Recaro Vivo Review

The Recaro Vivo is a wonderful high-back booster seat. I really took my time to compare all the booster seats that are out there and found this one to be the best both in safety and comfort. The product says that it fits children who are 3 years old and 37" and up, but my son is 4 years old and (as of February) is 41.5" tall and he is just barely tall enough for it. So I wouldn't purchase this seat unless your child really exceeds that minimum height requirement.

I also like that it converts to a backless booster when he's ready for it. The side wings around the head and body make me feel like he is secure and protected. This booster seat is much sturdier than the comparable Graco, Evenflo, Britax, etc brands. It doesn't fall apart when you move it from car to car so you can do it one-handed, unlike the Graco TurboBoosters. I also like the angle that the head wings are at. In the brochure they looked like they might block his view but they don't at all. He loves his seat and the angle of the wings makes it so that his head doesn't flop around when he falls asleep. The reclining feature is nice too - if you can recline the seat your child is sitting in, the Recaro Vivo will recline too, making for an extra nice nap.

Some reviews I read talked about the belt routing system and how it should be re-designed. They complained that the belt would get stuck and not retract if the child leaned forward (thus being a safety hazard). I have not found there to be any problem with the belt routing system. I think it probably depends on the car you drive and the way the seatbelts are positioned in the car in relation to the booster seat. In our cars (Toyota Corolla and Subaru Outback) it works perfectly well. We haven't had a single problem there. We are incredibly pleased with this Recaro Vivo seat. It is well-padded for a comfortable ride and is the safest seat out there. I highly recommend it! :)