin padding near the top for tall riders (BabyGearLab)
- 60 in height limit (Cybex), below the Britax and Diono picks
Who should buy it
Parents of a wide child who want an armrest-free high-back that folds away; check your child’s height and weight against Cybex’s label.
- Type: high-back booster only, folding; rigid LATCH; no armrests
- Child limits (Cybex): 40–120 lb; 43.3–60 in; about 4 to 12 years
- Seat weight: 12.8 lb (Cybex)
- Width: 17 in seat bottom (BabyGearLab’s measurement)
- Standard: FMVSS 213 (Cybex)
- Price tier: $$$
Graco TurboBooster 2.0 Highback, CR-Rated Budget High-Back
Budget-minded parents of a booster-ready child well inside Graco's limits, especially for a second car; check your child's height and weight against Graco's label.
$69.99 from AmazonAs of Nov 10, 09:13 UTCVerdict
An inexpensive high-back-to-backless booster with a “very good” belt fit in highback mode from Consumer Reports; Graco’s 100 lb and 57 in limits leave less room than the 120 lb picks (their makers’ figures), so measure a tall child first.
Evidence: Independently reviewed, exact model. Consumer Reports: TurboBooster 2.0 Highback.
Graco’s manual lists the TurboBooster 2.0 for children 40–100 lb, 43–57 in and at least 4 years old, in both high-back and backless modes, and says it “meets or exceeds all applicable requirements of Federal motor vehicle safety standard 213.” This version has no LATCH connectors; the TurboBooster 2.0 LX adds them. Consumer Reports lists “Very good belt fit in highback mode” among its pros, scores its belt fit lower without the back, and notes that assembly “requires a screwdriver.”
Against the Evenflo GoTime LX, it has lower limits (100 lb and 57 in against 120 lb and 60 in, the makers’ figures) and no LATCH, but Graco allows it from age 4, where Evenflo requires 5, and Consumer Reports rated this exact model’s belt fit. For a large child, the limits are the catch. At 100 lb and 57 in by Graco’s figures, a tall 8- or 9-year-old can outgrow it while still failing the 5-step test, so measure first. Without LATCH, Graco’s manual says to “always secure car seat with the vehicle seat belt, even when unoccupied.” We found no IIHS rating for this model in the IIHS releases we could read.
Specs (linked: TurboBooster 2.0 Highback, Declan, no LATCH)
Pros
- Very good belt fit in highback mode, per Consumer Reports
- Entry-level price for a seat with a removable back
- Lightweight and portable, per Consumer Reports; a simple seat for a second car
Cons
- Lower limits for a large child: 100 lb and 57 in (Graco)
- No LATCH on this version; Graco says to belt it in even when empty
- Assembly needs a screwdriver (Consumer Reports)
Who should buy it
Budget-minded parents of a booster-ready child well inside Graco’s limits, especially for a second car; check your child’s height and weight against Graco’s label.
- Type: high-back booster, converts to backless; no LATCH
- Child limits (Graco manual, both modes): 40–100 lb; 43–57 in; at least 4 years old
- Standard: FMVSS 213 (Graco manual)
- Expiration: 10 years after the date of manufacture (Graco manual)
- Price tier: $
Graco Nautilus 2.0 LX, Harness First, Then Booster
Parents of a large preschooler who has outgrown a smaller harness seat but cannot yet sit still in a booster; check your child's height and weight against Graco's harness limits on the label.
$219.99 from AmazonAs of Nov 10, 09:13 UTCVerdict
For a big preschooler who is heavy for their age but not ready for a booster: Graco lists the 5-point harness to 65 lb and 49 in, then two booster modes.
Evidence: No independent test; maker specs. Source: Graco Nautilus 2.0 LX instruction manual.
Graco’s manual lists the Nautilus 2.0 LX as a forward-facing harness seat for 26.5–65 lb and 27–49 in, then a high-back booster for 40–100 lb and a backless booster for 40–120 lb, both at 43–57 in and at least 4 years old, and says it meets FMVSS 213. Graco’s manual says children from 26.5 to 40 lb “MUST use 5-point harness” and that from 40 to 65 lb they “SHOULD use 5-point harness,” even though a child who meets the booster’s height and age minimums “CAN be in booster mode.” NHTSA and the AAP also advise staying in the harness until its limits. In harness mode, Graco’s manual says not to install it with LATCH “for a child weighing more than 45 lb (20 kg)”; above that, install it with the vehicle seat belt, and attach the top tether, as the manual shows. Amazon’s title calls it a convertible seat, but it has no rear-facing mode.
We found no independent test of the 2.0 version, so this pick rests on Graco’s manual. Safe in the Seat, a car-seat information site, lists the seat at 18 lb and flags it for caution in three-across setups.
Specs (linked: Nautilus 2.0 LX, Hex)
Pros
- 5-point harness to 65 lb (Graco) for a large child who is not ready for a booster
- Backless mode to 120 lb (Graco) for later years
- One seat from harness to backless booster
Cons
- No independent test of this version found; rests on Graco’s figures
- The harness’s 49 in height limit (Graco) can come before its 65 lb limit for a tall child
- Heavy (18 lb) and flagged for caution in three-across setups (Safe in the Seat)
Who should buy it
Parents of a large preschooler who has outgrown a smaller harness seat but cannot yet sit still in a booster; check your child’s height and weight against Graco’s harness limits on the label.
- Type: forward-facing 5-point harness, then high-back or backless booster
- Harness limits (Graco manual): 26.5–65 lb; 27–49 in; LATCH install only to 45 lb child weight
- Booster limits (Graco manual): 40–100 lb high-back, 40–120 lb backless; 43–57 in; at least 4 years old
- Seat weight: 18 lb (Safe in the Seat)
- Standard: FMVSS 213 (Graco manual)
- Price tier: $$
High-Back or Backless for a Large Child?
Use a high-back where the car gives no head support. The AAP says “high-back boosters should be used in vehicles without headrests or with low seat backs,” and that backless boosters “can be used safely in vehicles with headrests and high seat backs.” The Car Seat Lady goes further and recommends a high-back “for as long as possible,” because children tend to sit better in them. Check your seat’s manual first: the Car Seat Lady notes that some high-backs are “NOT rigid enough to support the child’s head” and still need the vehicle seat back “to come up to at least the top of the child’s ears at all times.” High-backs here: Britax Skyline and Cybex Solution G2, plus the high-back modes of the Evenflo GoTime LX, Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus, Graco TurboBooster 2.0 and Graco Nautilus 2.0 LX.
Go backless for an older child who sits well, in a seat with a head restraint. The AAP notes that backless boosters “are usually less expensive and are easier to move from one vehicle to another,” but the vehicle head restraint has to sit behind your child’s head. Our backless picks: Diono Solana 2 XL, and the backless modes of the Evenflo GoTime LX, Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus and Graco Nautilus 2.0 LX (Graco: to 120 lb). Consumer Reports scores the Graco TurboBooster 2.0‘s belt fit lower without the back.
Wide child? Look for no armrests or flexible sides (the Cybex Solution G2) or a wide, deep seat (the Diono Solana 2 XL). The Car Seat Lady’s warning applies: many boosters “claim they can accommodate kids to 100 or even 120 pounds,” but a wide child may not fit between the armrests. On any booster with armrests, check the maker’s manual for where the lap belt goes; Peg Perego’s booster manual, for example, says the lap belt “always goes under both arm rests.”
Tall child? Compare the maker’s height limit (57 in on the Chicco and Graco picks, 60 in on the Evenflo and Cybex, 63 in on the Britax and Diono) with your child’s height. Height is not the only ceiling. Evenflo’s manual, for example, requires the tops of the child’s ears to be below the top of the booster’s headrest in high-back mode, and below the vehicle headrest without the back, with the shoulder belt guides “at or slightly above the top of the child’s shoulders.” Check your own seat’s manual for its rule.
Every ride, check the belt. The AAP’s booster check: the lap belt “lies low and snug across your child’s upper thighs” and the shoulder belt “crosses the middle of your child’s chest and shoulder and is off the neck.” Boosters “must be used with lap and shoulder belts,” never a lap belt alone. Check for recalls on any seat, new or handed down, at NHTSA.
Still choosing a harnessed seat? See our guides to the best car seat for a 40-pound child, the best car seat for a 50 lb child, car seats that grow with your child and convertible car seats, or browse all our kids’ safety gear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Can a 40lb kid use a booster seat?
Only if they also meet the booster’s other minimums and are ready to sit properly. Every booster in this guide starts at 40 lb by its maker’s figures (the Britax Skyline’s backless mode at 48 lb). Each also has a minimum height (from 38 in on the Diono Solana 2 to 44 in on the Chicco, Evenflo and Britax in high-back mode, and 46 in for the Britax in backless mode), and most a minimum age (4 years for Chicco and Graco, about 4 for Cybex, 5 for Evenflo; Britax and Diono state none on the pages we read). Meeting the minimums is not a reason to switch: NHTSA and the AAP say to keep a child in a harnessed seat until they reach its top weight or height limit. Peg Perego’s booster manual, for one maker, notes that “most children can not sit properly in a booster seat until at least age 5.” Check your child’s height and weight against the labels of both their current harness seat and the booster.
Q. Should a 7 year old be in a booster?
Yes, in almost every case. The AAP says children need a booster until the adult belt fits, “typically when they have reached 4 feet 9 inches in height and are 8 to 12 years of age.” The AAP adds that “most children will not fit in most vehicle seat belts without a booster until 10 to 12 years of age.” Some larger 7-year-olds still fit a harnessed seat within its maker’s limits; the AAP says to use the harness as long as the seat allows.
Q. Should a 7 year old be in a backless booster?
It depends on the car and the child. The AAP says backless boosters “can be used safely in vehicles with headrests and high seat backs,” and high-backs should be used where the vehicle has no headrest or a low seat back. A child who slouches, leans or plays with the belt is usually better in a high-back, which the Car Seat Lady recommends “for as long as possible.” For a big 7-year-old who sits well, the Diono Solana 2 XL (Diono: 40–120 lb, 38–63 in) is the backless pick here; check your child’s height and weight against its label.
Q. What is the best car seat for a 45 lb or 60 lb child?
That depends on whether they still fit a harness. A 45 lb child who has not reached their current seat’s harness limits should stay harnessed (NHTSA and AAP). The Graco Nautilus 2.0 LX harness goes to 65 lb and 49 in by Graco’s figures, so a 60 lb child can use it only if they are also 49 in or shorter; check your child’s height and weight against Graco’s label. A booster-ready child at 45 or 60 lb is inside the makers’ weight limits for every booster here, except that a 45 lb child is below the 48 lb minimum Britax sets for the Skyline’s backless mode. For room to grow, look at the 120 lb picks (their makers’ figures), such as the Britax Skyline (high-back) or Evenflo GoTime LX (Evenflo’s minimum age is 5). Check your child’s height, weight and age against the seat’s label.
Q. What is the best booster seat for a 6 year old?
For a big 6-year-old who has reached their harness seat’s limits, start with a high-back: the Car Seat Lady recommends one “for as long as possible,” and the AAP says to use one where the car has no headrest or a low seat back. Here that means the Evenflo GoTime LX (Evenflo’s minimum age is 5), the Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus (Chicco’s is 4), or, for a tall child, the Britax Skyline, whose 63 in height limit (Britax, with 120 lb) is the tallest of the high-backs here. Check your child’s height and weight against the seat’s label. A child who has not reached their harness seat’s limits should stay in a harness (NHTSA, AAP). Sitting still matters too: Chicco limits the KidFit to children who “can sit relatively still in the same seated position throughout the car ride,” and Peg Perego’s manual says a child not mature enough for a booster needs “to ride in a car seat.” The Graco Nautilus 2.0 LX is the harness option here.
Q. When can my child stop using a booster?
When the adult belt fits without one. Use the 5-step test above (Car Seats for the Littles); the AAP says that typically happens at about 4’9″ and 8 to 12 years old. Weight alone does not decide it. Even after that, children under 13 should ride in the back seat (AAP).
The bottom line
Final Verdict
For a tall child, start with the Britax Skyline (check price): Britax lists it to 120 lb and 63 in, and IIHS rated the 2023 model a BEST BET in high-back mode, the mode to use it in. For the best value, the Evenflo GoTime LX (check price) goes to 120 lb and 60 in by Evenflo’s figures, for children at least 5. For an older child who sits well in a car with head restraints, the Diono Solana 2 XL (check price) is the backless pick. A heavy preschooler who is not ready for a booster belongs in a harness such as the Graco Nautilus 2.0 LX. Whichever you choose, check your child’s height and weight against the seat’s label, run the 5-step test before dropping the booster, and keep children under 13 in the back seat.
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