Safety of Volvo's integrated booster seats?

[StayAtHomeDad]

We have a 2006 Volvo V70 station wagon with integrated booster seats. Our oldest daughter has outgrown her toddler seat and ready to use a booster seat, but we're hesitant to use the integrated booster seats because it doesn't have a seat-belt positioner or a high-back to it. We bought the Graco TurboBooster SafeSeat to go in the car but found it doesn't fit due to the (non-removable) headrests in the back seat.

Can anyone point to some data that shows whether the integrated booster seats are as safe as something like the high-backed booster seats?

Alternately, does anyone know of any high-backed booster seats that will fit in the backseat of a Volvo V70?

	Booster Seat A booster seat raises your child up so that the car's lap and shoulder belts fit correctly. The lap belt should fall across the upper thighs. The shoulder belt should go across the middle of the shoulder and chest. A booster seat is used for older children up to about 80 pounds. Some states have passed laws requiring booster seats for children up to age 8 or 80 pounds. Check your state's law.

	Graco - Click for more info Graco is one of the world's best known and most trusted juvenile products companies. They started the entire juvenile products industry with an invention called the Graco Swyngomatic. Since then they have invented products that have changed the way that parents travel with their children such as the travel system, which has made it so parents can lock an infant car seat into a stroller easily, without waking their sleeping baby. Their Graco SnugRide Infant Car Seat is pretty much synonymous with the term “infant car seat” because of its safety and design features coupled with its affordability. Today Graco continues designing and developing top-quality products that inspire parents and keeps children safe. Check out the new Infant Safe Seat Step 1 and Toddler Safe Seat Step 2 for proof of Graco’s continued commitment to child safety.

	Graco Safe Seat Step 1 - Click for more info The Graco Safe Seat (Step 1)—if you couldn't gather from the name— is intended to be the first of a three-seat process. The Step 1 is for infants in a rear-facing position; the Step 2 is for bigger, older kids in the forward-position; the Step 3 is a belt-positioning booster seat without the safety harness of the previous two.

	Graco Turbo Booster - Click for more info The Graco TurboBooster Safe Seat (Step 3) is a sporty and detailed booster seat. The headrest is made of EPS foam for support and side-impact protection, which is now the standard for booster seats. The head support is height adjustable, and the seat can be converted into a backless booster for older kids. The adjustable armrests are a nice touch that add comfort and support for your growing child. We were a little surprised by how thin the padding was on the "Lazy Daisy" version of this seat (the Fairfax TurboBooster has padded armrests and additional GracoPedic memory foam in the seat).

[Papooses]

Integrated seats are safe ... so long (as always with any restraint system) they are used correctly: follow the manual.

The most important risk I think is that when kiddo needs to ride in an alternate vehicle -- such as during a road side emergency -- so I would at least keep that spare booster in the trunk.

Another important factor is whether or not your child will slump out of position. When kids fall asleep in backless boosters, they usually lean out of safe position. I was taught that any highback booster is about 70% safer than any backless.

How to best protect children in side-impact crashes
Researchers from The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia say restraints, other passengers in rear seat reduce risk

	Booster Seat A booster seat raises your child up so that the car's lap and shoulder belts fit correctly. The lap belt should fall across the upper thighs. The shoulder belt should go across the middle of the shoulder and chest. A booster seat is used for older children up to about 80 pounds. Some states have passed laws requiring booster seats for children up to age 8 or 80 pounds. Check your state's law.