Car safety is one of the most important things any new parent should be reading up on and getting themselves acquainted with. While you might be the safest driver out there, you also need to be aware of the dangers other drivers pose to you on the road. A great convertible car seat will help protect your little one from any hazards.
But what’s the difference between car seats and booster seats? Car seats tend to be for younger babies and toddlers under the age of four, while booster seats are for older children who still need a bit of support when sitting in the car. Boosters tend to offer more freedom of movement and use the car seat belt rather than a crotch buckle.
Today we’ll be looking at both car seats and booster seats so that you can find the best option, no matter what age bracket your kid fits into. On our marks, get set, go!
We conduct our best car booster seat reviews through a combination of product testing, individual research, real buyer feedback and certified paediatrician approval.
We understand that there is no such thing as a “best car booster seat” for everyone, and what is best for one person might not be suitable for another. With this in mind, we assessed car booster seats by comparing different features and specifications, and have highlighted the buyer we believe the product is best suited to.
We considered the following criteria below:
First up is the Aace Booster Seat from Nuna, one of the most renowned convertible car seat brands in the world. This seat is designed for children between the ages of 4 and 8, so it’s great for when your child outgrows their infant car seat. Aace will grow alongside your little one, with 8 height positions for the headrest.
The side impact protection pods are customisable, and the seat belt indicators make installing this seat properly a breeze. The seat is also extendable and expandable, and there are 8 recline positions! Your kid is bound to have the car ride of their life with their new booster seat.
Age suitable for | 4 to 8 years |
Size | 62-83.8 x 50-55.8 x 40-40.6 cm |
Material | Luxe fabric |
Colours | Black |
Booster seat weight limit | 110 pounds |
Height adjustable headrest | Yes |
Armrest | Yes |
Cup holder | Yes |
Seat protector | No |
Storage pocket | No |
Slim fit design | No |
Impact protection | Yes |
Crotch buckle | No |
The Nuna Aace Booster Seat comes with three basic functions – Grow up, Grow out, and Grow on. Grow Up focuses on the 8 headrest positions to grow taller with your child. Grow out is the shoulder system that expands wider as your child grows and ages, and Grow on sports three seat depths to give your little one plenty of legroom and support.
The foam side impact protection pods are both energy absorbing and aligning, keeping your child in the correct position for a safe ride every single time.
Below we have listed pros and cons based on real buyer feedback:
The Nuna Aace Booster Seat is great for parents looking for a forward-facing car seat for their child, aged 4 years and up. This seat is sleek and stylish, with an all-black exterior, and comes with added cup holders. This could be the ideal seat for you if your child likes lounging comfortably.
The Britax Safe N Sound Kid Guard offers around six years of use, suitable from your child’s fourth birthday until their 10th. Or until they reach a total height of 135 cm, so keep an eye on that height chart! Don’t worry, though – the booster seat features maximum height markers to ensure your child isn’t using the seat unsafely.
This seat has been designed to grow with your child, featuring expandable lower wings and seat base, along with a headrest that can extend to 9 different heights.
Age suitable for | 4 to 10 years |
Size | 75 – 88 x 47 – 57 x 38 – 44.5 cm |
Material | High-performance fabric with bamboo |
Colours | Black |
Booster seat weight limit | 40 kg |
Height adjustable headrest | Yes |
Armrest | No |
Cup holder | No |
Seat protector | No |
Storage pocket | No |
Slim fit design | Yes |
Impact protection | No |
Crotch buckle | Yes |
For the Britax Safe N Sound Kid Guard, Britax uses a patented anti-submarining technology called SecureGuard. This offers four separate points of safety, keeping the seat belt in the optimal position throughout every ride. This includes a crotch belt, which we don’t often see on many other booster seats for ages above 4.
Below we have listed pros and cons based on real buyer feedback:
The Britax Safe N Sound Kid Guard is an excellent option if you have a smaller car or more than one child and need a slimline convertible car seat design. It’s small without compromising its safety features. In fact, it comes with some unique features, such as the Secure Guard anti-submarining device, which is a nice touch! It can also accommodate older children, which helps you get the most from your money.
The Mother’s Choice Kin AP Convertible Car Seat can be used from 6 months to 8 years. As soon as your little one outgrows their infant car seat, they can hop into this seat that has been designed to grow with your child. The crotch belt and five-point harness work for 6 months to 4 years, and then they can use it with the adult seat belt from the age of 4 to 8.
The high CREP rating means that this seat has been rigorously tested to make sure that it’s perfectly safe to use with your little one. The superior side impact protection technology protects your child’s vulnerable head from both sides.
Age suitable for | 6 months to 8 years |
Size | 78.2 x 46.6 x 42.2 cm |
Material | ‘Cool Baby™’ Wicking Fabric |
Colours | Black |
Booster seat weight limit | 25 kg |
Height adjustable headrest | Yes |
Armrest | Yes |
Cup holder | Yes |
Seat protector | Yes |
Storage pocket | No |
Slim fit design | Yes |
Impact protection | Yes |
Crotch buckle | Yes |
The Mother’s Choice Kin AP Convertible Car Seat is slimline and perfectly fits even in smaller cars, allowing any parent to use this model no matter what brand their car is. This seat can be used for over 7 years, allowing you to get more than your money’s worth, as well as keeping your child comfortable in a familiar seat for the majority of their childhood.
Below we have listed pros and cons based on real buyer feedback:
The Mother’s Choice Kin AP Convertible Booster Seat is excellent for parents looking for a seat to switch out with their infant car seat, who want to get the most out of their investment. This chair will carry your baby throughout their toddler and child years, making it a great option for growing kids and long road trips. The Mother’s Choice Kin AP is a good option if you want a seat to make travel easier.
Maxi Cosi is another popular brand of baby accessories, and their Rodi AP Convertible Car Seat is well-received by many parents and baby experts alike. This seat can be used from 4 years to 8, with two reclining positions for ultimate relaxation. Your child will have the time of their life with this seat while you drive them around!
This seat is considered one of the safest booster seats, with air protection and superior side impact technology designed to shield your little one’s head from side collisions. The protection pads release a specific amount of air from the side of the impact, cushioning your child in a way that other seats cannot.
Age suitable for | 4 to 8 years |
Size | 44 x 47 x 67.5 cm |
Material | Cool Baby wicking fabric |
Colours | Grey |
Booster seat weight limit | 36 kg |
Height adjustable headrest | Yes |
Armrest | Yes |
Cup holder | No |
Seat protector | No |
Storage pocket | No |
Slim fit design | No |
Impact protection | Yes |
Crotch buckle | No |
The Maxicosi Rodi AP Booster Car Seat is super easy to install and remove from a car so that you can swap it from one side to another in minutes. This is excellent for when your child spends time with their grandparents, friends, or other loved ones. This seat includes vibration dampeners to keep them steady throughout every car journey.
Below we have listed pros and cons based on real buyer feedback:
The Maxi Cosi Rodi AP Booster Car Seat is great for parents whose main focus is safety features when looking for potential booster seats. This is a dependable and safe option if your child is outgrowing their toddler seat and needs a booster to carry them through their childhood years.
InfaSecure believes that you can have style and safety (and why should you have to choose?), and their Aspire Premium Booster seats are a testament to this. The night black colour looks amazing in any vehicle, with the grey accents adding depth as well as safety to your car journeys.
This seat works seamlessly with your car’s seat belt, keeping the chair in place and secure no matter how far you need to travel.
Age suitable for | 4 to 8 years |
Size | 41 x 44 x 76 cm |
Material | Polypropylene |
Colours | Night |
Booster seat weight limit | 36 kg |
Height adjustable headrest | Yes |
Armrest | Yes |
Cup holder | No |
Seat protector | Yes |
Storage pocket | No |
Slim fit design | Yes |
Impact protection | Yes |
Crotch buckle | No |
The InfaSecure Aspire Premium Booster Seats are the tallest on the Australian market, making this a great option for children who are taller than the average for their age. The slim fit design is perfect for smaller cars, and the air cocoon technology protects your little one from impacts from all angles.
Below we have listed pros and cons based on real buyer feedback:
You can’t get much better than the InfaSecure Aspire Premium Booster Seat (aka the tallest car seat on the Australian market) if you’re looking for a high back booster! This seat offers everything you could want from a safe high-back booster seat, and it looks great too. Your kid will be the coolest in this high-back booster seat, pulling to school or their playdate in style.
Another seat from Maxi Cosi, The Titan Pro is a convertible car seat that can carry your little one from their first birthday to their 8th. The five-point harness can be used until it reaches the middle height marker, when it can be replaced with your vehicle lap belt.
While most car seats offer head protection, the Titan Pro goes one step further and protects both the head and torso with the help of the Air Protect and G-CELL safety features.
Age suitable for | 1 to 8 years |
Size | 48 x 64 x 53.5 cm |
Material | Cool Baby Wicking fabric |
Colours | Black |
Booster seat weight limit | 36 kg |
Height adjustable headrest | Yes |
Armrest | Yes |
Cup holder | No |
Seat protector | No |
Storage pocket | No |
Slim fit design | Yes |
Impact protection | Yes |
Crotch buckle | Yes |
The Maxi Cosi Titan Pro Convertible Booster’s cool baby-wicking fabric is excellent for keeping your little one cool and comfy during any and all travel, drawing moisture away from them and quickly drying without them noticing. This chair reclines into three positions for ultimate comfort, and the GrowSafe design ensures all adjustments are safe as your child outgrows the last.
Below we have listed pros and cons based on real buyer feedback:
Maxi Cosi is already a brand known around the world for its safety features and impressive technology, so if you want to stay within the brand, the Titan Pro is an excellent option. With the ability to be used for seven years, this seat is bound to become a beloved honorary family member.
Another option from Mother’s Choice now, the Tribe AP Booster is a narrow seat that offers sublime safety and comfort, offering continued support to your child for longer. This seat also uses the air protect headrest technology, allowing your little one to feel less impact from either side of them.
This seat is small enough to fit most car types, with a narrower base which doesn’t compromise the comfort. This seat can be used between 4 years and 8 years.
Age suitable for | 4 to 8 years |
Size | 45cm x 39cm x 61-84 cm |
Material | Wicking fabric |
Colours | Black |
Booster seat weight limit | 36 kg |
Height adjustable headrest | Yes |
Armrest | Yes |
Cup holder | Yes |
Seat protector | Yes |
Storage pocket | No |
Slim fit design | Yes |
Impact protection | Yes |
Crotch buckle | No |
The Mothers Choice Tribe AP Booster is all about comfort and functionality. With armrests for your little one’s comfort and two swing-out cup holders, this seat promotes independence from your little one as they can use these features without asking you first. The moisture-wicking fabric can be machine-washed for your convenience, too.
Below we have listed pros and cons based on real buyer feedback:
The Mothers Choice Tribe AP is a good convertible car seat for parents who want to keep their child safe from any side impact, with the seat fitting into most car models thanks to the narrow base. This seat comes with plenty of added features as well as a lower price tag, which is always a bonus!
Another convertible car seat that can be used from 6 months to 8 years now, the Babylove Ezyboost Convertible Booster Seat offers incredible functionality with a built-in five-point harness, a SecureGuard device, and a sash guide to ensure the seat belt is always properly attached to these booster seats.
The deep EPS lining of the side wings offers additional side impact protection, as well as comfort and support for little heads. Everything is padded for your little one’s user experience.
Age suitable for | 6 months to 8 years |
Size | 76 x 38.5 x53 cm |
Material | Soft material with a padded liner |
Colours | Black |
Booster seat weight limit | 36 kg |
Height adjustable headrest | Yes |
Armrest | Yes |
Cup holder | No |
Seat protector | Yes |
Storage pocket | No |
Slim fit design | No |
Impact protection | Yes |
Crotch buckle | Yes |
The SecureGuard device is a feature that should not be overlooked when choosing the best booster seats for you, and the Babylove Ezyboost Convertible Booster Seat features an excellent one. This device is an anti-submarining feature, created to prevent slumping and further injuries in a collision. It’s an added safety feature that could prove instrumental in your little one’s health in the event of an incident.
Below we have listed pros and cons based on real buyer feedback:
The Babylove Ezyboost Convertible Booster Seat is a good option if you like the idea of an anti-submarine device on your car seats. This seat is comfortable, safe, and stylish. Considering the low price point and how long you can use this convertible car seat, the value for money is incredible. We recommend you snap this deal up ASAP!
The Safe N Sound Express Booster seat is a wonderful cheap and cheerful convertible car seat that manages to keep its price low without compromising its safety. This means that parents on a budget can use this seat without feeling worried about losing crucial safety features that other, more expensive seats have.
The deep side wings of this seat provide extra side impact protection, and the adjustable headrest is always padded to offer protection where it’s needed most.
Age suitable for | 4 to 8 years |
Size | 68 x 47 x 38.5 cm |
Material | Deep Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) lined |
Colours | Black |
Booster seat weight limit | 36 kg |
Height adjustable headrest | Yes |
Armrest | Yes |
Cup holder | No |
Seat protector | No |
Storage pocket | No |
Slim fit design | Yes |
Impact protection | Yes |
Crotch buckle | No |
The lightweight booster seat from Safe N Sound offers an easy-to-follow lap belt guide which allows you to wrap the seat belt around the booster seat correctly, safely placing the belt over your little one’s shoulder and keeping it there. This makes it less likely for the belt to slip, giving your child more wriggle room to get out of their seat.
Below we have listed pros and cons based on real buyer feedback:
The Safe N Sound Express Booster seat is ideal for parents who don’t want to spend as much money on a seat that is only going to last four years. This booster is great if you want a safe and comfortable seat without breaking the bank, and we cannot recommend it enough.
Joie is another popular baby brand, with renowned products in their catalogue, such as bassinets, travel cots, and baby car seats. The Trillo fits into the latter category, suitable for children between the ages of 4 and 8, or 15 to 30 kg.
The lower anchors fit into the majority of cars, with an additional anchor point to help keep the car seat in place for an added layer of safety. This seat isn’t going anywhere in a crash, that’s for sure!
Age suitable for | 4 to 8 years |
Size | 39 x 40 x 69-84 cm |
Material | Breathable, Memory Foam material |
Colours | Black |
Booster seat weight limit | 30 kg |
Height adjustable headrest | Yes |
Armrest | Yes |
Cup holder | Yes |
Seat protector | No |
Storage pocket | No |
Slim fit design | Yes |
Impact protection | Yes |
Crotch buckle | No |
Unlike many booster seats on the market, the Joie Trillo Booster Seat includes head-to-hip side protection, giving full body protection during a collision. This is an excellent feature, as while the head is the most important area to protect, little bodies also need support when dealing with a car-related incident!
Below we have listed pros and cons based on real buyer feedback:
The Joie Trillo Booster Seat is a good option for parents who want to protect their little ones from head to hip, as well as keep them comfortable with a luxurious memory foam-lined car seat. The Joie Trillo Booster Seat is a wonderful option if you need a convertible car seat to carry them from their 4th to 8th birthday.
Another lovely and stylish car seat, the Safety 1st Solo Convertible Car Seat is suitable for children between the ages of 1 and 8. Again, this is one of the best booster seats on our list for value of money. But that doesn’t impact the safety features – the large side wings offer maximum side impact protection, and the adjustable headrest is always in the best position to protect your child’s head.
Age suitable for | 1 to 8 years |
Size | 15.8 x 17.7 x 30.3 cm |
Material | Nylon |
Colours | Black |
Booster seat weight limit | 36 kg |
Height adjustable headrest | Yes |
Armrest | Yes |
Cup holder | Yes |
Seat protector | No |
Storage pocket | No |
Slim fit design | Yes |
Impact protection | Yes |
Crotch buckle | Yes |
The Safety 1st Solo Convertible Booster reclines to work with a larger number of vehicles, so you don’t have to worry about your little one tipping forward when sitting in your car. This forward-facing car seat can also be positioned backwards, which is safer for younger children and works as another safety feature. Once your child reaches a certain height, they can start using the car seat belt instead of the five-point harness.
Below we have listed pros and cons based on real buyer feedback:
The Safety 1st Solo Convertible Car Seat is great for parents who want to get the most from their investment, ensuring that their little ones can use their car seat as soon as they outgrow their infant car seat, until their 8th birthday. This high back booster is also a good option for babies who are taller than average for their age range.
Last but not least, we have the Mothers Choice Zeal Booster, another forward-facing car seat with Air Protect side impact protection for your little one’s head. You can automatically feel the difference between this and foam impact protection – the Air Protect is softer and more gentle on delicate necks.
The installation of this car seat is super easy, with a recline function to ensure it fits into most cars. There are also two swing-out cup holders for your little one to store their juice, snacks, and toys.
Age suitable for | 4 to 8 years |
Size | 45 x 39 x 69 – 81 cm |
Material | Moisture-wicking fabric |
Colours | Moonlight Grey |
Booster seat weight limit | 30 kg |
Height adjustable headrest | Yes |
Armrest | Yes |
Cup holder | Yes |
Seat protector | No |
Storage pocket | No |
Slim fit design | No |
Impact protection | Yes |
Crotch buckle | No |
The Mothers Choice Zeal Booster is designed to be used between the ages of 4 and 8, and it will use your seat belt to loop around the seat and over your child’s shoulder. This seat can be used until your child reaches the handy upper shoulder height marker, meaning you might get more use out of this seat than you originally intended. Yes please, value for money!
Below we have listed pros and cons based on real buyer feedback:
The Mothers Choice Zeal Booster is good for parents who want a simple yet effective booster seat designed for older kids. The armrests and cup holders are nice additions, with air pocket technology for head safety. The Mothers Choice Zeal booster is a good option if you like the idea of air impact protection.
Now that we’ve looked into 12 of our favourite convertible car seat options, you might wonder how to choose the best model for your little one. The choice is not one to be taken lightly, so we have detailed a few considerations to make before settling on one option below:
Once you’ve determined what you expect from a booster seat regarding all of these considerations, you’ll be better positioned to choose the right car seat for your little one.
Whether you’re looking for baby car seats, toddler boosters, or a booster car seat for an older child, we hope that our list has given you a better idea of what the market has to offer you. Choosing the right car seat can be a tricky decision, but as long as you remember to look at the most important features, such as safety and comfort, you’ll be able to find a great model that works well with your family.