Babytrend Yumi Folding Booster Seat Review
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If youre shopping for a bargain travel booster seat, here it is. The Baby Trend Yumi folding booster seat has been around for a long time under different names and was a pioneer in this type of product. But is it still worth buying?
The highback booster size limits are a little lower than the hifold above, but when your child is ready you can remove the back to use it as a backless booster that goes all the way to 100 lbs . Combined with the rock-bottom price tag, the Baby Trend Yumi 2-in-1 folding booster seat is an incredible value.
A big plus of the Baby Trend Yumi is that its a booster seat designed for everyday use. Its got cupholders and plenty of cushy padding. That makes it a great choice if you plan to fly somewhere and then take the kids on a long family road trip. Other folding booster seats like the hifold might not win kids hearts on a six hour drive, which of course means less peace for us parents.
The big downside of the Yumi is the fold. Whereas the hifold collapses into thirds to make an ultra-compact package, the Yumis fold just isnt as small. While you might be able to fit the hifold under the seat in front of you, the Baby Trend Yumi definitely has to go in the overhead bin and possibly sideways, depending on the size of the plane. With overcrowded bins the days theres something to be said for a tiny package that wont attract the attention of the flight crew!
Peg Perego Viaggio Shuttle Plus 120
This is one of the best car seats for five-year-olds because you can customize the fit to your growing child. It works for kids aged 4-12, up to a weight of 120 lbs and a height of 63 inches.
The 3D adjustment system allows you to adjust the seat in 4 directions, all independent from each other. This is an upgrade from the earlier model.
The side wings are adjustable for larger kids and when they are ready, you can remove the backrest and convert the seat into a backless booster.
- Could do with more padding
AgeRange: 4-12 yearsHeightRange: 39-63 in WeightRange: 40-120 lbs SeatWeight: 14 lbs Dimensions: 26.75 H x 17.25 W x 26.75 L in
Booster Seat Registration Card
Don’t forget to mail back the registration card. If you don’t, you will not be notified if the booster seat is recalled or has other safety problems.
If you moved since you mailed the card, make sure you call your booster seat manufacturer to update your address.
If you misplaced the registration card that came with your booster seat, please and mail or fax it as instructed.
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Best Car Seat For 5 Year Old
What is the best car seat for 5 year old?
Convertible and booster seats are good options to accommodate kids at five years old. Most kids at this age exceed the minimum weight requirement of a booster 40 lb.
But a high back booster is preferred to a backless booster which is suitable for preschoolers around 5 years old.
A 5-year-old preschooler generally rides forward-facing, so both the convertible and booster are worth your consideration.
If you have purchased a convertible car seat since your kids birth, then just continue to use it until they outgrow the 65-pound weight limit or 49-inch height limit.
However, if your boy or girl exceeds the limits at five years of age, you can purchase the best booster seat for 5 years old.
Booster seats are typically the cheapest.
To make it simple, weve picked 9 of the best car seats for 5 year olds and categorized them into three weight groups :
35-40 Pounds
Best Car Seat for 5 Year Old Weighing from 35-40 Pounds
65-lb Maximum
Best Booster Car Seat for 5 Year Old Weighing from 40-50 Pounds
100-lb Maximum
These booster seats for five year old are great for smaller kids, even as little as 3 years old or 4 years old.
Take a closer look at our recommendations by viewing the car seats in the categories below.
All-in-One
Best for 5 Year Olds
Or, if youd rather view the best car seat for five year old by its weight limit or height limit, your budget, or by bonus features , click on either of the below.
See Car Seats by Bonus features
Convertible Car Seat Vs Booster Seat
The best convertible car seat for 5-year-old kids will have a high weight and height limit so you can keep your child in a 5-point harness and rear-facing for longer .
Convertible car seats can be bulky and your older child might not enjoy being in a car seat. But they often provide more safety features like side impact protection and a tether.
A booster seat is the best option if your child has reached the max limits of their convertible car seat. Most kids between 4 and 12 years can use a booster and there are many that have adjustable sizing to better fit your child.
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Can A 5 Year Old Use A Backless Booster Seat
Yes, kids at 5 years old are legally approved to use a backless booster seat. However, its highly recommended to keep your 5 year old in harness mode until they are 65 pounds or 49 inches tall.
More than that, the high-back boosters also offer more protection than backless models. But if your little boy or girl prefers a backless booster, make sure they are at least 4 years old or 40 pounds.
What Are The Height And Weight Limits For Booster Seats For 5 Year Olds
The height and weight limits vary a bit depending on the make and models.
The average weight limits range from 40 to 100-120 pounds for the majority of booster seats, including high back and backless. The 40-pound is the minimum requirement for a child to ride in a booster. So if your little one reaches the age of five, he or she must weigh at least 40 pounds.
The upper height limit of the boosters can be 100-pound, 110-pound, and 120 pounds. Most come with a 100-pound booster weight limit very few models have a 110-pound weight limit, like the Safe Traffic System Ride Safer Travel Vest few models have a 120-pound weight limit, like the Graco 4Ever DLX and Britax One4Life.
The upper height limit for a booster ranges between 57 and 63 inches.
Most allow 57-inch because this is required in booster laws in most states. Few models extended the use of the booster stage by featuring a higher 63-inch height limit, like the Britax One4Life and Britax Grow with You Clicktight.
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Determining Car Seat Fit
If you think your child is outgrowing their harnessed car seat, first be sure that you’re checking the right signs to judge the fit. Most children outgrow harnessed car seats by height long before they outgrow by weight, particularly with the 65-pound seats. When your child is forward-facing, the harness slots should be at or above the child’s shoulders. When the shoulders are above the top slots, it’s time to change seats.
A forward-facing car seat is also outgrown by height when the tops of the child’s ears reach the top of the car seat shell unless the manufacturer states otherwise in the instructions. When checking the weight limits of the car seat, be sure you’re looking at the forward-facing harness weight limit, not the booster weight limit .
Most children outgrow harnessed car seats by height long before they outgrow by weight, particularly with the 65-pound seats.
There are many harness-to-booster car seats available today with a higher harness limit that later become booster seats. These can be a good option because they allow you to avoid buying another car seat and then a booster. Look for a car seat with a higher harnessed weight limit and a higher top shoulder strap height. This will allow the seat to be used longer in car seat mode .
The range of car seats available today means no family should struggle to find even a budget model that allows their child to remain safely harnessed to a minimum of age five, and most likely far beyond that.
Older Children: Seat Belt Every Time
Why: Seat belts save lives, for kids and adults.
Tip: Children old enough and large enough to use a seat belt without a booster seat should always use lap-and-shoulder seat belts. Children younger than 13 should not sit in the front seat.
Need help installing your car seat? UNC REX Healthcare offers free inspections. To learn more, call 784-1802.
MORE CAR SEAT TIPS
- Car seats that are more than 10 years old or have passed the manufacturer-specified expiration date should not be used. Any car seat, regardless of age, that has been in a severe crash should be replaced.
- Either the vehicle seat belt or LATCH system should be used to install the car seat. LATCH is found on most car seats and vehicles manufactured after Sept. 1, 2002.
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What Seat Should A 5 Year Old Be In
Both the convertible and booster car seats are suitable to ride a 5 year old, who weighs an average of 40.5 pounds for boys and 39.5 pounds for girls. Selecting what type of car seat depends on your personal needs.
If you have used a convertible car seat, keep using it before your 5 year old child approaches the weight or height limit, whichever comes first.
If youre planning to get another new car seat for 5 year olds, booster seats are a good option. Theyre cheaper and lighter in weight and more portable to switch installing in different vehicles.
Best For Travel: Chicco Kidfit Zip Air Plus 2
Courtesy of Amazon
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Snack tray in way of buckling
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Recline difficult when installed
With this booster, your kid will be set on road trips thanks to the comfortable contoured seat, two cup holders that collapse down when theyre not in use, and an add-on console that fits into a cup holder and is large enough to hold a phone.
If theres a spill, the seat cover easily zips off and is safe to toss into the washing machine. The seat is equipped with seat belt guides, so you will always be assured your child is securely fastened in. It also has a 10-position adjustable headrest, uses the LATCH system for easy installation, and even has pop-out armrest covers.
Product Weight: 12.1 pounds | Height Range: 38 – 57 inches | Weight Range: 40 – 110 pounds | Age Range: 4Y+| Convertible: Yes | Price at time of publication: $160
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Can My 5 Year Old Be In A Booster Seat
Yes. The booster seat is suitable for children at least 4 years old, so its reasonable to accommodate a 5 year old in a booster seat.
However, its recommended to stick with the harness convertible seat until your child exceeds the height or weight limits if you have owned a convertible seat when they were smaller.
How Long Should A Child Be In A 5 Point Harness
Your boy or girl should be in a 5-point harness car seat as long as possible until he or she reaches the weight or height limit. Most come with a 65-pound weight limit and 49-inch height limit for 5-point-harness.
The car seats with a 5-point harness gives more protection than booster seats without the harness.
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The Role Your Car Plays In Booster Safety
Unlike infant and convertible car seats , boosters are positioning devicesmeaning the cars seat belt is completely responsible for restraining the child. In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on how a cars seat beltin particular, the presence or absence of seat belt pretensioners and force limiterscan impact the risk of injury.
When you are considering booster seat safety and where youll be placing the booster within the car, its important to find out which safety features your car has and where theyre located.
Pretensioners and force limiters are built-in devices that enable seat belts to function more effectively. In the first milliseconds of a crash, pretensioners remove several inches of slack from the beltreducing how far forward the occupant moves and the likelihood of the occupant falling sideways and out of the shoulder belt . Every seat belt locks in a crash the pretensioner activates after the belt is already locked to take even more slack out of the harness. For a child in a booster seat, a pretensioner can help keep the shoulder belt on the shoulder and limit the distance the child is thrown from the seat. Force limiters kick in later during a crash, allowing a controlled amount of slack back into the seat belt to prevent a too-tight hold that could cause chest injuries.
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Because of its ample seat padding, the GoFit Plus is bulkier than some other backless boosters. If your primary goal is a compact backless booster for travel, you may prefer an ultralight model, like the 2.2-pound Cosco Rise. Also, theres no dedicated storage spot to stow the seats LATCH connectors when theyre not in use, so when youre carrying the GoFit Plus around, they flap about. And the GoFit Plus is not inexpensive there are cheaper backless boosters to be found , but we found its a good value for the quality.
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Lower Anchor Weight Limits
Lower anchors have weight limits set by the vehicle and car seat manufacturers. You can determine the lower anchor weight limit by checking the warning label or installation diagrams located on the side of the car seat. If your car seat does not have a label, you can determine the maximum allowable child weight for lower anchor use by subtracting the weight of the car seat from 65 pounds.
Lower anchor weight limit = 65 lbs weight of car seat
Know the Facts
Once your child outgrows the vehicle or car seat manufacturers established limits for the lower anchors, stop using the lower anchor attachments and reinstall the car seat using the vehicles seat belt.
Graco Turbobooster Stretch Booster The Best Bang For Your Buck
The Graco TurboBooster can easily be converted from high back booster to backless and is intended for kids 40-110 pounds.
The 9-position adjustable headrest is comfortably padded, as are the side wings, and the open loop belt guides, cup holder, and retractable storage compartment are all convenient for parents of older kids.
The TurboBooster has been crash-tested to meet or exceed U.S. safety standards. It also features the innovative LATCH system that has a tether in the back connected to an easy-to-use front adjustment strap. A latched booster seat is significantly safer than one where your child is simply buckled in. Even better, its very easy to unlatch for switching between vehicles.
Price Comparison
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Graco Turbobooster Takealong Highback Booster Seat Review
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Graco has long been synonymous with booster seats, and theyve recently added an option for a sort-of-folding booster seat that could work well for lots of families. Its not the most portable, but it gets the job done and could work as a booster seat for home as well as for travel.
The Graco TurboBooster TakeAlong booster seat comes either as a highback booster seat or as a backless booster seat either way, the bottom part is the same. Unlike other folding booster seats, to collapse this one for travel you detach the back and then hook it onto the base of the seat. In this configuration, its probably too big to carry on for most airlines since youre still dealing with the full height of the seatback.
On the other hands, the Graco TurboBooster TakeAlong backless booster seat collapses in half when you pick it up by the handle in the middle of the seat. Pretty nifty! It even comes with a carry bag so that its easy to transport.
In either mode, this should offer a good fit for kids who weight at least 40lbs and are mature enough to ride in a booster seat. Its nicely narrow with the cupholders flipped in too.
Is this an amazing choice for travel? That depends on what you need it for. Its not the lightest travel booster seat in this list, nor the most compact when folded. But many families will find it useful if theyre planning a flight followed by a long drive since it has a more traditional booster seat feel.
What Would Be A Good Alternative For A Combination Car Seat For A 5 Year Old
The best alternative would be the chicco kidfit 2 in 1 big kid high back booster car seat. If youre interested in the best booster seat I have a list as well. The chicco kidfit 2 in 1 is recommended by the american academy of pediatrics and won the best bet booster seat award as well. If your little one has outgrown the infant car seats then you have to find the highback booster seat options or backless booster seat. Typically in elementary school you have to make the upgrade high back booster as the child grows. Its also a good idea to stop using the rear facing if they are over 40 inches tall. Another good option would be evenflo maestro sport with the supercinch latch attachment and shoulder belt guide. Or you can go with graco turbobooster portable booster seat and its one of the lightest car seat with machine washable seat pad and approved by child passenger safety technician and insurance institute for highway safety.
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