2008 Child Safety Seat Ease of Use Ratings

 

Are All Seats Safe?
All car seats rated by NHTSA meet Federal Safety Standards & strict crash performance standards. While all rated seats are safe, they do differ in their ease of use in four basic catagories:

 

Evaluation of Instructions

Vehicle Installation Features

Evaluation of Labels

Securing the Child

 

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Safety 1st Starter

 

Safety 1st Starter

 

Manufacturer  /  Model NameSafety 1st Starter
Model Number  /  Manufacture Date22-315-SHA  /  Feb 8, 2007
Harness Type5-pt
Weight  /  Height5-22lbs/19"-29"
Evaluation of Labels1 stars
No additional sizing information on labeling.No additional harness slot height information provided. Belt routing path is not contrasting. Label does not remind user to tighten the LATCH strap.
Evaluation of Instructions2 stars
Manual found in box but unattached to child restraint. No dedicated storage system for manual/manual hangs on stringSome additional sizing information is missing. No airbag warning illustration and/or buried in text. No/Incorrect CRS name on the manual/seat.
Securing the Child1 stars
Harness clip is not labeled to indicate its placement.Harness buckle cannot be inserted one side at a time, nor is there an intermediate method to hold both sides together.Access to the harness adjuster may be difficult.Harness adjustment requires 2 hands or is otherwise difficult to adjust. Headrest or other object in the way of harness slots. Must re-thread harness to adjust. Loose mandatory pieces exist if seat is disassembled for cleaning.
Installation Features2 stars
Difficult to attach seat to base.Less than three levels of recline present.Lower attachments require twisting to remove from the vehicle.No dedicated storage for LATCH and/or tether. No indication on carrier regarding where the handle should be placed when installed.
Overall Ease of Use Rating1 stars

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