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Car Safety Seats: A Guide for Families 2009
(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 - 2009.
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
your childs size and the type of vehicle you have. 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 on where to start your search. However, its important
to read more about the features and how to use your car safety seat.
Age |
Type
of Seat |
General
Guideline |
Infants |
Infant
seats and rear-facing convertible
seats |
All infants should always ride rear-facing until they are at least 1 year of age and weigh at least 20 pounds. |
Toddlers/Preschoolers |
Convertible
seats |
It
is best to ride rear-facing as long as possible. Children
1 year of age and at least 20 pounds can ride forward-facing. |
School-aged
children |
Booster
seats |
Booster
seats are for older children who have outgrown their forward-facing car
safety seats. Children should stay in a booster seat until adult 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 in the back seat until 13 years of age. |
The right
car safety seat
Infantsrear-facing
The American Academy
of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all infants should ride rear-facing
starting with their first ride home from the hospital. They should remain
rear-facing until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by
their car safety seats manufacturer. At a minimum, children should
ride rear-facing until they have reached at least 1 year of age and
weigh at least 20 pounds.
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 only for travel
(not for positioning outside the vehicle).
- Are used for infants
up to 22 to 32 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 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 2 types
of harnesses:
5-point
harness attach at the shoulders, at the hips, and between
the legs
|
Overhead
shield a padded tray-like shield that swings down over
the child
|
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 an active 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 owner's 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 who can help. If you need installation help,see below
for information on how to locate a CPS Technician.
Common questions
Q: What if my baby weighs
more than 20 pounds but is not yet 1 year old ?
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
into the second year of life, 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 harness. The shields often are too big and too far from the body
to fit correctly.
Toddlers
and preschoolersforward-facing
Once your child has reached
the highest weight or height allowed by the manufacturer of the seat for rear-facing,
she can ride forward-facing in a convertible seat. 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 4065
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 120 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 car safety 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 vehicle owner’s manual to find where
the tether anchors are in your vehicle). Tethers give important 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, or if your tether is missing, 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
childrenbooster seats
Booster seats are
for older children who have outgrown their forward-facing car safety
seats. It is best for children to ride in a harnessed seat as long as
possible, at least to 4 years of age. If your child outgrows his seat
before reaching 4 years of age, consider using a seat with a harness
approved for higher weights and heights. A child has outgrown his forward-facing
seat when any 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 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
be safely used in vehicles with headrests and high seat backs.
Older
childrenseat 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 it recommends 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 National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Vehicle Safety Hotline
at 888/327-4236. You can also visit the NHTSA Web site 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 improves
safety by eliminating 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.
Lists of certified CPS Technicians and Child Seat Fitting Stations are available
on the NHTSA Web site at www.nhtsa.gov or at www.seatcheck.org. You can also
get this information by calling 866/SEATCHECK (866/732-8243) or the NHTSA Vehicle
Safety Hotline at 888/327-4236.
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 publication.
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-$129.99 |
Chicco
KeyFit Infant Car Seat |
5-point |
4-22
pounds |
30" |
$160-$170 |
Chicco
KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat |
5-point |
4-30
pounds |
30" |
$170-$180 |
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 |
Eddie
Bauer Sure Fit |
5-point |
4-22
pounds |
Up
to 29" |
$120-$130 |
Eddie
Bauer Sure Fit 30 |
5-point |
4-30
pounds |
Up
to 32" |
$130-$140 |
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 |
The
First Years Via Infant Car Seat |
5-point |
4-22
pounds |
Up
to 30" |
$129.99 |
Graco
SnugRide |
5-point |
5-22
pounds |
29" |
$80-$120 |
Graco
SnugRide 32 |
5-point |
5-32
pounds |
32" |
$140-$160 |
Maxi-Cosi
Mico Infant Car Seat |
5-point |
5-22
pounds |
19"-29" |
$170 |
Mia
Moda Viva, Viva Supreme Infant Car Seat |
5-point |
22
pounds |
29" |
$99-$139 |
Orbit
Infant Car Seat |
5-point |
22
pounds |
29" |
$900 |
Peg
Perego Primo Viaggio SIP 30/30 |
5-point |
30
pounds |
30" |
$299-$349 |
Safety
1st Designer |
5-point |
5-22
pounds |
19"-29" |
$65-$80 |
Safety
1st OnBoard |
5-point |
4-22
pounds |
19"-29" |
$120 |
Safety
1st OnBoard 30 |
5-point |
4-30
pounds |
Up
to 32" |
$120-$130 |
Convertible
seats |
Name |
Harness Type |
Rear-Facing
Weight Limits,
Height Limits |
Forward-Facing
Weight Limits,
Height Limits |
Price |
Britax
Boulevard, Boulevard CS |
5-point |
5-35
pounds |
20-65
pounds, up to 49" |
$309.99-
$329.99 |
Britax
Decathlon |
5-point |
5-33
pounds |
20-65
pounds, up to 49" |
$294.99 |
Britax
Diplomat |
5-point |
5-35
pounds |
20-40
pounds, up to 40" |
$259.99 |
Britax
Marathon |
5-point |
5-35
pounds |
20-65
pounds, up to 49" |
$279.99 |
Britax
Roundabout |
5-point |
5-35
pounds |
20-40
pounds, up to 40" |
$229.99 |
Combi
Coccoro |
5-point |
5-33
pounds |
20-40
pounds |
$200 |
Combi
Zeus |
5-point |
5-33
pounds |
20-40
pounds |
$275-$300 |
Cosco
Scenera |
5-point
shield |
5-35
pounds,
19"-36" |
22–40
pounds,
34"-43" |
$50-$60 |
Eddie
Bauer Deluxe (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" |
$120-$130 |
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" |
$180-$190 |
Evenflo
Symphony |
5-point |
5-35
pounds |
Forward
facing: 20-40 pounds, 50"
Belt-positioning booster:
30-100 pounds,
57"
|
$180-$200 |
Evenflo
Titan Elite |
5-point
|
5-35
pounds |
20-50
pounds |
$80-$100 |
Evenflo
Tribute 5 |
5-point
|
5-35
pounds |
20-40
pounds |
$50-$70 |
Evenflo
Triumph Advance |
5-point |
5-35
pounds |
20-50
pounds |
$120-$180 |
The
First Years True Fit |
5-point |
5-22
pounds without upper seat back installed
5-35 pounds with upper seat back installed |
23-65
pounds,
up to 50" |
$199.99 |
Graco
ComfortSport |
5-point
|
5-30
pounds |
20-40
pounds,
40" |
$80-$120 |
Maxi-Cosi
Priori |
5-point |
5-35
pounds,
19"-36"
|
22-40
pounds,
34"-43" |
$200-$230 |
Orbit
Toddler Seat |
5-point |
15-35
pounds |
20-50
pounds,
up to 49" |
$300 |
Recaro
Como, Signo |
5-point |
5-35
pounds |
20-70
pounds,
50" |
$249-$289 |
Safety
1st All-in-One, All-in-One Deluxe or Alpha Brand
Alpha Omega (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" |
$140-$160 |
Safety
1st All-in-One or Alpha Brand Alpha Omega (rear-facing,
forward-facing, or booster) |
5-point |
5-35
pounds,
19"-36" |
Forward
facing: 22-50 pounds, 35"-45"
Belt-positioning booster:
40-80 pounds,
43"-52" |
$150-$160 |
Safety
1st or Alpha Brand 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,
34"-52" |
$150-$160 |
Safety
1st or Alpha Brand Alpha Omega Elite (rear-facing,
forward-facing, or booster) |
5-point |
5-35
pounds,
19"-36" |
Forward
facing: 22-50 pounds, 34"-45"
Belt-positioning booster:
40-100 pounds,
34"-52" |
$160-$170 |
Safety
1st Avenue |
5-point |
5-35
pounds,
19"-36" |
22–40
pounds,
34"-43" |
$80-$90 |
Sunshine
Kids Radian65 Car Seat |
5-point |
5-35
pounds |
Up
to 65 pounds,
53" |
$219.99 |
Sunshine
Kids Radian80 Car Seat |
5-point |
5-35
pounds |
Up
to 80 pounds,
53" |
$249.99 |
Tripleplay
Products/Lilly Gold 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 |
Britax
Frontier Harness-2-Booster |
2
years of age and 25-80 pounds,
30"-53" |
40-100
pounds,
42"-60" |
$279.99 |
Cosco
High Back Booster |
22-40
pounds,
34"-43" |
40-80
pounds,
43"-52" |
$50 |
Cosco
Ventura |
22-40
pounds,
34"-43" |
40-80
pounds,
43"-52" |
$60 |
Eddie
Bauer Adjustable High Back Booster |
22-40
pounds,
34"-43" |
40-100
pounds,
43"-48" |
$99 |
Eddie
Bauer Deluxe High Back Booster |
22-40
pounds,
34"-43" |
40-100
pounds,
43"-52" |
$120 |
Evenflo
Express, Chase |
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 |
22-60
pounds,
41"-52" |
40-100
pounds,
43"-57" |
$199 |
Safety
1st Apex 65 |
22-65
pounds,
34"-52" |
40-100
pounds,
43"-57" |
$130 |
Safety
1st Summit |
22-40
pounds,
34"-43" |
40-100
pounds,
43"-52" |
$99.99 |
Safety
1st Vantage, Surveyor |
22-40
pounds,
34"-43" |
40-100
pounds,
43"-52" |
$80 |
Forward-facing
toddler seats |
Name |
Harness
Type |
Weight Limits |
Height Limits |
Price |
Britax
Regent |
5-point |
22-80
pounds |
19"-53" |
$279.99 |
Graco
Toddler SafeSeat |
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 |
Chicco
KeyFit Strada Booster |
High
back Backless |
30-100
pounds 40-100 pounds |
38"-57" |
$120-$140 |
Clek
Olli Booster Seat |
Low
back |
40-100
pounds |
40"-57" |
$89.99 |
Clek
Oobr Booster Seat |
High
back |
33-100
pounds |
38"-57" |
$239.99 |
Clek
Ozzie Booster Seat |
Low
back |
40-100
pounds |
40"-57" |
$69.99 |
Combi
Dakota |
Backless |
33-100
pounds |
33"-57" |
$27-$50 |
Combi
Kobuk |
High
back |
33-100
pounds |
33"-57" |
$80-$90 |
Compass
Baby Deluxe, Ultimate, Premier Folding Booster Car Seat |
High
back |
30-100
pounds |
38"-57" |
$60-$100 |
Cosco
Ambassador, High Rise |
Backless |
30-100
pounds |
34"-57" |
$20 |
Cosco
Complete Voyager |
High
back |
40-80
pounds |
43"-52" |
$20-$25 |
Cosco
Protek |
High
back |
30-100
pounds |
34"-57" |
$30-$50 |
Cosco
Pronto! |
High
back |
30-100
pounds |
34"-57" |
$35 |
Disney
Pronto! |
Backless |
40-100
pounds |
43"-57" |
$24 |
Eddie
Bauer Auto Booster |
High
back |
30-100
pounds |
34"-57"
|
$70 |
Evenflo
Big Kid, Big Kid Amp |
Backless |
40-100 pounds |
57" |
$15-$20 |
Evenflo
Big Kid Deluxe/LX, Everest, Quantum |
High
Back Backless |
30-100
pounds
40-100 pounds |
57" |
$40-$80 |
Evenflo
Sightseer |
High
back |
30-100
pounds |
37"-54" |
$30-$40 |
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 49" |
$199.99 |
Maxi-Cosi
Rodi XR |
High
back |
30-100
pounds |
34"-57"
|
$160 |
Recaro
Start |
High
back |
30-80
pounds |
59" |
$349 |
Recaro
Vivo, Vivo Lite |
High
back |
30-100
pounds |
37"-59" |
$89-$99 |
Sunshine
Kids Monterey Booster Seat |
High
back Backless |
30-120
pounds |
63" |
$139.99 |
Travel
vests |
Name |
Weight
Limits (Age Limits) |
Price |
E-Z-ON
Adjustable Vests
103Z Vest
203 Vest |
20-168 pounds
20-65 pounds |
$120 |
E-Z-ON
86Y Harness |
66-168
pounds |
$60-$80 |
E-Z-ON
Non-adjustable Vests
101 Zipper Vest
101 Push Button Vest |
20-168 pounds
20-65 pounds |
$120-$140 |
RideSafer
Travel Vest by Safe Traffic Systems |
Small
vest: 35-60 pounds (3-6 years)
Large vest: 50-80 pounds (5-10 years) |
$99.99 |
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 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 © 2009 American Academy of Pediatrics
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