This is my 4th britax product. The other 3 were easy to use, tho I had some installation issues with the Wizard, and of course the inadequate cupholders on the parkway booster.
br /
br /The Monarch seems well built, comfy and safe but the armrests are driving me out of my MIND. According to the instructions, the belt is supposed to go under the the armrests, on both sides. The armrests are very low - way to low to actually be used as armrests in fact. It's necessary to pull the strap way out - hook the seatbelt - then carefully work the seatbelt up under both armrests. My 5 year old can no longer buckle herself in safely, tho of course she wants to try, especially if we are in the carpool line with about 50 other cars behind us waiting to retrieve their own kids.
br /Perhaps, if I drove a taller vehicle it might not be as difficult for me to do. Currently, I'm driving a BMW sport wagon and am having a hard time bending way over and buckling her in.
br /
br /I am aware that many 5 year olds can and should remain in a traditional carseat with a 5 point harness but my daughter is very tall for her age so this seemed the safest alternative.
br /
br /The cupholders on this model are still too shallow to be effective, plus they are pressing into the seat of the car. I wonder if they will snap off in time. They do not sit level in this car, so they are useless for drinks. My dd uses them for crayons, which end up scattered all over the back seat.
br /
br /The only improved function of this seat over the parkway is that the seat belt retracts very freely thru the shoulder bracket, whereas I felt sometimes that the parkway restricted the seatbelt movement a little too much.
br /
br /Despite my usual love of Britax products, I would not recommend this booster. Stick with the Parkway, for children that meet the weight/height limits and have the ability to sit safely and keep the straps in position.
br /
br /
br /

We purchased this for our 3 1/2 year old son as he outgrew his convertible carseat. I purchased this after reading safety reviews on the Britax products, they are well above the US safety standards. We purchased 2 of these at the same time the Monarch and a Parkway for my husbands vehicle. I bought the Monarch for the car because that is what we use to travel and I thought th armrests would be more comfortable for the little one. The armrests are actually the only thing I don't like about th seat, they are too low to really be used as armrests and they make it very hard to buckle the seatblet, they are so low that you have to slide the seat belt underneath from the front. The Parkway has no armrests and is a piece of cake to buckle in. That being said I am not disappointed in the seat and will be keeping it.
br /I can tell that the side impact protection is better than other brands just by how sturdy it is. Other seat seemed very flimsy, this seat is solid! A bit pricey for this booster but you know they say you get what you pay for. The piece of mind s worth what I paid for this seat.

BRITAX MONARCH is the best booster seat for two reasons: TSIP and TSIP!!!
br /
br /CONVERTIBLE. When your child is ready for a backless booster, the back (and, consequently, any hope of TSIP) comes off easily. In the mean time, while you're using it fully assembled, the back actually *stays on* when you want it to (like when you go to pick it up) unlike some other models we've used (!).
br /
br /STURDY. You can't bend or twist the thing like you can in some other models (!!) and it's obvious at first touch that this thing is made *solid*.
br /
br /EASE OF USE. Totally adjustable for your kid's height and width within about five seconds. A snap to buckle in.
br /
br /COMFORT. TSIP with side-wings makes it comfortable for kids to nap in the car, and there's ample padding/breathe-ability all around. If you have room, the cup holders are convenient.

I had a Britax Roundabout so I was really excited when I ordered this booster. I was so disappointed when it arrived. It is very heavy overall. The headrest is very narrow and my son looked like he was in the electic chair! I know it provides great impact protection but his head was wedged in. He complained so much I returned the seat.

My daughter was truly excited when this car seat arrived! You can tell she feels very comfortable every time she sits in it. The side wings not only protect but allow her a place to rest her head if she decides to take a nap. The armrests are also a nice feature. The only drawback is the cupholders do not work. They are too shallow, so drinks always tilt backwards.

I totally agree with one of the reviews here. It has nice look, very comfortable, and my kid loves it. However, my kid complains each time when he has to buckle and buckle off the seat belt. It is not so easy for me either to help him out because the distance between the armrest and the seat is so narrow to slide the seat belt beneath it. If it weren't for this problem, I would give 5 stars.

Once again Britax has delivered a quality product that exceeds our expectations. We purchased 2 Monarchs for our 2 children. One is 7 years old, then other 4 years old. The seat is so adjustable they are both comfortable and love it. The side impact protection is sturdy. This is a solid seat. When they fall asleep, the head protection keeps their heads from flopping over. The seatbelt guides are sturdy and easy to use. The cup holders are shallow, not terribly functional, and a bit flimsy. But you can buy cup holders at a local auto supply store. Not only does this seat keep our children safe and snug, it makes riding in the car more comfortable. Definitely worth the money.
br /Britax Monarch Booster Car Seat Rockport

My 4 year old son fits very comfortably in it and, amazingly, his head doesn't bop around when he falls asleep like some of the other boosters we've used. Arms don't move, so that is my only complaint.

This booster seat is an improvement over the Parkway because not only is the back removable, but the width of the seat can be adjusted for kids that might be a little wider. I also like how the seatbelt is guided towards the top of the seat. The wings on the side make it comfy for times when a child falls asleep on a long ride, too. Highly recommended!

This is the fourth Britax carseat that we have purchased. We have two children, soon to be three in about another 2 months. We have had a Roundabout, A Marathon, a Parkway Booster, and now the Monarch Booster. I can't say enough great things about the quality of Britax. I actually like the Monarch a little better than the Parkway for smaller kids who are just at the bottom range for the requirments of a booster seat. There is a lot more protection on the sides and head area. My daughter was almost 5 when we moved her into the Parkway, so that worked perfectly for her. My son is 3 and the Monarch is a better choice. The only reason I moved him into a booster seat so early is because we are trying to make room on the backseat of our 4Runner for a third carseat which we will be needing soon. The only con to both the Parkway and the Monarch are that the cup holders are too shallow to hold a cup. If you place a cup in them, it will fall out. We use the cupholders for snacks, which works great. It is easy to wipe out with a baby wipe or cloth. Britax products are well worth the money!

My son realy likes his new seat. It provides him a little more movement and "freedom" to do what he wants. It took about a week to get used to the clumsiness of using the shoulder strap, but it is not bad now.
br /The cup holder has been a great source on entertainment. He gets to use the cup holder like dad does. (and I don't have to reach back and get it when he's done!) We had the Roundabout before this and we will absolutly stay with Britax for all of our future car set needs.

This booster seat is one of the best we have found so far. My son is 5 and he loved the colors and the look of it. It made him feel more like he was sitting in a big boy seat. The seat belt fits snug to his body and the car seat sides really protect his head unlike several other seats we have looked at which allowed waay too much movement. My husband and I take all of our kids safety very seriously when driving and this car seat is one of the best we have found. It's a little more pricey than others out there, but when it comes to the safety aspect, it is well worth the money.

I like this booster. Don't love it, but like it alot. It provides incomprable safety with the head wings and hugging style of the side impact wings. My son thinks it is very comfortable but he has some trouble fastening the seat belt. I am sure this will get easier with practice. The one thing I don't like is the seat does not recline so they are in a pretty upright position if they fall asleep. The head wings do keep his head from rolling all over the place though. So, all in all, I would recommend this booster

We have had a Marathon for 3 years, and recently decided to move our daughter into a booster. I was a bit hesitant to give up the 5-point harness, but she's so much more comfortable in the roomy Monarch!
br /
br /I took her to a store to sit in a variety of boosters. The one she liked best (because it was pink) was so flimsy, compared to our sturdy Marathon. So I got online and read reviews and found the Monarch in Pink!
br /
br /One review mentions how hard it is to feed the seatbelt through both arm rests. I only feed the seatbelt through the armrest nearest the seatbelt latch. Otherwise, the seatbelt wouldn't cross my daughter's chest. I just looked at the Britax website to confirm this: See the Product Demo, and click on Height Adjustment. It clearly shows the seatbelt crossing the child's chest and then going under the armrest, to the seatbelt latch.
br /
br /Overall, a sturdy booster that gives me confidence that my child is safe and comfortable.

We decided to purchase this booster seat after we researched all the ratings, reviews and consumer reports.
br /
br /This car seat is safe. The headrests prevent your child's head from jerking in the event of an accident (god forbid).
br /
br /It is easy to assemble, it comes in 2 parts and you just slide them together. It is very comfortable. The arm rests actually move in and out as your child's butt expands. Very easy to adjust the height of the headrest.
br /
br /We were very worried about the seatbelt, but we were relieved to find out it is easy to strap your child in and it is comfortable for the child. The belt doesn't twist and turn or cut into your child's shoulder. My child was able to buckle and un-buckle herself, that is how easy it is to use.
br /
br /There is 1 flaw: This car seat doesn't go well with headphones. I have a DVD player in my SUV and it uses wireless headphones. The headrest is very close to your child's ears head that there is barely enough room to squeeze headphones on their head. Your children will probably find a way around it, like mine have. This is the one and only flaw, but safety comes before luxury(dvd player).
br /
br /I am very happy with Britax, it has never let me down and has rated very high in crash testing. They have higher standards then gerber or graco. I have only owned Britax car seats because they are #1 in child safety. I highly recommend this booster seat or any Britax car seat.
br /

We are britax lovers. From day one, my son was in a britax and now nearing five y/o, we owned 4 britax carseats. They are expensive (sometimes the most expensive in the market) but they are the best for the safety of the little one. Anyways, back to booster seat. My son is really tall for his age, so he was in the booster little before he was 3 y/o. At the time, we received a new Britax Bodyguard (older model booster) as a present and been using it since. We loved Bodyguard because of side impact protections and my son could fall asleep without his head falling. However, I noticed that bodyguard was becoming small. It's supposed be good for up to 60 inches tall but I didn't like the fact that his shoulder was unprotected as he grew taller. There is a huge gap between head mount and torso part so the shoulder part showed. So I started to look into newer models and notice the parkway is virtually same as Bodyguard. However, Monarch has raised shoulder part, so I think this will protect my son's entire body for quit a few years to come. His bodyguard will go to my husband's car which he rides rarely. Compare to Bodyguard, seat belt mounting is much easier and there is definitely more fabric for more comfort. There are two cup holders but they are not usable for drinks. It's way too low to hold liquid, without falling. It's good for holding snacks or little toys. It's expensive for the booster seat but it's definitely worth every penny since it comes with famed safety and comfort.

I purchased the Britax Monarch Booster Car Seat in racing red--
br /Amazon offered the best price! My first car seat was a Britax and I loved it! #1 Safety rated is why I bought it originally. Then I went to an Eddie Bauer car seat/booster seat, the 3 in 1 seat--which was fine-it served it's purpose but was definitely not user friendly when buckling kids up, getting the car seat cover off to wash it was a complete nightmare, but it was easy to install.
br /
br /I opted to go back to a Britax for the booster seat--easy to install, easy to use my son LOVES it! He says it is very "comfy". Seems to have more padding in the seat than other makes, as well as, a softer fluffier material. He loves the red and black color. If your child still falls asleep in the car, the head support is AWESOME on the Britax car seats...no matter what type of Britax. Their heads do not fall forward at all! Britax makes wonderful products! I love it--always worth the $$ to have a safe, convenient, comfortable car seat for the most important people in your life. I am thinking of purchasing another one for my parents to have at their home/car for when we visit!
br /As usual, Amazon delivered before it's promised due date! :)
br /Thank you

Good seat, very comfortable for my kids and easy to put together and get in the car. One cupholder was broken upon arrival, but really, we don't need two cupholders, so I'm not that concerned. My kids are terribly pleased to have their "big boy seats" and are starting to be much more responsible in the car.

I've always used Britax car seats for my two young kids. I recently bought the Britax Monarch for my son since he is now big enough for a booster. The side wings are fantastic for long rides - my son tends to fall asleep in the car often - the wings keep his head in a neutral position - and don't allow for him to fall forward. The side arms do not move up and down (they do move out to allow for growth) for ease of use to put the lap belt through. THe attachment that is used for putting the shoulder belt through often locks the belt from moving - which I then have to completely take the belt out of the car seat and feed back until it unlocks and then feed the belt through the shoulder harness on the car seat. SInce I carpool it was taking me 5 minutes just to put my son in his booster seat...since I have purchased a Compass Booster. I LOVE the Compass! The side arms lift and lower, very easy to feed the shoulder belt through - and it folds for compact storage! Much more user friendly than the britax. Like I said - I like the britax for long car rides - but not for carpooling!

We went from Wizard 5-point harness seats to the Monarch and my children love them. They seem a bit difficult to fasten the seatbelt but that may just be my children not being used to having to do that. The head rest is a big part of why then like them.
br /

Finally an affordable toddler booster seat for the very small bucket seats of a Porsche. My 3 yo toddler loves being able to go for "joy rides" in the back. She seems to be very comfortable in it and the extra padding around the head is great for safety reasons with all the mechanical and structural apparatus of the soft top. Not have tried with the top up but does not look like it will work.
br /
br /Too bad there isn't an AFFORDABLE rear facing one for younger child. Oh well.

We have had this carseat for about a month, and so far it has worked out well. My son is very comfortable and his head does not fall forward when he is sleeping in the seat.
br /My only complaint is that there are no seat anchors to secure the carseat to the car. I think if those were added, it would be more secure and not slide around as much.
br /Overall, this is a great carseat for us and a good step up from the Britax Marathon that we have used for the last 3 years.

I wanted a comfortable and safe carseat for my daughter. that's it!!
br /In additions, the color is also my type!!

I am happy with the Monarch booster. It is easy to put the back on/off. My 5 yr. old thinks it is very soft and comfortable. (I can tell it is very padded). I like the "wings" by his head, so he can lean up and sleep on longer trips. I like the peace of mind that comes with having a britax (we've used the marathon and roundabout previously). The only negative is that it is a little difficult putting the seat belt under the arm rests.

This seat is great, but unlike a car seat with a 5 point harness, the child can loosen the seatbelt and move around in unsafe ways. If your child isn't mature enough to follow instructions to stay seated then this seat isn't for you. We've only had to pull over once because of the 2.5 year old messing around, but I was briefly concerned that we would have to get a booster with a 5 point harness.
br /
br /Other than that, the seat is fantastic. Easy to use, appears to be comfortable and safe, has all the features that make Britax fantastic.

My daughter has been in a Britax Marathon since she was a baby, so I looked nowhere but Britax when it was time to put her into a booster. She is very comfortable, and feels like a big girl while I still feel confident that she remains well protected in the event of an accident. I do not share the other reveiwer's complaint of the armrests being too low. I do need to help my daughter buckle herself, but I am confident that in time she will be able to get herself buckled in. The headrest with SIP is wonderful. Works to keep her better protected, but also gives her a oomfy place to rest her head! Love it!

This is a great car seat. The only thing that you need to know is that some websites (I don't know if this is the one where I got the wrong information) states that the booster with the back can be used for a child shorter than 38 inches. This is NOT the case. The booster even with the back, according to the Britax instructions, is for children 38 inches or taller. I still like the booster seat however, and it was delivered on time. We have the red racer and the pink racer and they are both really attractive.

Britax just knows how to do it right. I love this booster, the Regent car seat and the Boulevard car seat. They're all so well made and easy to use - not to mention easy to install.

I did a lot of research prior to purchasing this seat for my 5 1/2 year old. I have owned several other Britax seats and have been very satisfied with them. I feel the same way about this seat. My son is on the smaller side and has not totally outgrown his 5-point harness seat (a Britax Decathalon). However, with school and carpools, we needed a booster seat that was still very safe, yet easily moved between cars. This seat is perfect. We are using it with the back since my son is just 40 lbs. I like that it easily converts to a backless booster as the child grows and everything else about the seat from the back to the armrests adjusts as well. My son loves the seat and says it is more comfortable than the Graco Turbo Booster seats he uses in a friend's car. I also like the side impact protection he still gets due to the wings around his torso and head. He has never complained about them blocking his view and thinks they are great for napping on long rides. As other reviewers have mentioned, the low arm rests do make it more challenging to buckle the seat belt. However, it only took a couple of weeks for my son to master this, and the placement of the arm rests does ensure the belt is always positioned properly. I will definitely buy this seat again when my other child is older.

So far so good! The fabric is soft and there's lots of cushion in the seat for comfort. It's sturdy and I like the extra protection around the head.

Great booster seat. They have lots of protection and they are great for sleeping. Very easy to adjust and strap the child in.

I recommend Britax across the board as top quality child-friendly products. And this is no different. We had the Marathon that our younger child is using and got this seat for our rather tall 4 year-old who sleeps on long road trips but has the tendency to lean over and it looks painful. She's loving this seat and we are too. Easy to install move from one car to another. Well built but light. Very nice! Worth the money to know your children are safe.

This is the second Britax Monarch we have purchased, the first one from here. It arrived in less than a week in perfect condition. THANKS for great service!

This is the second Britax Monarch Booster we have purchased. My son started using his almost a year ago and when it was time for my daughter to move up I bought this seat again, just in a different color so I know which seat belongs to which twin. Both kids seem very comfortable in their seats and I love that it has adjustments in the back/head/neck and hip area for maximum comfort and safety. I also like that we can take the back of the booster off if necessary and that this should be the last seat we need until they sit in the car without a booster.

We bought these for our 3 y.o. twin boys. They were SO excited when they came!
br /We searched for a good seat to use in our Land Rover Disco SE7-these fit nicely. And my boy nappers are very comfy in them-no bobbing heads like our last seats. I like the ease of use and the comfort of padding too for all the long car trips we take. Only downside is that I've yet to find a cup that fits the holder without falling out.

I am very happy with the Britax Monarch Booster Seat. My son is 4 1/2 and it was time to move him from the car seat he has been in since he turned 1 into a "big boy" seat. He loves the color (royal blue) and the head rest provides a great place for him to rest his head and take a nap on a long ride in the car. I feel like he is very safe and comfortable in the Monarch booster seat.

That is the most comfortable and safe booster I have ever seen. So also big kids can fall asleep and will not fall sidewards. Cushion is great.
br /It is defenitivly German quality!

Great booster seat. Only thing is it is a bit tuff to buckle since the strap has to go under each arm rest. I don't think my 5 year old boy will be able to do it any time soon. It maybe that our seatbelt is to hard to pull out. Either way I don't mind strapping him in.

They just can't wait to get on the car all the time. very limited reclining makes kids asleep a little tricky but no big deal. Overall, top-rated car seat. Britax rocks!

I bought this about 1 month ago. My son uses it everyday and it wonderful! The best part is when he falls asleep in the car he heads no longer bops or falls. I wish when he was a baby we had something like this. Extremely comfy seat and he loves it!

This carseat is very comfortable and easy to install. It is also
br /very easy to buckle and unbuckle your child. It is a high quality item
br /just as the rest of the Britax carseats.

I love this booster. I have had many booster seats in the past but decided to buy this one for my fifth child. I'll admit that I was drawn in by the fact that is was pink, but when it arrived, I was really impressed by the quality of the Britax booster and continue to be impressed with how well and easily it functions. They have definitely not skimped on "form over function." Who says a little girl can't be stylin' while she's drivin'?

My 4 year old loves this seat. No more buckling between the legs (ouch!)
br /He seem very comfortable and I feel comfortable knowing he's safe.

My son loves this seat. We have always used Britax products and always will.

It is everything I was hoping it would be. Very easy to assemble, only the top portion and the base, lightweight and cozy. As in previous reviews the cupholders are pretty useless, but I wasn't looking for cupholder usability when I was shopping for a car safety seat for my daughter.
br /
br /I would highly recommend this product.

Excellent product!
br /I've bought this product after a recommendation of my friend. My son love it. It's confortable and I'm not an expert on this matter, but it looks very safe (at least I didn't see any safety complaints in my research). And also looks nice, it has a beaultiful design that goes very well with my back seat's car.

Highly recommend this booster seat for anyone driving a Porsche 911. Just remove the drink holders and away you go. Save $200 off the Porsche branded booster seat. Thanks Britax!

We really like this carseat. I kept my daughter in a 5 point harness as long as I could, but was finally ready for the transition. I like the fact it can be one unit or just the bottom. She really likes the side head rests- she had them on her older Britax carseat as well. Like many of the other posts have said- I agree the cupholders are useless. It's to bad they couldn't come up with a more clever design for the cupholders or even add a personal reading light. Many other carseats offer more of these "extras", but I can't give up the safety of the Britax. I do wish, that it would have come with the Latch system though. I really like the security of knowing that the seat isn't going anywhere.
br /

The seat is easy to assemble and easy to use. My son loves it and I feel it is safe and well-constructed. It seems much better than the boosters I see other parents using. And I am a tough critic when it comes to car seats!

My daughter is so comfortable in this seat as she was in the Roundabout. Her favorite part is the cup holders and mine is the safety and comfort. I would never buy anything but a Britax carseat or booster.