Booster seats for the car
Booster seats without a backrest are compact, lightweight, and convenient to transport. However, they are only suitable for older children and should only be used once the child meets the prescribed minimum requirements.
Compared to a car seat with a backrest, a simple booster seat offers no side protection for the head and upper body. Models with a backrest and good belt guidance are therefore generally the preferred choice. A booster seat without a backrest can be a space-saving solution for occasional trips, for example.
From what age can children use a booster seat?
Under the current child car seat standard UN R129, newly approved booster seats without a backrest may only be used starting at a height of 125 cm. The child must also weigh at least 22 kg. The size and weight limits stated on the approval label and in the instruction manual for the respective model are always decisive.
The child is buckled in using the vehicle's three-point seatbelt. The lap belt must run low across the pelvis, and the shoulder belt must run centered over the shoulder. The belt must not rest on the neck or across the stomach.
In Germany, the legal requirement to use a car seat applies as long as a child is younger than twelve years old and shorter than 150 cm. Once either of these two limits is reached, a car seat is no longer legally required.
Booster seat or car seat with backrest?
Booster seats use two "horns" (belt guides) to ensure correct belt routing across the pelvic area, but due to the lack of a backrest, they offer no side-impact protection or protection for the head, nor any guide for the shoulder belt. As a first seat, a full car seat with a backrest is therefore always recommended.
The big advantage of a booster seat, however, is undoubtedly its unbeatably low price. A booster seat is also very easy to transport thanks to its compact size and light weight, making it ideal for use in another car. This is why booster seats work great as a mobile second seat for carpools, grandma's car, or for the little niece who's brought along on the spur of the moment.