Knowledge Center Types of Car Seats Belt-Positioning Booster What Is a Belt-Positioning Booster Seat?

Belt-Positioning Booster

What Is a Belt-Positioning Booster Seat?

A woman adjusts the vehicle seat belt as a child buckles up in a booster car seat.

There are three basic car seat stages: rear-facing, forward-facing with a harness, and booster. While rear-facing and forward-facing harnessed car seats rely on a built-in 5-point harness system to restrain the child and manage crash forces in the event of a collision, booster seats lift the child up so that they can use the vehicle seat belt. They’re often called “belt-positioning boosters” because that’s exactly what they do: raise the child up to help position the vehicle’s lap-and-shoulder belt across their hips and chest.  

High-Back vs Backless Boosters  
A child in a high-back booster seat in the back seat of a vehicle.
High-Back Booster


High-back boosters have an integrated seat back and headrest that help provide head, neck, and back support. This type of seat can be a good option for children who are transitioning out of their harnessed car seat for the first time. With an integrated seat back and headrest, a high-back booster may feel more comfortable and familiar to a child who’s used to riding in a car seat with a harness.   
 
 

 

 

A child in a backless booster seat in the back seat of a vehicle.
Backless Booster


Backless boosters, on the other hand, do not have an integrated seat back or headrest. These seats are often more affordable and more portable, making it easier for caregivers to move the seat between vehicles. Some high-back boosters, like the Britax Highpoint™ and Skyline®, can be converted into backless boosters, giving you more flexibility as your child gets accustomed to the booster stage.  

When Can I Move My Child Into a Booster? 

The booster stage is an important part of every child’s car seat journey, one that you don’t want to rush into or out of. Britax strongly recommends that children remain in a car seat with a 5-point harness until reaching the maximum weight or height allowed. 

Use this list of questions to help determine if your child is ready to ride in a booster:

  • Has your child outgrown the height or weight limit of their forward-facing harnessed seat?
  • Do they meet the booster seat’s requirements for height, weight, and age (if applicable), as listed in the user guide and on the product itself?
  • Do they meet your state or province’s booster seat requirements?
  • Can they sit upright in the booster with the vehicle seat belt positioned correctly — lap belt on thighs, shoulder belt across the chest (not the neck or face)?
  • Can they stay seated upright, with their back against the seat and feet on the floor, for the entire ride? 

When in doubt, a Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) can help you review the questions above so you can make an informed and confident decision.

Can I Put My Child’s Booster Seat in Any Vehicle Seat?  

Booster seats must be placed in a vehicle seating position with a lap and shoulder belt (not a lap-only belt). Backless boosters should only be used in a vehicle seat with a head restraint (a headrest).

Vehicle seating requirements vary by brand and model. Always follow the instructions in your seat’s user guide to ensure proper use.

  • Britax Grow With You™ & Grow With You™ ClickTight® (Booster Mode): If the vehicle head restraint prevents the booster head restraint from being raised high enough to fit the child properly, raise or remove the vehicle head restraint. If the head restraint cannot be removed, move the booster seat to the upright position or try a different seating location in your vehicle.
  • Britax Skyline® and Highpoint™ (With Backrest): If the vehicle head restraint prevents the backrest of the booster from resting flat against the vehicle seat back, it should be adjusted or removed. If the head restraint cannot be adjusted or removed, move the booster to a different seating position in your vehicle.
  • Britax Skyline® and Highpoint™ (Without Backrest): Only use the seat as a backless booster in a vehicle seating position with a head restraint.
  • Britax UpNGo™ and UpNGo Click®: Only use the seat in a vehicle seating position with a head restraint.

If you’re using lower anchor attachments (available on some boosters) to help keep the booster in place, check your vehicle owner’s manual for lower anchor locations and approved seating positions (read more about booster seats with lower anchor attachments below).  

For more information about Britax booster seat positioning in your vehicle, refer to the user guide for your product.

Boosters With Lower Anchor Attachments (Part of the LATCH System)  

If you’ve installed a harnessed car seat, you may be familiar with the LATCH system (lower anchors and tethers for children). This system provides a convenient installation method for rear-facing and forward-facing car seats with a harness, allowing you to connect the car seat’s integrated lower anchor attachments directly to the lower anchors in your vehicle. However, this installation method has a weight limit. Once your child reaches the lower anchor weight limit specified by your user guide, you'll need to reinstall the seat using the vehicle seat belt.  

With booster seats, however, the lower anchor attachments function differently. While not all boosters include lower anchor attachments, some models, like the UpNGo™ Click, include this feature to help keep the booster seat in place when not in use. Lower anchor weight limits do not apply to booster mode because the vehicle seat belt manages crash forces, not the booster seat itself.  

Always check your user guide for instructions on using lower anchor attachments in booster mode.  

Booster Seat Fit & Positioning Checklist  

For a belt-positioning booster to do its job, correct fit and positioning are key. Use this checklist to help ensure that your big kid is riding safely in their booster:

  • The lap belt is flat across their upper thighs (not their stomach).
  • The shoulder belt is lying flat across the middle of their chest (not across their face or neck). If needed, use the shoulder belt guide (provided with some backless booster models) to achieve proper positioning.
  • The vehicle seat belt is routed correctly according to the instructions in your user guide.
  • Your child is sitting with their knees bent naturally over the edge of the booster and their back flat against the booster back or vehicle seat back.
The Britax Difference  

Britax offers a range of belt-positioning booster options for the big-kid stage. From all-in-one seats with a high-back booster mode to lightweight and portable backless options, Britax boosters are designed to help make the final car seat stage simple, convenient, and safe while still providing kid-approved comfort and style.   

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Britax All-in-One Car Seats (Featuring High-Back Booster Mode): All-in-ones are designed to grow with your child from infancy through the big-kid years, covering rear-facing, forward-facing harness, and high-back booster modes. 
Great For: Growing families and budget-conscious families looking for a value option they can use from day one through year 10.

  • One4Life® All-in-One-Car Seat

    A woman standing outside of a vehicle with an open back door, smiling at a child who is sitting in the car in a booster seat.
    • ClickTight® Installation (for rear-facing and forward-facing harness modes): Install with confidence in 3 easy steps: pinch to open, thread and buckle, click it closed.
    • Extended Rear-Facing Capacity: Accommodates children up to 50 lbs and 49” rear-facing, so your child can ride rear-facing longer.
    • SafeWash® Fabrics: No more hand-washing or waiting for the cover to air-dry; just quick and easy cleanup so you can keep moving. The car seat cover is also naturally flame-retardant with no added FR chemicals.
    • Easy to Adjust: The 15-position no-rethread harness and headrest adjust together easily with one hand, and the 9-position recline has an easy-read indicator to help you find the best angle for your vehicle.

  • One4Life® Slim All-in-One-Car Seat 

    A smiling child buckled up in the back seat of a car, sitting in a high-back booster seat. 

    Includes ClickTight®, extended rear-facing capacity, SafeWash®, and easy-adjust design, plus...

    • SpaceSaver™ Design: Slim outside, spacious inside! The 17.5” seat is designed to fit 3 across* without compromising on trusted Britax safety and premium comfort. 
      *Britax cannot guarantee 3-across installation fitment in all vehicles.
    • Premium Car Seat Cover: Features a soft knit fabric with woven mélange accents that are made from recycled polyester. The cover is safe to machine-wash and dry and naturally flame retardant with no added FR chemicals.
    • Hassle-Free Cleanup: Extra space between the shell and base means you can clean under the seat with ease – and with minimal grooves in the seating area and base, you can wipe it down with no fuss.

 

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Britax Harness-2-Boosters: Convert from forward-facing harness mode to high-back, belt-positioning booster mode.
Great For: Children who are getting closer to the booster stage but aren’t quite ready to transition; families who need to use their convertible or all-in-one seat for a younger sibling.

  • Grow With You™ Harness-2-Booster 

    Two children in car seats. One is in a booster, the other is in a forward-facing car seat with a harness.
    • Extended Maximum Booster Capacity: Accommodates children up to 120 lbs and 63” in booster mode, giving your child additional room to grow.
    • Install Easily: Features premium quick-push LATCH connectors.
    • Easy-Remove SafeWash® Cover: The car seat cover is safe to machine-wash and dry and naturally flame-retardant with no added FR-chemicals.
    • 9-Position Quick-Adjust Harness and Headrest: Adjust together quickly and easily with one hand to help create the proper fit as your child grows; no rethreading, ever!
    • Two Cup and Snack Holders with Additional Storage: Keep drinks and snacks within reach for an enjoyable car ride.

  • Grow With You™ ClickTight® Harness-2-Booster 

    Two children in car seats. One is in a booster, the other is in a forward-facing car seat with a harness.

    Includes extended maximum booster capacity, easy-remove SafeWash® cover (select fashions only), 9-position quick-adjust harness & headrest, and two cup/snack holders, plus... 

    • ClickTight® Installation: With ClickTight technology for harness mode installation, you know it’s right in just 3 easy steps: open, buckle, and close. The open and accessible belt path clears the way for confident installation, and the automatic tensioner takes care of the tightening.

 

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Britax 2-Stage Belt-Positioning Boosters:Transition from high-back to backless booster.
Great For: Children transitioning to booster mode; growing families who need to use their harness-2-booster seat for a younger sibling; value-conscious families looking for a versatile booster.

  • Skyline® Belt-Positioning Booster 

    child in a high-back booster seat in the back of a vehicle.
    • Extended Maximum Capacity: Accommodates children up to 120 lbs and 63”, giving your child additional room to grow.
    • Premium Quick-Push Lower Connectors: Secure the seat in the vehicle when not in use.
    • 10-Position Quick-Adjust Headrest: Helps create a comfortable, secure fit as your child grows.
    • Dishwasher Safe Removable Cup Holders: 2 cup and snack holders keep drinks, snacks, and toys within reach.

  • Highpoint™ Belt-Positioning Booster 

    Two children in the back seat of a vehicle in booster seats. One is wearing athletic gear, the other is in a ballet outfit.

    Includes extended maximum capacity, premium quick-push lower connectors, 10-position quick-adjust headrest, and dishwasher-safe removable cup holders, plus... 

    • SecureGuard™ Clip: Helps you quickly and easily position the vehicle seat belt.
    • Easy-Remove SafeWash® Cover: The car seat cover is safe to machine-wash and dry and naturally flame-retardant with no added FR-chemicals.

 


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Britax Backless Boosters: Lightweight, portable, and designed for big kids on the go. 
Great For: Big kids who aren't quite ready to ride with just the vehicle seat belt; children who frequently ride in different vehicles; busy families.

  • UpNGo™ Backless Booster 

    Three children wearing baseball uniforms, sitting in backless booster car seats in the back seat of a vehicle.
    • Extended Maximum Capacity: Designed for children from 40-120 lbs and 46”-63".
    • PosturePlus™ Contoured Seat: Helps encourage proper posture and seat belt positioning.
    • SpaceSaver™ Design: 17.1” seat leaves plenty of room for siblings & carpoolers.
    • Lightweight & Portable: Easy to carry with a built-in carry handle.
    • Removable SafeWash® Cover: Safe to machine wash and dry and naturally flame-retardant with no added FR chemicals.

  • UpNGo™ Click Backless Booster 

    Three children in backless booster car seats in the back seat of a vehicle. 

    Includes extended maximum capacity, PosturePlus™, SpaceSaver™, lightweight & portable design, and a SafeWash® cover, plus... 

    • Click On, Quick Off: Steel rigid LATCH connectors click in with ease and release in seconds so you can move between cars with no hassle, making this the perfect travel booster.

 


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Boost, Buckle, Go   

Belt-positioning boosters are an integral part of the car seat journey. No matter which type of booster you choose, make a commitment to help keep your child riding safely by following all instructions in the user guide, regularly checking your child’s height and weight, and demonstrating safe practices on every ride (always buckle up, sit properly in the vehicle seat with good posture, and keep your focus on the road while driving).
 

If you have any questions about Britax belt-positioning boosters, reach out to our Customer Service team. You can also schedule an appointment with a CPST to learn more about best practices and review your car seat installation and your child’s fit.    

Safe travels!

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