Anti-Scootch Booster Seat a Hit

Clek Olli Booster

4/7/08

Clek Does Well, But Make Sure You Do Your Homework

Anyone who has a child knows how frustrating the whole car seat issue can be. At what age and weight should a child be in what kind of seat facing which way? Once they need boosters, do the boosters need to have a back? Wait, how big do they need to be again? And is zebra-print fabric safer and cleaner than the leopard print? There’s a lot of homework to do to ensure kids are as safe as possible in cars, isn’t there?

I mention this because I got a Clek Olli booster seat to test out a few weeks ago, and it’s terrific. It’s a backless booster, it’s got a really comfortable seat and I can also purchase a cover for it — which means it’s easy to clean and maintain. You can choose between several different fabrics, like zebra, leopard, pink camo, regular camo and more. What really sets the Clek apart from other boosters, though, is the fact that it has rigid Latch connectors built in. This is great because they keep the booster from scootching around on the seat, which is a big problem in cars with sculpted leather seats. Scootching and tilting is not the way you want to be driving your kids around.

There are a few things you should know, though: Experts say kids are safest in a five-point harness for as long as possible. As you may know, boosters use just the vehicle’s seat belt, raising your child up and sometimes using a tether on the belt so it fits properly.

Recommendations consistently say that a child must be 4 or older to be in a backless booster (and boosters with backs are the better option). Older than 4, at least 40 pounds, and shorter than 4-foot-9 is the magic code. Also, your car’s seat must have head restraints for a backless booster to be safe. My research also revealed that kids who fall asleep in the car aren’t safe in backless boosters. Kids should always sit upright in a booster so the belt can work effectively.

So, if your child is older, bigger and doesn’t sleep in the car, check out the Clek Olli booster. It’s incredibly comfortable and a great solution to the scootching issue. Thanks, Clek, for making a great booster, and for providing a forum to discuss booster safety.

Specs

Price Range: $89.99 for seat, $29.99 for cover