Do you need a harnessed car booster seat and aren’t sure which option is best? Maybe the time has come to swap your baby from their current car seat, and you can’t decide which booster seat to use? Finding the perfect booster seat can seem impossible, but the task doesn’t need to send your head spinning!
Today, we are here to help and have the answers you need. Our detailed guide today contains six of the best-harnessed booster seats on the market, along with reviews so you can narrow your search and find your child’s best convertible booster seat or forward-facing car seat. Keep reading to meet your new harnessed car seat.
We conduct our best-harnessed 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 harnessed booster seat” for everyone, and what is best for one baby might not be suitable for another. With this in mind, we assessed harnessed 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:
Kicking off our list is the Brtiax Safe N Sound Maxi Guard. The seat features a six-point harness that will keep your child retrained and safe for longer. The harness is easy to adjust, allowing you to secure your growing child safely and easily into the seat.
The adjustable headrest features deep side wings, offering incredible protection in a collision. The EPS lining also makes the headrest super comfortable, making it ideal for long car rides.
The slim outer width of the car seat allows you to fit three car seats across the back seat easily or have plenty of room for other passengers to be comfortable. The choice of two recline positions is handy, too, allowing your child to sleep on long car trips.
Age suitability | Six months to eight years |
Dimensions | 68 x 50.5 x 46 cm |
Weight | 6.3 kg |
Harness | Yes |
Facing | Forward facing |
Travel system compatible | No |
Cup Holder | No |
Armrest | Yes |
Adjustable headrest | Yes |
Additional side impact protection | No |
Slim fit | Yes |
Overall, buyers were impressed with the Britax Safe N Sound Maxi Guard. They praised the simple installation, allowing them to have the seat installed quickly and without worrying about it being installed incorrectly. They found the harness easy to adjust, making it easy to get their children in and out of the seat.
While some had issues with the tension on the shoulder straps, others found the inbuilt harness easy to use, especially as it does not need rethreading. The adjustable head support and protection was a crowd-pleaser, especially with parents of taller children who wanted to keep them safe as they grew.
Below, we have listed the pros and cons based on real buyer feedback:
The Britax Safe N Sound Maxi Guard is perfect for parents after a reasonably priced car seat that will last for years. The harnessed booster seat offers plenty of protection, so you never need to worry about your child’s safety.
The harness holders and quick remove cover make it comfortable and easy to clean, making it a fine choice for busy parents who don’t want to hand wash or spot clean the booster seat.
Up next is this fantastic car seat from Maxi Cosi. The Luna Pro offers wonderful comfort and enhanced side impact protection, so you don’t need to worry about your baby in a collision.
The adjustable headrest and harness height marker help you customise the car seat, keeping your child comfortable and well-supported as they grow. The car seat can fit your baby from six months old until they are eight, offering wonderful value for money. The two recline positions are handy and allow your baby to sleep comfortably, even on long car journeys.
Age suitability | 6 months to 8 years |
Dimensions | 73.5 x 47 x 43.7 cm |
Weight | 10.5 kg |
Harness | Yes, six-point |
Facing | Forward facing |
Travel system compatible | No |
Cup holder | Yes |
Armrest | Yes |
Adjustable headrest | Yes |
Additional side impact protection | Yes |
Slim fit | Yes |
Overall, buyers were impressed with the Luna Pro car seat. They found that it offered excellent support for their child. The chin support helped their child sleep without discomfort and provided the extra support they needed. It also helped to reduce the chances of their child hitting their head so they could drive worry-free.
Customers were also pleased with the harness straps and how they did not twist, making it easier for them to adjust the harness or secure their child without making any adjustments. Some customers did find the headrest moved sometimes after making adjustments, but reports of the issue were not widespread.
The cup holders and armrests were excellent additional accessories, providing independence for their children and making long car journeys more enjoyable for all.
Below, we have listed the pros and cons based on real buyer feedback:
The Maxi Cosi Luna Pro Car Seat is best suited to parents who want a car seat with an easy installation. The superior side impact protection and chin support make it an excellent choice for parents who want their child to be safe and well-protected in an accident.
The padding will keep your baby comfortable, while the removable liner and fabrics are a fine choice for low-maintenance and easy-to-clean car seats.
That’s right, we have another fantastic option from Britax. The Safe-N-Sound B-GROW ClickTight TEX is the perfect upgrade from a baby capsule. It can be used until your child is eight years old, with plenty of adjustable features to keep them comfortable and well-protected.
The adjustable crotch buckle helps you secure the harness and adjust it to suit your growing child, while the easy-to-use press and slide function makes it super easy to secure your child into the seat.
A feature we love is the Advanced Side Impact Cushion Technology found in the headrest and torso. It will provide extra padding, so you don’t need to worry about your baby in a car crash. It also offers extra padding, keeping your baby comfortable for longer. The patented installation process allows you to install the car seat correctly using your vehicle seat belt.
Age suitability | Six months to 8 years |
Dimensions | 68.8 – 83.8 x 47.2 x 55.1 cm |
Weight | 9.9 kg |
Harness | Yes, six-point |
Facing | Forward facing |
Travel system compatible | No |
Cup holder | Yes, two pop-out cup holders |
Armrest | No |
Adjustable headrest | Yes |
Additional side impact protection | Yes |
Slim fit | Yes |
Buyers were pleased with how easy this car seat was to use. They found they could adjust the recline positions easily, tweak the headrest, and easily get their child in and out of the car seat, making long car journeys a little easier.
They found that the seat padding kept their baby comfortable and helped them to drift off, especially when the seat was reclined. The stain-resistant material was a crowd-pleaser, too, making it easy for parents to maintain and reduce how often the materials needed to be cleaned.
While customers found the seat tricky to install, it was easy to use when it was installed. It is recommended to check the dimensions of the pop-out cup holder to ensure that your current bottles will fit.
Below, we have listed the pros and cons based on real buyer feedback:
The Britax Safe-N-Sound B-Grow ClickTight TEX is best suited to families with a larger budget who want a car seat they can use for years. It is perfect for parents who want their child forward facing from six months and to provide them with enhanced protection during a side impact.
As the installation process can be tricky, we recommend this seat to parents willing to pay for a professional installation.
Parents looking for an affordable, harnessed booster seat will love the Maxi Cosi Titan Pro. The car seat can be used for twelve months and offers plenty of space for your child to grow.
It features a safety shield dual-action protection, providing your baby with superior head and torso protection. Combined with the Air Protect superior head protection and G-Cell patented crash absorbing technology, your baby is protected from any impact.
The seat is designed with cool baby-wicking fabric that pulls moisture away from your child, keeping them cool and preventing them from overheating. It is ideal to use in hot Australian summers! The open design of the seat also offers plenty of breathability and promotes independence as older children can climb in and out of the seat themselves.
Age suitability | 12 months to 8 years |
Dimensions | 48 x 64 x 53.5 cm |
Weight | 7.5 kg |
Harness | Yes, five-point |
Facing | Forward facing |
Travel system compatible | No |
Cup holder | No |
Armrests | Yes |
Adjustable headrest | Yes |
Additional side impact protection | Yes |
Slim fit | Yes |
Buyers were pleased with the Maxi Cosi Titan Pro Convertible Booster seat. Not only did the adjustability allow them to use the seat for years, offering wonderful value for money, but it kept their children comfortable, too. They praised the harness’s easy adjustments, allowing them to secure and remove their child from the booster seat with minimal fuss.
Customers noted that the booster seat base was wider than others, meaning you would struggle to fit three seats across the back of your car. However, the car seat is suitable for small cars, provided you check your measurements before purchasing.
Buyers liked the head support and the seat’s comfort, allowing their children to sleep in the car, especially during long journeys.
Below, we have listed the pros and cons based on real buyer feedback:
The Maxi Cosi Titan Pro Convertible Booster Seat is perfect for families on a budget who want wonderful value for money. The seat can be used for years, with the adjustability offering space for children of all sizes.
The removable and washable seat covers make this the perfect choice for busy parents who want a low-maintenance and easy-to-care-for booster seat. The adjustability of the harness makes it ideal for growing children, and the open seat will encourage independence, making it perfect for families who want to boost their child’s independence.
The SecureSafe Shielf Elite Carseat is a fantastic choice for parents who want to keep their child safe. The seat features SecureSafe’s complete safety system, Protect Plus. This provides enhanced protection for your child, keeping them safe in a collision. The system comprises Active Air Pads, Side Impact Pods, and Armour Tech, providing the protection your child needs in a side impact collision.
The car seat is easy to adjust, and the harness and headrest offer one-handed adjustments. It is ideal for busy parents who never have two hands-free! There are no re-threading straps or uninstalling, making the harness easy for everyone to use.
The seat also features cocotex, a premium coconut charcoal fabric that wicks away moisture to keep your child cool and dry. They won’t overheat, allowing you to use the car seat worry-free in hot Australian summers. The fabric is incredibly soft, too, keeping your child comfortable during long drives.
Age suitability | 12 months to 8 years |
Dimensions | 50 x 49 x 75 cm |
Weight | 10 kg |
Harness | Yes, five-point |
Facing | Forwaard facing |
Travel system compatible | Yes |
Cup Holder | Yes |
Armrest | No |
Adjustable headrest | Yes |
Additional side impact protection | Yes |
Slim Fit | No |
Buyers were impressed with the car seat, praising the room it offered. They found that small children were comfortable in the car seat and had plenty of room to grow. They found that the seat raised them in the car, too, while still keeping them safe.
They praised how easy the car seat was to use, making their life easier when travelling with their children. They found the seat was simple and easy to install, meaning they did not need to worry about the seat being installed correctly. Customers also praised the comfort, with their children falling asleep during long journeys.
Below, we have listed the pros and cons based on real buyer feedback:
The SecureSafe Shielf Elite Carseat is perfect for families with one child who want a car seat that will last for years. The reasonably priced booster seat offers complete collision protection, making it the perfect choice for parents who want peace of mind while they drive.
The car seat is also ideal for parents who want a car seat with one-handed adjustments; you can adjust and secure your child, even when they don’t have two hands-free. The soft and cooling fabric makes the seat perfect for parents who want to keep their child cool in warm weather, especially if their car does not have strong air conditioning.
Completing our list today is the Joie Centra Car Seat. The seat features Guard Surround Safety panels, which offer extra side impact protection that can be individually activated, tailoring your child’s protection and providing you with fantastic peace of mind.
The seat features a reinforced steel inner shell, making it super durable and offering enhanced protection for your baby. Thanks to the soft fabric, your child will be kept comfortable despite the steel shell. A removable cushion provides extra comfort and support to smaller babies, making it suitable for children of all sizes.
You can adjust the seat easily, too, allowing plenty of room for your baby to grow. The adjustable headrest can be adjusted with one hand, with seven positions to choose from, offering plenty of support to your growing child. The harness and headrest system can be adjusted simultaneously, making it even easier to create the perfect position for your child.
Installing the car seat is a breeze, too. It features easy seatbelt installation with colour-coded belt paths for you to follow. You can have the seat installed in a few minutes, allowing you to start enjoying car rides and adventures with your child. Keeping the seat clean is easy, too, with a washable cover allowing you to remove stains and keep the seat fresh for your little one.
Age suitability | 6 months to 8 years |
Dimensions | 58 x 50.5 x 70 – 86 cm |
Weight | 10.51 kg |
Harness | Yes, five-point |
Facing | Forward facing |
Travel system compatible | No |
Cup holder | No |
Armrest | Yes |
Adjustable headrest | Yes |
Additional side impact protection | Yes |
Slim Fit | Yes |
Buyers loved the car seat, especially how easy the harness was to use. They found it could be pulled in one motion, tightening and adjusting where needed. They found the harness smooth, and it did not get stuck, offering seamless installation.
The car seat was also easy to install, with many customers praising how easy the car seat is to use. They praised its comfort, too, noting how quickly their children fell asleep in the car seat! They praised the soft fabrics used, providing extra comfort. They also found the fabrics easy to clean, allowing them to keep the seat fresh for their baby.
A few noted that the back bar was tricky to adjust, especially in taller cars, as the bar was tricky to reach. Taller parents or those with shorter cars should not experience this issue.
Below, we have listed the pros and cons based on real buyer feedback:
The Joie Centra Car Seat is a fantastic option for parents with shorter cars who want an adjustable, harnessed booster seat. The variety of flexible features means the seat will last for years, providing parents with fantastic value for money and ensuring their child will remain comfortable for years.
The car seat is also a fine choice for taller parents who will be able to reach the back height bar with minimal issues.
Choosing the perfect harnessed booster car seat for your child can be tricky, with so many options. Your harnessed booster seat should have an easy-to-adjust harness and plenty of space for your child to grow. You should look for car seats with good safety ratings that will keep your baby safe in the case of a collision.
We recommend asking yourself the following questions when searching for your car seat to narrow your choice and find the perfect one for you:
You should look for seats that adjust easily, allowing you to provide room for your child to grow. A seat that will last for years should offer plenty of adjustment to continue supporting your child’s head and neck, keeping them safe.
Easy installation is another feature to look out for, as it will save you time. Most booster seats will not use ISOFIX bases; you must use the vehicle seat belt. Look for car seats with clear installation instructions or colour-coded belt paths.
Should you purchase an unharnessed booster seat, ensure the lap sash seatbelt is not used to install the seat so you can secure the seat and keep your child safe.
Enhanced side impact protection isn’t a feature all car seats have, but it will provide peace of mind and keep your child safe. Look for car seats offering enhanced side impact protection, especially those using Air Protect technology, as they will offer enhanced protection while keeping your child comfortable.
Headrests offer protection to keep your baby safe, so look for car seats with these. Some will offer deep side wings on the headrest, keeping your child’s head in position and offering plenty of protection and comfort. You want the headrest to be adjustable so your child will benefit from the head protection as they grow.
The headrest should also offer neck protection, keeping your baby protected in a crash. A chin support is handy here, especially if your child sleeps a lot in the car.
Generally, booster seats are designed to last for several years, offering space for your child until they are eight years old. This provides you with years of use, especially if you purchase a convertible car seat that can be used from six or twelve months old.
How long a car seat lasts also depends on the size of your baby and how quickly they grow. Taller children might outgrow the car seat before they are eight, so you should look at the lower shoulder height marker and use these as guidelines to know when you need to replace the car seat.
When purchasing the car seat, look at the additional accessories included. Not all car seats will have the same accessories, so it’s worth considering what accessories you would like to help narrow your search. These accessories are designed to keep your child safe and provide extra comfort.
Common accessories include:
Your car seat does not need to have these, but these will provide extra protection and peace of mind. Deep side wings and enhanced side impact protection can often increase the safety rating of the car seat, though.
These added extras might not be essential, but they can make your child’s experience more enjoyable. They can also be handy for adults, so it’s best to check what accessories are included when searching for your car seat.
Popular added extras include:
These added extras can give your child independence and keep them occupied in the car seat. Cup holders are an excellent example of this, along with storage pockets for keeping small toys or entertainment for your children.
Vehicle seat protectors and liners are handy for adults, reducing the maintenance and cleaning the car seat and vehicle seat will need, making your life easier.
Finally, you should consider the warranty period offered with the car seat. All car seats will offer a warranty period, offering you protection and peace of mind while you use them. The warranty period will often be broken into categories with different periods for the shell, fabrics, and any accessories.
The product description often lists the warranty, so you can see how long the car seat is protected before making your purchase. A warranty often offers lifetime protection on the shell and a few years for the harness or fabrics.
You should also check to see how the warranty is impacted in a collision. Some companies will replace the car seat, while others might offer minor repairs. It is worth knowing what is covered before purchasing to buy the best car seat with the most enhanced warranty.
That brings us to the end of our guide today. As you can see, some fantastic car seats are on the market. Searching for harnessed car seats does not have to be as tricky as you first thought. Whether you want convertible car seats, baby car seats that can be used for years, or convertible booster seats, there is a seat on this list to suit you. All of these seats are safe, comfortable, and easy to adjust, making them wonderful choices.
The only question now is, which harnessed booster seat will you choose?