A study released by the Insurance Institute For Highway Safety this week ranked several types of popular booster seats, noting that several do not provide a good fit for children and should be avoided.

According to the IIHS Web site, the institute tested several types of popular booster seats, both high-back and backless to see how they fit an average 6-year-old child in most vehicles. Engineers measure how the 3-point belt fit a dummy in four different conditions.

To achieve the best ratings, a belt must rest across the thighs, not the abdomen of the child and must rest across the middle of the shoulders, not the outside or inside of it.

Those named “best bets” were ones that provided a good fit for a typical four to eight year old in nearly any car, minivan or SUV. Good bets were found acceptable in most vehicles, check fit was a rating that depended on each child and vehicle and not recommended were those they recommend consumers avoid.

The IIHS recommend consumers avoid the following:

• Evenflo Chase
• Evenflo Express
• Evenflo Generation 65
• Evenflo Sightseer
• Safety 1st All-in-One
• Safety 1st Alpha Omega Elite.

Even though they discouraged those models, they did note it was better to use one than to use none and recommend consumers utilize them until they were able to replace those models.

Many boosters that were both high back boosters and backless ones had different ratings depending on the mode they were used in.

Those rated “check fit” could be great fits or poor fits depending on how it sat on the child using it.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in an accident involving a defective car seat, our offices may be able to assist you. Contact us today for your free case evaluation.

Read the report and news release here>>