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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Britax Diplomat (RF)

 

Britax Diplomat (RF)

 

Manufacturer  /  Model NameBritax Diplomat (RF)
Model Number  /  Manufacture DateE9L6669  /  Sep 18, 2007
Harness Type5-pt
Weight  /  Height5-35lb/22"-33"
Evaluation of Labels2 stars
No picture of child in child restraint. No additional sizing information given to achieve a proper fit. No additional harness slot height adjustment information. Labels do not depict LATCH preparation. Sizing information is separate from illustration of the child in the restraint.
Evaluation of Instructions4 stars
Manual does not have a dedicated storage compartment/hangs on a string. No picture of child in the child restraint. User must read text to prepare and route LATCH belt.
Securing the Child4 stars
Harness clip is not labeled. Multiple actions are required to convert the seat to rear-facing, which must be followed in the manual. Loose parts exist when disassembling for cleaning.
Installation Features2 stars
Interference is possible between a seat component and the belt routing system. Belt positioning features, such as lock-offs, may be confusing to use. There are not three levels of built-in recline available. Push-button-style connectors are available for LATCH. No label to denote LATCH storage.
Overall Ease of Use Rating3 stars

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