New booster seats offer safety improvements

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(NBC News) - A new study by the National Institute for Highway Safety finds child booster seats are getting safer.

"When we first began our ratings in 2008, only about a quarter got the top rating of 'Best Bet', and this year, 48 out of 53 got the top rating," says IIHS senior engineer Jessica Jermakian.

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Consumers were told to avoid only two.

"Those are two boosters made by Dorel that put the lap belt too high on the child's belly," Jermakian says.

Dorel, who still has top picks on the latest list, did not respond to a request for comment.

According to Virginia DMV, all kids under 8 years old must ride in a secured safety seat that's federally approved.

These boosters provide good belt fit for typical 4 to 8 year-olds in almost any car, minivan or SUV, according to a recent report.

  • Aidia Explorer 2-in-1 (backless mode)
  • Aidia Explorer 2-in-1 (highback mode)
  • Aidia Pathfinder (highback)
  • Aidia Scout (backless)
  • Baby Trend PROtect Yumi (highback)
  • Baby Trend PROtect Yumi 2-in-1 (backless mode)
  • Baby Trend PROtect Yumi 2-in-1 (highback mode)
  • Britax Frontier Clicktight (highback)
  • Britax Parkway SGL (highback mode)
  • Britax Pinnacle Clicktight (highback)
  • Britax Pioneer (highback)
  • BubbleBum Pink (backless)
  • Chicco KidFit Zip (backless mode)
  • Chicco KidFit Zip (highback mode)
  • Chicco KidFit Zip Air (backless mode)
  • Chicco KidFit Zip Air (highback mode)
  • Evenflo Big Kid (backless mode)
  • Evenflo Big Kid (highback mode)
  • Evenflo Platinum SafeMax (highback)
  • Evenflo SafeMax 3-in-1 (backless mode)
  • Evenflo SafeMax 3-in-1 (highback mode)
  • Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1 (highback)
  • Graco 4Ever All-in-1 with Safety Surround (backless mode)
  • Graco 4Ever All-in-1 with Safety Surround (highback mode)
  • Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1 (highback)
  • Graco Milestone All-in-One with Safety Surround (highback)
  • Graco Nautilus 80 Elite (backless mode)
  • Graco Nautilus 80 Elite (highback mode)
  • Graco SlimFit 3-in-1 (highback)
  • Graco TurboBooster (backless mode)
  • Graco TurboBooster (highback mode)
  • Graco TurboBooster with ComfortCore (backless mode)
  • Graco TurboBooster with ComfortCore (highback mode)
  • Graco TurboBooster LX with TrueShield (backless mode)
  • Graco TurboBooster LX with TrueShield (highback mode)
  • Harmony Big Boost Deluxe (backless)
  • Harmony Dreamtime 2.0 (backless mode)
  • Harmony Dreamtime 2.0 (highback mode)
  • KidsEmbrace Fun-Ride Backless Batman (backless)
  • KidsEmbrace Fun-Ride Spider-Man (backless mode)
  • KidsEmbrace Fun-Ride Spider-Man (highback mode)
  • Lil Fan Club Seat 2-in-1 (backless mode)
  • Safety 1st Continuum (highback)
  • Safety 1st Elite EX 100 Air+ (highback)
  • Safety 1st EverFit (highback)
  • Safety 1st Grow and Go Air (highback)
  • Safety 1st Grow and Go EX Air (highback)
  • Safety 1st MultiFit (highback)
  • Safety 1st UltraMax Air 360 (highback)

Check Fit have varied results depending on child size and vehicle model.

  • Britax Parkway SGL (backless mode)
  • Lil Fan Club Seat 2-in-1 (highback mode)
  • Peg Perego Viaggio Flex 120 (highback)

Not Recommended don't provide good belt fit and should be avoided.

  • Cosco Easy Elite (highback)
  • Cosco Highback 2-in-1 DX (highback)