Forty-seven out of 54 booster seats introduced last year earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “best bet.” The best bet rating means a booster provides good seat belt fit for typical 4- to 8-year-olds in almost any car, minivan, or SUV. Boosters that earned a “good bet” rating provide acceptable belt fit in almost any vehicle, while those rated “Check Fit” could work for some children in some vehicles. Seats designated “Not Recommended” don’t provide good belt fit and should be avoided.

Among the seven new booster seats, one is a good bet and six are rated “check fit.” None earned the “not recommended” rating.

“Booster seats are simple, low-tech devices that don’t have to cost a lot to be effective,” said Jessica Jermakian, IIHS vice president of vehicle research. “All a booster needs to do is raise the child up a bit and guide the seat belt so it is positioned correctly. The lap belt should lie flat on the upper thighs and not up against the tummy, and the shoulder belt should fit snugly across the middle of the shoulder.”

Booster seats are designed for children who have outgrown harness-equipped restraints. Children ages 4-8 are 45% less likely to sustain injuries in crashes if they are in boosters than if they are using seat belts alone.

Children should ride in boosters until a vehicle seat belt fits correctly by itself. For some kids, that doesn’t happen until age 12 or so.

IIHS began its booster rating program after finding that many seats didn’t consistently provide good belt fit. In the Institute’s first booster ratings, only a quarter of the seats evaluated earned the best bet designation. Now, most boosters tested meet that high standard. Using an age- and size-appropriate restraint on every trip is the best way parents and caregivers can maximize their children’s safety in vehicles.

The 47 new best bets (including 32 distinct models) range in price from about $25 for the Harmony Youth Booster Elite with LATCH to $450 for the Graco Turn2Me 3-in-1 Car Seat. Several options are available for less than $40.

For a list of the IIHS booster seat ratings, go to: www.iihs.org/news/detail/most-new-boosters-earn-highest-iihs-ratin.