High back versus no back booster seats. Is one better than the other? Which one is right for you and your child? And how do you even install one of those things? Hi, I'm Ava, and today here at the Strong4Life Car Seat Safety Lab, We'll unravel all those mysteries and more. Okay, so first, let's state the obvious. High back boosters have...

(Describer) She sets a high-backed booster on a workbench.

high backs. And no back boosters have...

(Describer) She sets a padded seat booster on the bench.

no backs. High back boosters are generally safer, so it's best to start your child off in one of these before moving into one of these. The type of booster you choose should be based on your child's needs. Do car rides make them sleepy or wired? Are they on their best behavior in the car or do they like to act up? These factors play into your decision along with a couple of other key factors about your car seats. For example, high back booster seats are necessary if your car has low seat backs or doesn't have headrest. So for something like this, you need a high back booster.

(Describer) On a bench seat.

On the other hand, you can use a no-back booster seat if your car has taller seat backs and/or headrests, so long as it meets the needs of your child. Quick tip: If the backseat or headrest comes up to the top of your child's ears and the seatbelt fits them securely, then they're safe to ride in a no-back booster. As for how you install a booster, it depends from seat to seat, but there are typically two methods. One method uses your child's weight and the car's lap shoulder seatbelt to hold the booster in place. Just place your kid in the seat, strap them in, and they're good to go. And the other is a tether and lower anchor installation method. You might remember this from your forward facing car seat phase but if you need a refresher, it goes like this. You'll extend the tether from the back of your booster seat, then clip its hook to the tether anchor. After you have that connected, find the lower anchors in the back crease of your vehicle's seat and hook your anchor strap connectors over the anchors. Then put your kid in the seat and buckle them in as normal. Oh, one last thing. Make sure that the seatbelt is laying across your little one's shoulder and hip bones, not their neck and belly. And that in a nutshell is everything you need to know about high back versus no back booster seats. That said, even with this newfound knowledge in your arsenal, it's always important to...

(All) Read the manual! Just like rear facing and forward facing car seats, every booster seat is different so read up. Thanks so much for stopping by. That's all for now. I'll see you next time. Accessibility provided by the U.S. Department of Education.

(Describer) Accessibility provided by the U.S. Department of Education.