If you expect children in your restaurant, booster seats pricing and costs are an important part of your planning process. While researching which booster chairs to buy for your patrons, there are many important considerations--not the least of which is safety. In 2007, about 9,000 children were injured while using high chairs and booster seats, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Some children even died. Not only is choosing the proper restaurant booster seat the responsible thing to do, but it may reduce your insurance premium.

Other than safety, the main things you'll be considering are style and cost. Child booster seats may then be broken down into three general categories:

1. Wooden restaurant booster chairs, usually available in natural wood, mahogany and pine

2. Plastic baby booster seats, which are often easy to store by stacking

3. Chair style child booster seats, available both in wood and plastic, typically used for smaller children

Action Steps
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Purchase a wood booster seat for kids

Wooden booster seats generally run from $25 to $40 apiece from restaurant supply houses. Although many wooden booster seats don't come with belts, it may be worth seeking them out. Belts don't usually add to cost, and while they do make the booster seat more difficult to clean, they also add a measure of safety non-belted seats do not have.

I recommend: KATOM Restaurant Supply sells several types of wooden booster seats, including those in natural wood, mahogany and walnut. Able Kitchen sells wooden booster seats with and without belts.

Explore plastic products from booster seat suppliers

Molded plastic booster seats generally sell for around $20 to $25 apiece. Stackable plastic boosters, which are easy to store, run around $25 to $35 apiece. Some, but not all, come with safety belts.

I recommend: Restaurant Supply SuperStore offers a broad selection of plastic booster seats. FoodserviceDirect.com offers a basic line of plastic restaurant booster seats.

Try chair-style booster seats for children

For smaller children, chair style booster seats are safest. Generally, these are wooden and belted. They run about $30 to $40 apiece, and the straps can usually be replaced for between $2 and $4. You can also buy plastic versions for about $80 to $100 each.

I recommend: The WEBstaurant Store offers both plastic and wooden chair-style boosters, in addition to replacement straps. Restaurant Equipment World offers wooden chair boosters, as well as several types of plastic chair boosters.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Even a child booster with straps won't protect you from liability if the straps aren't in good working order. Be sure your staff regularly examines the booster seats to ensure the straps are fastened securely and the buckles work properly. Remove any child booster seat from service that doesn't function as it should.

When families contemplate eating dinner out, one consideration they make is whether the restaurant provides child booster seats. A child booster helps kids reach the table and enhances their dining experience. Families are such a large part of a restaurant's business, that it's important you provide comfortable and safe booster seats.

Restaurant booster seats sell separately or in sets of two. Booster seat suppliers sell booster seats made from wood, plastic or foam. Picking the right type of booster seat depends on your restaurant's feel. A wooden booster seat for kids looks good in a down-home, Southern-style restaurant, while the foam and plastic seats have a very kid-friendly vibe about them. When shopping for booster seats, consider the following:

1. Purchase a restaurant booster seat with an adjustable safety strap and non-skid pads on the bottom for complete safety.

2. Pick a booster seat style that cleans easily. Kids get food trapped in the corners and seams of booster seats. The more corners and seams a child booster seat has, the harder it is to clean.

3. Make your restaurant memorable with child booster seats in fun, bright colors. Kids and families remember places where the atmosphere was fun and inviting, and your choice in booster seats helps create a memorable atmosphere.

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Make sure you have safe booster seats

The safest booster seats for children have a safety strap that attaches around the waist. Boosters that sit on chairs instead of a booth need a strap that attaches around the chair, so the booster seat doesn't move. If the model you love doesn't have straps, you especially need anti-skid bottoms so that the seat doesn't slip off a booth or chair.

I recommend: Restaurant supplier KaTom offers a variety of booster seats in different colors, models and materials. Instawares offers a booster seat with an extra wide base, straps and a non-skid bottom.

Consider the comfort of a child booster seat

When ordering booster seats, remember that children are different sizes. Consider ordering different types of seats so you can cater to all families.

I recommend: Dual booster seats have two sides that cater to children of all sizes. KegWorks has a variety of dual booster seats in different colors. You can comparison shop for specialty booster seats at NexTag.

Look for booster seats that clean easily

While specialty booster seats are attractive, they also have nooks and crannies where food gets stuck. The best booster chairs have smooth contours and cleanable surfaces.

I recommend: The Cooshee seat, available from BabyCenter, is soft molded foam with a seamless design. Restaurant supplier, Restaurant Equipment World, Inc., has smooth finish wood seats with edges and corners that clean easily.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Storage is an important consideration when ordering your restaurant booster seats. Be sure that the booster seats you order store neatly and securely. The most common form of storage is boosters made to stack on top of each other, but certain models can hang from a hook.

Whether you are looking for a child booster seat to stock in your store’s inventory or restaurant booster seats to have on hand for customers with small children that come into your eatery, it is essential to be aware of the different types and styles that are available. Some child booster seats look the same, but they can be made differently and for different sized children. In fact, there are so many different booster chairs available that there are styles for kids and pets to use.

With the wide selection of booster car seats that you are sure to encounter at booster seat suppliers, it is important to know what you are looking to purchase. Restaurant booster seats are great if your business serves food, car booster seats are ideal for a retail store and a selection of pet booster chairs are the perfect addition to a pet store’s inventory. As you look at the different booster seats types and styles, remember to consider the following:

1. The purpose of the booster seat and where the seat will be used.

2. The storage space you have available to store booster seats for children.

3. If pet booster seats are appropriate for your business.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Choose a selection of child booster seats for automotive needs

Booster car seats are the most common type of booster seat. These seats are used for children in order to increase their level of safety while traveling in a car. Booster seat suppliers offer these seats in various sizes and colors. Some booster seats are multi-functional, and they can first be used as a booster seat for kids in the car and a car seat for younger children.

I recommend: To properly stock your inventory, check out the information provided by My Precious Kid. The site also offers wholesale seats and other products. For other wholesale booster seats visit BJ's Wholesale Club for great booster seats for kids.

Consider stackable restaurant booster chairs

A restaurant booster seat is available from most booster seat suppliers. It is a seat that is used in eateries to assist young patrons in reaching the table and the food. These seats are easy to clean and they are stackable for streamlined storage. These booster seats for kids are the perfect addition to your retail inventory and your restaurant business.

I recommend: Buyrite.com offers a large selection of restaurant booster chairs. Check out its color options to match the chairs with the rest of your décor. For additional restaurant booster chairs visit Royal Industries.

Find pet booster seats to cater to every customer's needs

To some people their pet is more than just their companion. It is a person's child. These are the customers than need unique products to fit their needs, like the pet booster chair. A pet booster works in a similar fashion as a child's car booster seat. It keeps small and large pets safe and secure while their owner is driving.

I recommend: J-B Wholesale Pet Supplies offers a selection of pet booster seats. For different colors and styles check out King Wholesale Pet Supplies for all of your pet booster chair needs.

When families dine out, they expect restaurants to have clean, attractive, comfortable and safe booster seats. There are plenty of choices among commercial booster seat manufacturers, and many important considerations for restaurant owners to keep in mind. Safety is among the most important things to ponder; according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 2007, about 9,000 injuries occurred from children using high chairs and booster seats. One way to ensure your restaurant uses the safest and most appropriate booster seats is to understand common booster seat lingo.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

High chair

High chairs are a type of booster seat designed for smaller babies and toddlers. Most high chairs have long legs and safety straps. Some are V-shaped, with the point near the floor, in order to hold infant car seats. High chairs ensure the smallest children don't fall and injure themselves.

I recommend: Overstock.com offers a consumer high chair buying guide with important safety considerations for those buying restaurant high chairs.

Dual booster

A dual booster seat is molded plastic that has seats on both its top and bottom. One seat is larger than the other, so the booster seat accommodates two sizes of children. This makes it less likely a child will be too small for the seat, which can help resolve safety issues.

I recommend: KegWorks.com describes and depicts the classic dual booster seat for restaurants.

Single height

Unlike dual booster seats, single-height booster seats have a seat only on the top. The height of the booster is not adjustable, so this style isn't as effective for various-sized children.

I recommend: D & P Enterprises showcases a typical single-height restaurant booster seat with straps.

System seat

System seats are booster seats that stack into a cart for storage. You will generally see them used in movie theaters and stadiums, but some restaurants also use them for older children who still need a little something to make eating at a table comfortable.

I recommend: Supply Hero explains a popular brand of system seats.

Bistro chair

A bistro chair is a uniquely designed high chair for restaurant settings. It features no eating tray, but a small plastic molded seat ideal for small children. It encourages parents to use high chairs in the safest manner.

I recommend: Architectural Builders Supply describes the benefits of bistro high chairs.

KidSitter

A KidSitter is a brand name for a special kind of high chair that holds car seats more easily and safely than most other types of restaurant high chairs.

I recommend: Rapids Wholesale Equipment Company features the KidSitter and explains its benefits.