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Car Safety Seats: A Guide for Families 2008
(For other essential Parent Resources information
please visit the Parenting Corner)
(Click here to order copies of
the 32-page brochure, Car Safety Seats: A Guide for Families - 2008.
Sold in packs of 50. Discounts are available when you order multiple packs!)
One of the most important jobs you have as a parent is keeping your child safe
when riding in a vehicle. Each year thousands of young children are killed or
injured in car crashes. Proper use of car safety seats helps keep children safe.
But with so many different car safety seats on the market, its no wonder
many parents find this overwhelming.
The type of seat your child needs depends on several things including age,
size, and type of vehicle. To be sure your child is using the most appropriate
seat, read on.
Types
of car safety seats at a glance
The chart below is a quick
guide to where to start your search. Once you’ve found your car safety seat,
it’s important to read more about the seat in this guide.
Age |
Type
of Seat |
General
Guildeline |
Infants |
Infant-only
and rear-facing convertible |
All infants
should always ride rear-facing until they are 1 year of age and weigh at
least 20 pounds. |
Toddlers
Preschoolers |
Convertible,
combination, and forward-facing |
Children
1 year of age and at least 20 pounds can ride forward-facing. It is best
to ride rear-facing as long as possible. |
School-aged
children |
Booster |
Booster
seats are for older children who have outgrown their forward-facing car
safety seats. Children should stay in a booster seat until the adult seat
belts fit correctly (usually when a child reaches about 4' 9" in height
and is between 8 and 12 years of age). |
Older children |
Seat
belts |
Children
who have outgrown their booster seats should ride in a lap and shoulder
belt; they should ride in the back seat until 13 years of age. |
The right
car safety seat
Infants-rear-facing
The American Academy of
Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all infants should ride rear-facing starting
with their first ride home from the hospital until they have reached at least
1 year of age and weigh at least 20 pounds. It is even better for them
to ride rear-facing until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by
their car safety seat’s manufacturer.
There are 2 types of rear-facing
car safety seats: infant-only seats and convertible seats.
Infant-only car safety seat |
Infant-only seats
- Are small and have carrying
handles (and sometimes come as part of a stroller system).
- Are used for infants
up to 22 to 30 pounds, depending on the model.
- Many come with a base
that can be left in the car. The seat clicks into and out of the base so you
dont have to install the base each time you use it. Parents can even
buy more than one base for additional vehicles.
Convertible seats (used
rear-facing)
- Can be used rear-facing
then converted to forward-facing for older children. This means
the seat can be used longer by your child. They are bulkier than infant seats,
however, and do not come with carrying handles or a separate base.
- Have higher rear-facing
weight and height limits than infant-only seats, which makes them ideal for
bigger babies.
- Have the following types
of harnesses:
- 5-point harnessattach
at the shoulders, hips, and between the leg
- Overhead shield—a
padded tray-like shield that swings down over the child
- T-shield—a
padded t-shaped or triangle-shaped shield attached to the shoulder straps
Installation tips for
rear-facing seats
When using a rear-facing
seat, keep the following in mind:
- Make sure the car safety
seat is installed tightly in the vehicle and that the harness fits the child
snugly.
- Never place a
rear-facing car safety seat in the front seat of a vehicle that has a front
passenger air bag. If the air bag inflates, it
will hit the back of the car safety seat, right where your babys head
is, and could cause serious injury or death.
- If your rear-facing
seat has more than one set of harness slots, make sure the harnesses are in
the slots at or below your babys shoulders.
- Be sure you know what
kind of seat belts your vehicle has. Some seat belts need locking clips. Locking
clips come with all new car safety seats. If youre not sure, check the
manual that came with your vehicle. Locking clips are not needed in most newer
vehicles.
- If you are using a convertible
seat in the rear-facing position, make sure the seat belt is routed through
the correct belt path. Check the instructions that came with the car safety
seat to be sure.
- If your vehicle was
made after 2002, it may come with the LATCH system, which is used to secure
car safety seats. See below for information on using LATCH.
- Make sure the seat is
at the correct angle so your infants head does not flop forward. Many
seats have angle indicators or adjusters that can help prevent this. If your
seat does not have an angle adjuster, tilt the car safety seat back by putting
a rolled towel or other firm padding (such as a pool noodle) under the base
near the point where the back and bottom of the vehicle seat meet.
- Be sure the car safety
seat is installed tightly. If you can move the seat more than an inch side
to side or front to back, its not tight enough.
- Still having trouble?
There may be a certified Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Technician in your area
that can help. See below for information on how to locate one.
Common questions
Q: What if my baby weighs
more than 20 pounds but is not 1 year old yet?
A:Use a seat that can be used rear-facing by children who weigh more
than 20 pounds and keep your baby rear-facing as long as possible, or at least
until he has reached his first birthday.
Q: What do I do if my
baby slouches down or to the side in his car safety seat?
A: Pad around your child (never under or behind)
with rolled-up cloth diapers or blankets. Do not use any sort of car safety
seat insert unless it came with the seat or was made by the manufacturer of
the seat.
Q: Can I adjust the
straps when my baby is wearing thicker clothing, like in the winter?
A: Yes, but make sure the harnesses are still snug. Also remember to
tighten the straps again after the thicker clothes are no longer needed. Dress
your baby in thinner layers instead of a bulky coat or snowsuit, and tuck a
blanket around your baby over the buckled harness straps if needed.
Q: Are rear-facing convertible seats OK to use for preemies?
A: Premature infants should be tested while still in the hospital to
make sure they can ride safely in a reclined position. Babies who need to lie
flat during travel should ride in a crash-tested car bed. Very small infants
who can ride safely in a reclined position usually fit better in infant-only
seats; however, if you need to use a convertible seat, choose one without a
tray-shield or T-shield harness. The shields often are too big and too far from
the body to fit correctly.
Toddlers and preschoolers-forward-facing
Once your child is at least
1 year of age and weighs at least 20 pounds, she can ride forward-facing.
However, it is best for her to ride rear-facing to the highest weight or height
allowed by the manufacturer of her car safety seat. She should ride in a forward-facing
seat with a harness until she outgrows it (usually at around 4 years of age
and about 40 pounds).
There are 5 types of car
safety seats that can be used forward-facing.
- Convertible seats—seats
that “convert” from rear-facing to forward-facing seats.
- Forward-facing toddler
seats—these seats can be used forward-facing with a harness for children
who weigh up to 40 to 80 pounds (depending on the model).
- Combination forward-facing/booster
seats—these seats can be used forward-facing with a harness for children
who weigh up to 40 to 65 pounds (depending on the model) or without the harness
as a booster (up to 80 to 100 pounds).
- Built-in seats—some
vehicles come with forward-facing seats built in. Weight and height limits
vary. Read your vehicle owner’s manual or contact the manufacturer for details
about how to use these seats.
- Travel vests—these
can be worn by children between 20 and 168 pounds and can be an alternative
to traditional forward-facing seats. They are also useful for when a vehicle
has lap-only seat belts in the rear.
Forward-facing seat |
Installation tips for
forward-facing seats
Make sure the car safety
seat is installed tightly in the vehicle and that the harness fits the child
snugly.
To switch a convertible
seat from rear-facing to forward-facing,
- Move the shoulder straps
to the slots that are at or above your child’s shoulders. On some convertible
seats, the top harness slots must be used when facing forward. Check the instructions
that came with the seat to be sure.
- You may have to adjust
the recline angle of the seat. Check the instructions to be sure.
- Make sure the seat belt
runs through the forward- facing belt path. When making these changes, always
follow the car safety seat instructions.
- If your vehicle was
made after 2002, it should come with the LATCH system, which is used to secure
car safety seats. See below for information on using LATCH.
A tether is a strap
that attaches to the top of a car safety seat and to an anchor point in your
vehicle (see your owner’s manual to find where the tether anchors are in your
vehicle). Tethers give extra protection by keeping the car safety seat and the
child’s head from moving too far forward in a crash or sudden stop. All new
cars, minivans, and light trucks have been required to have tether anchors since
September 2000. New forward-facing car safety seats come with tethers. For older
seats, tether kits are available. Check with the car safety seat manufacturer
to find out how you can get a tether if your seat does not have one.
Common questions
Q: What if I drive more
children than can be buckled safely in the back seat?
A: It’s best
to avoid this, especially if your vehicle has air bags in the front seat. All
children younger than 13 years should ride in the back seat. If absolutely necessary,
a child in a forward-facing car safety seat with a harness may be the best choice
to ride in front. Just be sure the vehicle seat is moved as far back away from
the dashboard (and the air bag) as possible.
Q: What do I need to
know if my child will be driven by someone else, such as for child care or school?
A: If your child is being driven by someone else, make sure
- The car safety seat your
child will be using is appropriate for the vehicle used for transport.
- The car safety seat
being used is appropriate for the age and size of your child.
- The person in charge
of transporting your child knows how to install and use the car safety seat
correctly.
Child care programs and
schools should have written guidelines for transporting children. These guidelines
should include the following:
- All drivers must have
a valid driver’s license. In some states, school bus drivers need to have
a special type of license.
- Staff-to-child ratios
for transport should meet or exceed those required for the classroom.
- Every child should be
supervised during transport, either by school staff or a parent volunteer,
so the driver can focus on driving.
- School staff, teachers,
and drivers should know what do to in an emergency, know how to properly use
car safety seats and seat belts, and be aware of other safety requirements.
- For more information
on written transportation guidelines for schools and child care programs,
visit www.healthykids.us/chapters/transportation_main.htm
and www.healthychildcare.org.
Q: Should my child ride
in a car safety seat on an airplane?
A: Most infant, convertible, and forward-facing seats can be used on
airplanes, but booster seats and travel vests cannot. The Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) and the AAP recommend that when flying, children should be securely fastened
in certified child restraints until 4 years of age, and then should be secured
with the airplane seat belts. This will help keep them safe during takeoff and
landing or in case of turbulence. Check the label on your car safety seat or
call the car safety seat manufacturer before you travel to see if your seat
is certified for use on an airplane. You can also consider using a restraint
made only for use on airplanes and approved by the FAA.
School-aged children-booster seats
Booster seats are for older
children who have outgrown their forward-facing car safety seats. A child has
outgrown his forward-facing seat when one of the following is true:
- He reaches the top weight
or height allowed for his seat with a harness. (These limits are listed on
the seat and are also included in the instruction booklet.)
- His shoulders are above
the top harness slots.
Belt-positioning booster seat |
- His ears have reached
the top of the seat.
Booster seats are designed
to raise the child up so that the lap and shoulder seat belts fit properly.
High-back and backless booster seats are available. They do not come with harness
straps but are used with the lap and shoulder seat belts in your vehicle, the
same way an adult rides. Booster seats should be used until your child can correctly
fit in lap and shoulder seat belts. Booster seats typically include a plastic
clip or guide to help ensure the correct use of the vehicle lap and shoulder
belts. See the instruction booklet that came with the booster seat for directions
on how to use the guide or clip.
Installation tips for
booster seats
Booster seats must be used
with a lap and shoulder belt (never a lap-only belt). When using a booster seat,
make sure
- The lap belt lies low
and snug across your child’s upper thighs.
- The shoulder belt crosses
the middle of your child’s chest and shoulder.
Common questions
Q: What if my car only
has lap belts in the back seat?
A: Lap belts work fine with infant-only, convertible, and forward-facing
seats. They cannot be used with booster seats. If your car only has lap belts,
use a forward-facing car safety seat with a harness and higher weight limits.
Other options are
- Check to see if shoulder
belts can be installed in your vehicle.
- Use a travel vest (some
can be used with lap belts).
- Consider buying another
car with lap and shoulder belts in the back seat.
Q: Is there a difference
between high-back and backless boosters?
A: Both types of boosters are designed to raise your child so the seat
belts fit properly. High-back boosters are useful in vehicles that do not have
head rests or have low seat backs. Many seats that look like high-back boosters
are actually combination seats. They come with harnesses that can be used for
smaller children and can then be removed for older children. Backless boosters
are usually less expensive and are easier to move from vehicle to vehicle. Backless
boosters can safely be used in vehicles with head rests and high seat backs.
Older children-seat belts
Seat
belts are made for adults. Your child should stay in a booster seat until adult
seat belts fit correctly (usually when the child reaches about 4' 9" in height
and is between 8 and 12 years of age). This means
- The shoulder belt lies
across the middle of the chest and shoulder, not the neck or throat.
- The lap belt is low
and snug across the upper thighs, not the belly.
- Your child is tall enough
to sit against the vehicle seat back with her knees bent without slouching
and can stay in this position comfortably throughout the trip.
Other points to keep in
mind when using seat belts include
- Make sure your child
does not tuck the shoulder belt under her arm or behind her back. This leaves
the upper body unprotected, putting your child at risk of severe injury in
a crash or with sudden braking.
- Never allow anyone to
“share” seat belts. All passengers must have their own car safety seats or
seat belts.
Common Questions
Q: I’ve seen products
that say they can help make the seat belt fit better. Should we get one of these?
A: No, these products should not be used. In fact, they may actually
interfere with proper seat belt fit by causing the lap belt to ride too high
on the stomach and making the shoulder belt too loose. They can even damage
the seat belt. This rule applies to car safety seats too; do not use any extra
products unless they came with the seat. There are no federal safety standards
for these products and until there are, the AAP does not recommend they be used.
As long as children are riding in the correct restraint for their size and age,
they should not need to use any additional devices.
Shopping
for car safety seats
When shopping for a car
safety seat, keep the following tips in mind:
- No one seat is the
“best” or “safest.” The best seat is the one that fits your child’s age
and size, is correctly installed, fits well in your vehicle, and can be used
properly every time you drive.
- Don’t decide by price
alone. A higher price does not mean the seat is safer or easier to use.
- Avoid used seats
if you don’t know the seat’s history. Never use a car seat that
- Is too old.
Look on the label for the date it was made. Check with the manufacturer
to find out how long they recommend using the seat.
- Has any visible
cracks on it.
- Does not have
a label with the date of manufacture and model number. Without these,
you cannot check to see if the seat has been recalled.
- Does not come
with instructions. You need them to know how to use the seat.
- Is missing parts.
Used car safety seats often come without important parts. Check with the
manufacturer to make sure you can get the right parts.
- Was recalled.
You can find out by calling the manufacturer or by contacting the Auto
Safety Hotline at 888/DASH-2-DOT (888/327-4236) or the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) at
www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls/childseat.cfm.
- Do not use seats that
have been in a moderate or severe crash. Seats that were in a minor crash
may still be safe to use. The NHTSA considers a crash minor if all of the
following are true:
- The vehicle could
be driven away from the crash.
- The vehicle door
closest to the car safety seat was not damaged.
- No one in the vehicle
was injured.
- The air bags did
not go off.
- You can’t see any
damage to the car safety seat.
If you are unsure, call
the manufacturer of the seat. See “Manufacturer phone numbers and Web sites”
below for manufacturer contact information.
Installing
car safety seats correctly
What you should know
about air bags
All new cars come with front
air bags. When used with seat belts, air bags work very well to protect teenagers
and adults. However, air bags can be very dangerous to children, particularly
those riding in rear-facing car safety seats and to child passengers who are
not properly positioned. If your vehicle has a front passenger air bag, infants
in rear-facing seats must ride in the back seat. Even in a relatively
low-speed crash, the air bag can inflate, strike the car safety seat, and cause
serious brain and neck injury and death.
Vehicles with no back seat
or a back seat that is not made for passengers are not the best choice for traveling
with small children. However, the air bag can be turned off in some of these
vehicles if the front seat is needed for a child passenger. See your vehicle
owner’s manual for more information.
Side air bags
Side air bags improve safety
for adults in side-impact crashes. Read your vehicle owner’s manual for more
information about the air bags in your vehicle. Read your car safety seat manual
for guidance on placing the seat next to a side air bag.
LATCH
LATCH (Lower Anchors
and Tethers for Children) is an attachment system that eliminates the need to
use seat belts to secure the car safety seat. Vehicles with the LATCH system
have anchors located in the back seat. Car safety seats that come with LATCH
have attachments that fasten to these anchors. Nearly all passenger vehicles
and all car safety seats made on or after September 1, 2002, come with LATCH.
However, unless both your vehicle and the car safety seat have this anchor system,
you will still need to use seat belts to install the car safety seat.
If you
need installation help
If you have questions or
need help installing your car safety seat, find a certified CPS Technician.
A list of certified CPS Technicians is available by state or ZIP code on the
NHTSA Web site at www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/childps/contacts. A list of
inspection stations—where you can go to learn how to correctly install a car
safety seat—is available in English and Spanish at www.seatcheck.org or toll-free
at 866/SEATCHECK (866/732-8243). You can also get this information by calling
the toll-free NHTSA Auto Safety Hotline at 888/DASH-2-DOT (888/327-4236) from
8:00 am to 10:00 pm ET, Monday through Friday.
Important
reminders
- Be a good role model.
Make sure you always wear your seat belt. This will help your child form a
lifelong habit of buckling up.
- Never leave your child
alone in or around cars. Any of the following can happen when a child
is left alone in or around a vehicle:
- Temperatures can
reach deadly levels in minutes, and the child can die of heat stroke.
- He can be strangled
by power windows, sunroofs, or accessories.
- He can knock the
vehicle into gear, setting it in motion.
- He can be backed
over when the vehicle backs up.
- He can become trapped
in the trunk of the vehicle.
- Always read and follow
manufacturer’s instructions. If you do not have the manufacturer’s instructions
for your car safety seat, write or call the company’s customer service department.
They will ask you for the model number, name of seat, and date of manufacture.
The manufacturer’s address and phone number are on the label on the seat.
Also be sure to follow the instructions in your vehicle owner’s manual about
using car safety seats.
All products listed below
meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 as of the date of publication.
There may be car safety seats available that are not listed in this brochure.
The following information is current as of the date of publication. Before buying
a car safety seat, check the manufacturer’s instructions for important safety
information about proper fitting and use.
The NHTSA has put together
an Ease of Use Ratings system to educate parents and caregivers about car safety
seat features and to assist them in finding the appropriate seat for their needs.
You can view this list at www.nhtsa.dot.gov/CPS/CSSRating/Index.cfm.
Manufacturers names are boldfaced.
Infant-only
seats |
Name |
Harness
Type |
Rear-Facing
Weight Limits |
Height
Limits |
Price |
Baby
Trend EZ-Loc, Flex-Loc, Latch-Loc Adjustable Back |
5-point |
5-22
pounds |
28.5" |
$79.99–$199.99 |
Britax
Companion |
5-point |
4-22
pounds |
30" |
$159–$199 |
Chicco
Key Fit Infant Car Seat |
5-point |
4-22
pounds |
30" |
$150–$160 |
Chicco
KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat |
5-point |
4–30
pounds |
30" |
$160–$170 |
Combi
Centre/ST/DX/EX |
5-point |
5-22
pounds |
29" |
$110–$130 |
Combi
Connection |
5-point |
5-22
pounds |
29" |
$159.99 |
Combi
Shuttle |
5-point |
5-22
pounds |
29" |
$125–$150 |
Compass
Baby Infant Car Seat |
5-point |
4-22
pounds |
30" |
$120–$140 |
Eddie
Bauer Deluxe Infant Car Seat |
5-point |
5-22
pounds |
19"–29" |
$100 |
Evenflo
Discovery 5 |
5-point |
5-22
pounds |
19"–29" |
$50-$60 |
Evenflo
Embrace |
5-point |
5-22
pounds |
19"–29" |
$60-$90 |
Evenflo
First Choice 5 |
5-point |
5-22
pounds |
19"–29" |
$40 |
Graco
Infant Safe Seat |
5-point |
5-30
pounds |
32" |
$129–$149 |
Graco
SnugRide |
3-point
5-point |
5-22
pounds |
29" |
$79–$119 |
Maxi-Cosi
Mico |
5-point |
5–22
pounds |
19"–29" |
$149–$169 |
Mia
Moda Viva Infant Car Seat |
5-point |
22
pounds |
29" |
$99–$109 |
Orbit
Infant Car Seat |
5-point |
22
pounds |
29" |
$899.95 |
Peg
Perego Primo Viaggio SIP 30/30 |
5-point |
30
pounds |
30" |
$249–$299 |
Safety
1st Designer 22, First Ride, Starter, Starter DX |
5-point |
5-22
pounds |
19"–29" |
$60-$80 |
Convertible
seats |
Name |
Harness Type |
Rear-Facing
Weight Limits/
Height Limits |
Forward-Facing
Weight Limits/
Height Limits |
Price |
Britax
Boulevard |
5-point |
5-33
pounds |
20-65
pounds
27" - 49" |
$299 |
Britax
Decathlon |
5-point |
5-33
pounds |
20-65
pounds
27"- 49" |
$284 |
Britax
Diplomat |
5-point |
5-35
pounds |
20-40
pounds
27"- 40" |
$259 |
Britax
Marathon |
5-point |
5-33
pounds |
20-65
pounds
27"- 49" |
$269 |
Britax
Roundabout |
5-point |
5-33
pounds |
20-40
pounds
27"- 40" |
$219 |
Combi
Zeus |
5-point |
5-22
pounds |
20-40
pounds |
$275-$300 |
Cosco
Alpha Omega Elite
(rear-facing, forward-facing, or booster)
|
5-point |
5-35
pounds
36" |
Forward
facing: 22-40 pounds
40"
Belt-positioning booster: 30-100 pounds
52" |
$130-$160 |
Cosco
Alpha-Omega Elite Convertible Car Seat |
5-point |
5-35
pounds
19"-36" |
Forward
facing: 22-40 pounds
34"-43"
Belt-positioning booster: 40-100 pounds
43"-52" |
$150-$190 |
Cosco
Scenera/DX |
5-point
Overhead shield |
5-35
pounds
36" |
22-40
pounds
19"-43" |
$60-$70 |
Eddie
Bauer Deluxe Convertible Car Seat |
5-point |
5-35
pounds
19"-36" |
Forward
facing: 22-40 pounds
34"-43"
Belt-positioning booster: 40-80 pounds
43"-52" |
$120-$140 |
Eddie
Bauer Deluxe 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat (rear-facing, forward-facing,
or booster) |
5-point
|
5-35
pounds
19"-36" |
Forward
facing: 22-40 pounds
34"-43"
Belt-positioning booster: 40-100 pounds
43"-52" |
$150-$180 |
Evenflo
Titan Elite |
5-point
|
5-35
pounds |
20-50
pounds |
$80-$100 |
Evenflo
Tribute 5/DLX |
5-point
Overhead shield |
5-30
pounds |
20-40
pounds |
$50-$70 |
Evenflo
Triumph Advance |
5-point |
5-35
pounds |
20-50
pounds |
$120-$180 |
Fisher-Price
Safe Voyage Convertible Car Seat |
5-point |
5-33
pounds |
20-55
pounds |
$179 |
Graco
ComfortSport |
5-point
|
5-30
pounds |
20-40
pounds
40" |
$79-$119 |
Maxi-Cosi
Priori Convertible Car Seat |
5-point |
5-35
pounds 19"-36"
|
22-40
pounds
34"-43" |
$199.99 |
Recaro
Como, Signo Convertible Car Seat |
5-point |
5-35
pounds |
20-70
pounds
50" |
$249-$289 |
Safety
1st Alpha Omega Elite 3-in-1, Alpha Sport, All-in-One, All-in-One
Deluxe Convertible Car Seat (rear-facing, forward- facing, or booster) |
5-point
|
5-35
pounds
19"-36" |
Forward
facing: 22-40 pounds
34"-43"
Belt-positioning booster: 40-80 pounds
43"-52" |
$179 |
Safety
1st Alpha Omega Elite (rear-facing, forward-facing, or booster) |
5-point |
5-35
pounds
19"-36" |
Forward
facing: 22-40 pounds
34"-43"
Belt-positioning booster: 40-100 pounds
43"-52" |
$159 |
Safety
1st Uptown Convertible Car Seat |
5-point |
5-35
pounds
19"-36" |
22-40
pounds
34"-43" |
$99.99 |
Sunshine
Kids Radian65 Car Seat |
5-point |
5-33
pounds |
Up
to 65 pounds
51" |
$199.99 |
Sunshine
Kids Radian80 Car Seat |
5-point |
5-33
pounds |
Up
to 80 pounds
51" |
$279.99 |
Tripleplay
Products Sit n' Stroll |
5-point |
5-30
pounds |
20-40
pounds |
$249.95 |
Combination
seats |
(Can
be used with 5-point harness or as belt-positioning booster.) |
Name |
Weight Limits/
Height Limits
With Harness |
Weight Limits/
Height Limits as
Booster |
Price |
Cosco
Commuter, Ventura High Back Booster |
22-40
pounds
34"-43 |
40-80
pounds
43"-52" |
$39-$59 |
Cosco
Summit/Deluxe |
22-40
pounds
34"-43" |
40-100
pounds
43"-52" |
$99.99-$129.99 |
Eddie
Bauer Adjustable High Back Booster |
22-40
pounds
34"-43" |
40-100
pounds
43"-48" |
$99-$129 |
Eddie
Bauer Comfort, Deluxe High Back Booster |
22-40
pounds
34"-43" |
40-100
pounds
43"-52" |
$119.99 |
Evenflo
Express, Chase, Traditions, Vision |
20-40
pounds |
30-100
pounds
54" |
$50-$70 |
Evenflo
Generations, Bolero |
20-40
pounds |
30-100
pounds
57" |
$70-$100 |
Graco
Platinum/Treasured/Ultra CarGo |
20-40
pounds
27"-43" |
30-100
pounds
35"-54" |
$69-$99 |
Graco
Sprout |
20-65
pounds
52" |
As
high-back booster: 30-100 pounds
38"-57"
As backless booster: 40-100 pounds
40"-57" |
$149 |
Recaro
Young Sport |
20-40
pounds
27"-40" |
30-80
pounds
37"-59" |
$249 |
SafeGuard
GO Booster |
30-60
pounds
34"-52" |
40-100
pounds
43"-57" |
$199 |
Safety
1st Alpha Sport, Summit, Vantage Point, Surveyor |
22-40
pounds
34"-43" |
40-100
pounds
43"-52" |
$70-$100 |
Safety
1st Apex 65 |
22-65
pounds
34"-52" |
40-100
pounds
43"-57" |
$130 |
Safety
1st Prospect |
22-40
pounds
34"-43" |
40-100
pounds
43"-48" |
$99-$199 |
Forward-facing
toddler seats |
Name |
Harness
Type |
Weight Limits |
Height Limits |
Price |
Britax
Regent |
5-point |
22-80
pounds |
19"-53" |
$269 |
Eddie
Bauer Portable Car Seat |
5-point |
22–40
pounds |
34"–43" |
$49.99 |
Graco
Toddler Safe Seat |
5-point |
20-40
pounds |
27"-43" |
$129–$149 |
SafeGuard
Child Seat |
5-point |
22-65
pounds |
57" |
$399 |
Booster
seats |
Name |
Type |
Weight Limits |
Height Limits
|
Price |
Britax
Monarch Belt-Positioning Booster |
High
back |
30-100
pounds |
38"-60" |
$149 |
Britax
Parkway Belt-Positioning Booster |
High
back |
30-100
pounds |
38"-60" |
$99 |
Clek
Olli Booster Seat |
Low
back |
40-100
pounds |
40"-57" |
$89.99 |
Combi
Dakota |
Backless |
33-100
pounds |
33"-57" |
$27-$50 |
Combi
Kobuk |
High
back |
33-100
pounds |
33"-57" |
$80-$90 |
Compass
Baby B505/B530/B510 LP Folding Booster Car Seat |
High
back |
30-100
pounds |
38"-57" |
$60-$100 |
Cosco
Ambassador, High Rise |
Backless |
30-100
pounds |
34"-57" |
$20-$30 |
Cosco
Complete Voyager |
High
back |
40-80
pounds |
43"-52" |
$20-$25 |
Cosco
Protek |
High
back |
30-100
pounds |
34"-57" |
$30-$50 |
Cosco
Traveler |
High
back |
30-80
pounds |
52" |
$20-$25 |
Eddie
Bauer Auto Booster, Auto Backless Booster |
High
back Backless |
30-100
pounds
40-100 pounds |
34"-57"
43"-57" |
$30-$50 |
Evenflo
Big Kid Deluxe/LX, Everest, Quantum |
High
back
Backless |
30-100
pounds
40-100 pounds |
57" |
$40-$80 |
Evenflo
Big Kid No Back |
Backless |
40-100
pounds |
57" |
$15 |
Evenflo
Confidence |
High
back Backless |
30-100
pounds
40-100 pounds |
38"-57" |
$60-$90 |
Evenflo
Sightseer |
High
back |
30-100
pounds |
37"-54" |
$30-$40 |
Fisher
Price Safe Voyage Booster Seat |
High
back Backless |
30-100
pounds |
39"-57" |
$79 |
Graco
My CarGo |
High
back |
30-100
pounds |
35"-54" |
$40 |
Graco
TurboBooster |
High
back
Backless |
30-100
pounds
40-100 pounds |
38"-57"
40"-57" |
$50-$80
$20-$25 |
Jané
Indy Plus Booster Car Seat |
High
back |
30–80
pounds |
Up
to 57" |
$199.99 |
Maxi-Cosi
Rodi Booster |
High
back
Backless |
30-100
pounds
40-100 pounds |
34"-57"
43"-57" |
$99.99 |
Recaro
Start |
High
back |
30-80
pounds |
59" |
$349 |
Recaro
Vivo, Vivo Lite |
High
back |
30-100
pounds |
37"-59" |
$89-$99 |
Safety
Angel Ride Ryte |
High
back
Backless |
30-100
pounds
40-100 pounds |
33"-54" |
$70-$75
$45-$48 |
Safety
1st Prospect |
Backless |
40-100
pounds |
43"-57" |
$20-$25 |
Travel
vests |
Name |
Weight Limits/Age
Limits |
Price |
E-Z-ON
Non-adjustable Vests
101 Zipper Vest
101 Push Button Vest |
20–168
pounds
20–65 pounds |
$120–$140 |
E-Z-ON
86Y Harness |
66–168
pounds |
$60–$80 |
RideSafer
Travel Vest |
Small
vest: 35–60 pounds (3–6 years)
Large vest: 50–80 pounds (5–10 years) |
$99.99 |
Safety
Angel Kid Y Harness (must be used with the Ride Ryte booster) |
30–100
pounds |
$48–$52 |
Built-in (integrated)
seats |
Built-in
or integrated child safety seats are available on selected models
from some motor vehicle manufacturers. Check with the manufacturers
for specifics.
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Although the American
Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is not a testing or standard setting organization,
this guide sets forth the AAP recommendations based on the peer-reviewed
literature available at the time of its publication, and sets forth some
of the factors that parents should consider before selecting and using a
car safety seat.
The appearance of the name American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) does not
constitute a guarantee or endorsement of the products listed or the claims
made. Phone numbers and Web site addresses are as current as possible, but
may change at any time.
Prices are approximate and may vary.
The information contained in this publication should not be used as a substitute
for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations
in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts
and circumstances.
Photographs courtesy of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Copyright © 2008 American Academy of Pediatrics
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