While travelling with multiple babies at a time, you might face challenges fitting them side by side in the back of the car. You might have heard about narrow booster seats and wonder if you can manage space for a third seat in a row. Yes, you heard it right! These seats can help accommodate the couple and even the third kid. But certainly, as a parent, you can’t solely opt for the narrowest booster seats. Babies’ safety, comfort, and build quality should be the other things you should care about. Considering these criteria and other essential things, I am sharing my pick of the best narrow booster seats to accommodate your ever-growing army!
See Also: Best Car Seat for 4 year old
How To Choose the Best Narrow Booster Seat?
Finding the best booster seat is not rocket science! Your narrow booster seat should be comfortable and easy to use. Besides, there are some other criteria you should consider. Let’s find out!
Narrow Shape:
A best booster seat should designed in a narrow shape that fits well side by side in a row. Measure the width of your car’s seating area and compare it with the width of the booster seat to ensure a proper fit.
How wide is a slim-fit car seat?
Typically, the width of a slim-fit car seat is between 16 inches to 18 inches. This width range is perfect to accommodate 3 babies side by side in the back of a standard-size car.
Comfortable Seat:
Narrow booster seats are typically 2 types- high back and backless. Consider a high back seat with ample padding, soft and breathable fabrics, and adjustable headrests and armrests to provide the baby with adequate support and a cozy seating experience. If you want a backless seat, check if the cushion is adequately padded.
Can I put a cushion on a booster seat?
Experts recommend not to use booster cushions/backless booster seats. While some high-back booster seats offer the option to remove the back and convert them into booster cushions, it does not provide adequate protection to your baby’s back during a crash.
Safety:
Certainly, prioritizing your baby’s safety over space considerations is essential for every parent. Look for seats with a robust and secure harness system. Also, ensure the car seat has passed through essential crash tests. Side-impact protection is also essential to shield your baby from unexpected accidents.
What is the best age for a booster seat?
According to NHTSA, children from 4 to 7 years of age should sit in a forward-facing booster seat equipped with a safety harness. Parents should avoid narrow booster seats until their baby reaches 4 years.
List Of The Best Narrow Booster Seat
1. Peg Perego Viaggio Shuttle (Narrow High Back Booster Seat)
At a Glance
Compact, height adjustable, multi reclining seat to add more comfort to your baby during long tour.
Specifications
- Product Dimensions: 16″ L x 16″ W x 27.2″ H
- Item Weight: 14.9 lbs.
- Weight Capacity: 40-120 lbs.
- Height: 39-57 inches
Rating
The Peg Perego Viaggio Shuttle is my list’s narrowest in-width high-back booster seat. With a sleek design and compact shape, it is ideal for smaller vehicles or for parents who need to fit 3 car seats in the backseat. The seat height is adjustable up to 57 “, so it would be difficult for your toddler to outgrow it before age. However, the narrow shape does not compromise on offering comfort. The seat is nicely cushioned all over, including the back, and has multi-reclining positions to offer adequate comfort to babies while on a long journey. The side wings offer enhanced side-impact protection that ensures your baby is well-protected from all angles. On top of the Latch, the connector keeps the seat securely attached in one place.
Pros
- 2-in-1 Convertible car seat (High back and backless booster)
- Easy latch attachment
- Higher height limit
- Heavily padded seat
- Offers incredible side protection
Cons
- Tricky to install
Buy this if
You are looking for the narrowest booster seat. The Peg Perego narrow booster seat is only 16″ wide and can snugly accommodate your third child side by side at the car’s back.
Don’t buy this if
You are looking for a more lightweight high-back booster seat. Peg Perego’s narrow booster seat weighs 14.9 lbs. Instead, you can consider Chicco KidFit Clear Tex narrow booster seats that weigh only 10 lbs.
2. Diono Solana (Best Backless Narrow Booster Seat)
At a Glance
Backless and ergonomic base, high quality and machine washable fabric, easy to carry and comfortable for babies.
Specifications
- Product Dimensions: 13.2″ L x 16.9″ W x 7.7″ H
- Item Weight: 5.8 lbs.
- Weight Capacity: 40-120 lbs.
- Height: 38.2-63 inches
Rating
The Diono Solana is a backless booster seat that offers a combination of safety, lightweight design, affordability, and durability. It can accommodate babies from eight years until they outgrow from a booster seat. Weighing less than 6 lbs., the narrow booster seat is easy to carry. The car seat snugly attaches to the car’s back seat. Due to its narrow width (16.9″), the Diono Solana can easily accommodate 3 babies in the back of the car seat side by side. This backless seat prioritizes babies’ comfort with a highly padded and ergonomic base. Despite being a backless booster seat, the Diono Solana car seat exceeds the legally mandated minimum safety requirements for crash testing. This booster seat has dual elasticated cup holders so you can carry snacks and beverages for your baby on the go.
Pros
- Super lightweight
- Comfortable ergonomic seat
- Removable cover
- Fabric cupholder
- Machine washable
- Available in multiple colors
Cons
- No latch connector
Buy this if
You are looking for a high-quality backless ergonomic booster seat. Though a backless narrow booster seat, Diono Solana has an ergonomic seat base that is comfortable and helps babies to rest their hand while seated.
Don’t buy this if
You are looking for a convertible high back narrow booster seat. You can consider a narrow Booster like Chicco KIdFit ClearTex or Peg Perego Viaggio Shuttle high-back booster seat instead.
3. Chicco KidFit ClearTex (Best Convertible)
At a Glance
Lightweight, easy to install, height adjustable, ample padding with side impact protection to offer baby comfort plus safety.
Specifications
- Product Dimensions: 17″ L x 17″ W x 26″ H
- Item Weight: 10 lbs.
- Height Limit: 38-57 inches
- High back booster weight Limit: 40-100 lbs.
- Backless booster weight Limit: 40-110 lbs.
Rating
The Chicco KidFit ClearTex Plus is a 2 in 1, so you can convert this booster seat into a backless booster when the baby outgrows the booster seat. This narrow booster seat was sturdy yet lightweight, weighing approximately 10 lbs. The seat is so comfy as a “bed of grass”. With ample padding and multi-reclining positions, babies can comfortably sit and can take naps on long journeys. On top of that, this narrow booster is height adjustable that allows you to adjust the height as the baby grows. However, it doesn’t offer a safety harness but has a side impact and latch indicator to protect the baby from unexpected accidents. The car seat has a better crash test result than its competitor, UPPAbaby Alta.
Pros
- Narrow width
- Easy to install
- Height adjustable
- Convertible backless seat
- Multi reclining positions
- High-quality and durable
Cons
- It does not include a safety harness
Buy this if
You are looking for a height-adjustable narrow booster seat. With adjusted height, grown-up toddlers can rest their heads comfortably. You can change the height of the Chicco KidFit narrow booster seat as per your baby’s height up to 57″.
Don’t buy this if
You prefer a reclinable narrow booster seat. Chicco KidFit narrow booster seat doesn’t recline to add comfort to babies. You can consider Peg Prego Viaggio Shuttle narrow booster seat instead that has multi-reclining positions.
4. BubbleBum Inflatable Travel Booster Seat (Best Narrow Booster Seat for Travel)
At a Glance
Backless and lightweight yet has a great weight capacity, narrower in width to accommodate 3 babies’ side by side at the back of the car.
Specifications
- Product Dimensions: 11″ L x 4.5″ W x 11″ H
- Item Weight: 15 Ounces
- Weight Capacity: 40-100 lbs.
- Height: 40-57 inches
Rating
The BubbleBum Inflatable, Travel Booster Seat, comes with a unique and innovative foam technology that helps prevent deflating. The narrow booster seat can easily accommodate your 3 babies’ side by side in the back of your car seat. The foam seat base is truly as soft as babies’ “bum”. With soft and comfy material, the booster seat offers supreme comfort. This booster seat is designed with a narrow shape and convenience in mind. When deflated, it rolls down to a narrow shape that is effortless to carry and store in a backpack. Despite its inflatable nature, the BubbleBum booster seat doesn’t compromise safety. It meets and exceeds all safety regulations and has been rigorously tested to ensure adequate security for your baby.
Pros
- Extremely lightweight
- Narrow shape
- Inflatable and comfy seats
- Belt guides
- Safety certified
Cons
- The seat fabric is not so high quality
Buy this if
You are looking for an easy-to-install narrow booster seat. You can set up the Bubblebum narrow booster in just seconds by blowing.
Don’t buy this if
You are looking for a high-quality narrow booster seat. Instead, you can look for Diono Solana, which has a higher build quality and ergonomic design.
5. Hiccapop UberBoost Inflatable Booster (Best Lightweight Narrow Booster Seat)
At a Glance
Featherweight, easy to carry, machine washable. To add more convenience to parents offers carry strap and travel bag.
Specifications
- Product Dimensions: 11.05″ L x 6.26″ W x 3.7″ H
- Item Weight: 1.3 lbs
- Weight Capacity: 40-110 lbs
- Height: 38-62 inches
Rating
The hiccapop UberBoost Booster seat is a featherweight backless seat designed with convenience and functionality in mind. This inflatable booster seat is easy to set up, and it takes only 7″ width of your car’s back seat, so you can snugly set 3 seat side by side. When deflated, it becomes compact and lightweight, weighs only 1.3 lbs. and comes with a carry bag that is incredibly easy to carry or store in a backpack. Despite being inflatable, this narrow booster seat is comfortable for babies. On top of that, the narrow booster seat has exceeded all the safety regulations that keep babies secure on the go.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Inflatable
- Offers shoulder strap
- It comes in a travel bag
- Can carry babies up to 110 lbs.
- Machine washable
Cons
- No attached cup holder
Buy this if
You are looking for an extremely lightweight and portable narrow booster seat. hiccapop Uberboost booster seat weighs only 1.3 lbs and comes in a travel bag that is easy to carry and store.
Don’t buy this if
You are looking for a car seat for your 4-year-old baby. hiccapop narrow booster seat is best for babies who are 8 years old and above. If your baby is less than that, I recommend looking for a high back narrow booster seat.
Verdict:
Some kids can sit comfortably in backless booster seats, and some need the support of a high back to sit. My selection of the best narrow booster seat covers both types of seats. From convertible to adjustable headrests and easy installation systems, these seats offer convenience without compromising safety. Whether you have a small vehicle or need to accommodate multiple car seats, investing in one of these trusted narrow boosters lets you have peace of mind by keeping the baby secure and comfortable on the go.
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