~~GRACO TURBO BOOSTER CAR SEAT WITH DELUXE PAD~~~LOVING THIS NEW "BIG BOY" SEAT!
Written: May 27 '03 (Updated Jun 05 '05)
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Pros: Accommodates young riders 30 to 100 pounds; attractive and comfortable.
Cons: No 5-point restraint system available for younger children.
The Bottom Line: Purchase this moderately priced Graco Turbo Booster Car Seat With Deluxe Pad for your 3 to 10 year old once he/she has outgrown standard models.
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| melissasrn's Full Review: Graco TurboBooster® SafeSeatâ„¢ 8674BUZ Youth... |
Although my youngest son won't officially be 3 years old until the middle of June, he's been safely riding in this new popular Graco Turbo Booster Car Seat With Deluxe Pad for a few months now. Tristan's always been big/tall for his age and had weighed a good 35 pounds or more for awhile. So as he was quickly outgrowing the standard convertible car seat (the Evenflo Horizon 1, a 20 to 40 lb model with the outdated over-the-head restraint) we kept inside my husband's truck, I knew I wanted the replacement to be a booster seat that would keep him safe and securely restrained for years to come. As many parents already know, child restraint laws have changed recently (for the better!), so Tristan will most likely still be in this booster seat for a good five years or more to come. Very attractive in appearance and a breeze to install, I mostly have only positive things to say about this highly recommended, moderately priced choice.
~~~The Booster Seat~~~
Designed for toddlers ranging in weight from 30 pounds all the way up to 100 pounds and 3 to 10 years of age (and up to 57 inches in height), this Graco Turbo Booster Car Seat With Deluxe Pad features attractive, thick padding covered with durable navy and royal blue machine washable materials (cotton/polyester) with red trim in a scattered star pattern named Liberty. To be installed in the forward facing position only, this booster seat has a one-hand adjustable head rest that can be moved up as your child grows taller. Used along with your vehicle's shoulder/lap belt restraint system, you'll find that loading and unloading your child is a snap when compared to typical 5 point restraint systems that are now standard for most car seats designed for younger infants and toddlers. Once children get older and heavier (and decide riding in a car seat for kids is totally NOT cool!), the Turbo Booster can easily be converted to a backless booster seat as needed. Right now we are using this Graco Turbo Booster Car Seat With Deluxe Pad in the smallest position, and Tristan fits perfectly and comfortably inside when traveling with his daddy a few times a week.
~~~Price, Availability, & Assembly~~~
We purchased Tristan's Graco Turbo Booster Car Seat With Deluxe Pad at our local Wal-Mart for $59.63 plus tax. Of course this child restraint system had to be assembled before installation, yet it was packaged in a surprisingly small cardboard box. With a few standard household tools and about 10 minutes of his time, my husband had this booster seat ready to install with little difficulty. Please note that no where on the box or at the Graco website do they state this particular model is LATCH compliant for those of you with newer vehicles, so keep this piece of safety information in mind. Since purchasing the Graco Turbo Booster Car Seat With Deluxe Pad a few months ago, I've since found it online for a lower price of just $49.99 at www.target.com. Purchase it now by copying and pasting the following URL into your computer's web browser:
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/ref=br_1_1/601-0124034-5197751?asin=B00008UA28
~~~Installation~~~
Installing the Graco Turbo Booster Car Seat With Deluxe Pad properly, as well as any child restraint system, is key for greatest safety. The booster seat should not move more than one inch in any direction or it's too loose otherwise and could result in injury in the event of a crash. Also, the middle back seat is usually the best place to install car seats when feasible, but this isn't always possible. When in doubt, refer to your owners manual very carefully or stop by your local law enforcement agency or fire department as many of the personnel there are trained in proper child restraint use and installation. For no booster seat, including this Graco Turbo Booster Car Seat With Deluxe Pad is safe if it's not used properly.
~~~Features I Like~~~
Since safety at a moderate price is the most important aspect of purchasing a child restraint system for me, it's comforting to know that this Graco Turbo Booster Car Seat With Deluxe Pad meets or exceeds all current federal safety standards. (As of this writing, I am unaware of any recalls that may be issued on this particular model.) The design of this booster seat is very attractive with its thick and comfortable padding as well as it's colorful pattern. There are actually two slide-out cupholders: one on each side for a drink to go in one while a snack can rest conveniently in the other. Not only does this booster seat accommodate youngsters from 30 to 100 pounds, but it will easily adjust to your growing child's size for a more custom fit, including the padded arm rests which are adjustable as well. And there is EPS foam (energy absorbing foam) located in the headrest, which offers greater side impact protection. Tristan can easily climb up into his "big boy" car seat and fasten the seat belt all by himself, promoting independence (but then again, he can unfasten it just as easily, too!). And the "open-loop" belt positioners help keep the shoulder strap from awkwardly crossing right at the neck area. So overall, this Graco Turbo Booster Car Seat With Deluxe Pad offers lots of bang for the buck.
~~~Features I Don't Like~~~
Of course a 5 point restraint system is still the best for a child of Tristan's age (up to at least 40 pounds or so) like the one we use most frequently inside my own vehicle: the Evenflo Express Comfort Touch Booster Seat. But since our son is growing so quickly, we decided purchasing a smaller booster seat just was not practical for our current needs. So the Graco Turbo Booster Car Seat With Deluxe Pad could technically be safer for younger children in theory. While the "deep side wings" are advertised to give sleeping children more head support during naps (the booster seat can actually recline somewhat as desired), I've noticed that Tristan's head will slump slightly forward when he falls asleep when restrained in this particular booster seat. But I suppose I should fault our vehicle more than this model itself as the straight back seat of our full-sized truck does not allow this booster seat to be placed in the reclining yet forward facing position. So as long as most of our outings are short ones for the time being and support during nap time is not an issue, the Graco Turbo Booster Car Seat With Deluxe Pad fits our needs nicely with only a few small exceptions.
~~~Summary of Product Features~~~
- For children from 30 to 100 pounds
- One-hand adjustable head support grows with child
- E.P.S., energy absorbing foam in head rest for added side impact protection
- Open-loop belt guide for easy installation and & added comfort
- Deep side-wings support child while napping
- Retractable cup holders for snacking on the go
- Padded arm rests are height adjustable
- Deluxe seat pad is removable for machine washing
- Easily converts to a backless booster seat
- Meets or exceeds Federal Motor Vehicles Safety Standard 213
- Forward facing only
- Measurements: 26-1/2Hx16-1/2Wx15L
***taken directly from the Graco website
~~~Overall Recommendation~~~
If your child is quickly outgrowing his/her standard convertible car seat and is ready for a larger booster seat, consider the popular Graco Turbo Booster Car Seat With Deluxe Pad as it's both a safe and attractive choice at a moderate price. Parents on a budget will be comforted to know that this just might be the last child restraint system they'll have to purchase for a long while. Tristan looks so grown up riding in his new car seat, and he actually climbs right in and buckles himself up on his own without anyone having to tell him to do so. We just have to make sure the lap/shoulder belt is tight enough before placing the vehicle into motion. Assembly and installation are very simple, and this durable model is sure to last for many years to come. So in conclusion, we are very happy with our highly recommended choice. The Graco Turbo Booster Car Seat With Deluxe Pad is easily a 5 star product in our book, and hopefully it will be for your family as well! Good luck and stay safe :-)
***For more information on this Graco Turbo Booster Car Seat With Deluxe Pad and other high quality items for infants, toddlers, and beyond, check out their website online at:
www.gracobaby.com
GRACO CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS, INC.
***Find out more about the Graco Backless Turbobooster Booster Seat designed for older children and is less than $20!
***We also own a Graco Stroller that has performed quite well for almost 3 years now.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 59.63
Age Range of Child: 3 to 5 Years
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