All children benefit from travel. From teachable moments to practicing social skills and increasing cognitive function, kids with special needs shouldn’t be left out of opportunities to get out into the world. Car outings can be especially challenging for special needs children and their parents. Lack of muscle tone, sensory processing issues, limited communication, and growing out of standard-sized car seats can make travel by car difficult for special needs kids and the people who travel with them.
Safely and comfortably transporting special needs kids is made possible with car seating systems that provide the correct positioning support for users and ease of use for caregivers. Our top 5 list of best special needs car seats highlight quality choices that will serve special needs children and their families well by making car travel more accessible and enjoyable.
1) Recaro Monza Nova 2 Booster Seat View Product |
At number 5 on our list is the Churchill Pediatric Positioning Car Booster Seat with Vehicle Restraint System by Merritt Manufacturing.
Able to accommodate children and adults weighing between 65 and 175 pounds from 48 to 72 inches tall, this belt-positioning booster seat system includes unlimited width at the shoulder, hip, and thigh. For kids who have outgrown their car seat, the low-profile seat makes transfers easy and allows other riders to get around the seat easily.
This belt-positioning car booster seat includes base, lower anchor attachment strap, torso support system, anti-slouch leg strap assembly, foam padding, denim fabric cover, choice of vest size, tether extension, and belt position guides. It has the option of two-seat depths and three positioning vest choices. The car’s seat belt is the primary safety restraint, while the car seat offers positioning support.
The unique headrest system of this special needs car seat supports the head. One version resists lateral movement, and the other helps resist forward slumping. Standard leg straps are structured to keep the user from slouching. The straps keep the hips in place and can be used in conjunction with the abductor panel.
The easy transfers and accommodation of users up to 6 feet tall have earned this special needs car booster seat system the number 5 spot on our list.
Entering our list at number 4 is the Large MPS Car Seating System by popular brand Special Tomato.
The Special Tomato Multi-Positioning System is incorporated into this car seat, which is soft and lightweight while maintaining the highest integrity during extensive crash safety testing. The cushions are designed to stay cool against the skin and reduce the risk of skin shear, even during long car rides. They are antimicrobial and impermeable to fluids, so they help create a hygienic and healthy environment. The adjustable support meets a child’s individual needs and grows with them, so it’s a great investment that will last for years.
Allowing for 30 degrees of pivot, 15 degrees of hip flexion, and 15 degrees of hip extension, this car seat facilitates proper pelvic alignment for optimal support and comfort. With models serving children 6-9 years old, 8-11 years old, 10-14 years old, and from 12 to adult, each can accommodate users weighing up to 150 pounds.
Constructed with the highest quality standards, it will last for years. Even after its 10-year expiration date as a car seat, it can still be used as a seat with the Wooden Mobile Base or attached to a standard chair for more than 10 years.
The customizability, adjustability, and durability of this car seat system make it one of our top picks.
Earning the third spot on our top 5 list is the Defender Reha Special Needs Car Seat with 360 Degree Protection from Thomashilfen North America.
For maximum protection in a car accident, this special needs car seat offers 360 degrees of full impact protection. It has been approved in accordance with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 for general use in vehicles. Its integrated 5-point harness is height adjustable and a wide range of rehab accessories are available to provide a customizable user experience.
These optional accessories include multiple footrest options, a below-seat wedge, crotch pad, abduction block, and tray table. These can be combined for a unique fit and ensure continued proper and comfortable support.
This seat, which will grow with your child, will fit most vehicles and is compatible with 3-point lap and shoulder seat belts. For children weighing between 22 and 65 pounds, between 27 and 7 inches tall, the harness mode is the best fit, while children weighing 30 to 110 pounds between 34 and 57 inches tall can use it in booster seat mode.
The all-around impact protection plus the available customizable options have earned this seating system a spot on our top 5 list.
Our number 2 choice is the Roosevelt Child Safety Car Seat by Merritt Manufacturing.
Developed for children with poor head control, this seat accommodates users up to 5-foot-2. It has 5 shoulder strap heights and seat depths up to 15.75 inches with extensions. Options include the EZ-Up headrest that can be used by itself or with the EZ-Up Child Safety Car Seat with Head Rest. This model can be secured with most shoulder belts, which eliminates the need for tethering.
Standard features include a padded headrest, weight range of 35 to 115 pounds, height range of 33 ½ inches to a generous 62 inches, thick foam padding, and European-style harness routing for comfort in the abdomen. In addition to the headrest options, you can get a buckle cover, chest clip guard, foam abductor, seat extension kit, incontinence cover, extra long harness, a kit to accommodate scoliosis, and a heavy-duty tether anchor kit.
The options for keeping the user’s head upright and aligned and its generous sizing have earned this special needs car seat the number 2 spot on our list.
With its unique swivel design, the Recaro Monza Nova 2 has been praised by parents and caregivers for making transfers easier, safer, and more dependable. Inclusive rehab equipment such as head padding and lateral supports ensure maximum comfort and security on every car ride and with this seat weighing only 15 pounds, moving from vehicle to vehicle has never been easier.
An array of adaptive features is what sets the Recaro Monza Nova 2 by Thomashilfen apart from others, making it especially suitable for children with autism, cerebral palsy, and ADHD. The inflatable headrest cushion features an integrated sound system for audio therapy to minimize sudden, and potentially painful movement while lateral supports further enhance proper positioning and comfort. Optional footrests and seat wedges make sure your child is supported as they grow and on long car rides where snacks and fun games are a must, an optional table can accommodate it all. With stable positioning as a priority, this car seat ensures children with developmental disabilities can sit comfortably, safely, and securely.
Designed to offer the utmost safety, the Recaro Monza Nova side pads are extra-stable and anti-static to reduce crash-generated forces to the head, neck, and shoulders by up to thirty percent. All the accessories are also tested according to the US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and Regulations. Between the unique swivel seat and lightweight and adaptive nature, strain is greatly reduced among parents and caregivers, and children are protected to the fullest extent.
A: Special needs car seats meet the positioning needs of kids and young adults who can’t independently maintain an upright position during car rides.
A: Because many kids with special needs exhibit disruptive behaviors as part of their condition, and might be able to unbuckle themselves, a special harness or vest or a two-handed chest clip release can keep them secure.
A: We have found that 175 pounds is the highest weight limit.
A: Because they can be compulsive and hyperactive, children with autism need to be properly restrained because they don’t understand the danger of not be secured in a safety seat. Using a car seat with a harness will hold a child better than a booster seat or seat belt. A car seat with a harness is harder to escape than a booster seat or a seat belt. Other types of restraints, like large medical seats or vests, might also be options to consider.
A: They need to be safely and properly restrained, either with seat belts if the child is big enough, or in an approved safety seat. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children under the age of 8 and less than 57 inches tall should not be using a belt-positioning car booster seat, or a car seat without a harness. One way to tell if a child is ready for a seat belt is when the chest belt does not sit at the neck or throat and the lap belt is not over their belly.
A: Children with autism can often figure out how to unhook a simple seat belt, so a car seat with a harness that is more difficult for them to get out of will help keep them safely restrained during car rides.
Car trips are necessary and should provide opportunities for leisure travel as well. But the challenges faced by special needs children can make car travel a daunting task. Equipment designed specifically to safely and comfortably keep special needs kids properly supported during car rides, while making travel easier on parents and caregivers, provide a valuable tool for daily living.
While all the picks on our list are great options, we determined that the Recaro Monza Nova 2 Booster Seat is the best.
You can review our entire catalog of special needs car seats, and we also invite you to search Caregiver University for more helpful information that will help you choose the best special needs car seat for your child.
Co-Founder of Rehabmart and an Occupational Therapist since 1993. Mike has spent his professional career working in multiple areas of Occupational Therapy, including pediatrics, geriatrics, hand therapy, ergonomics and inpatient / outpatient rehabilitation. Mike enjoys writing articles that help people solve complex therapeutic problems and make better product choices.