When you are researching car seats for your child, there are a number of different places to get information and car seat ratings. Many stores that sell car seats don’t have qualified staff, who’ve received adequate training on car seats – so watch out for misinformation you may get from there. Fortunately, there are a number of different websites that give you good information and comparisons between seats. Keep in mind, however – there is no one “best seat” for all children and situations. The “best car seat” is the one that fits your child, your vehicle, gets installed correctly, and gets used properly.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
In 2007, NHTSA rated 101 car seats from 19 different companies for ease of use. Of these 101 seats, 81% scored an A overall. NHSTA gives both an overall letter grade, and a letter grade to show how each car seat rates in 5 different categories: whether or not the seat requires assembly after purchase, how easy the labeling attached to the seat is to understand, how easy the written instructions are to understand, how easy it is to properly secure a child in the seat, and whether or not the seat has features to make it easier to install in a vehicle. The NHSTA did not test any of these seats for safety in car crashes; their car seat ratings were only for ease of use. Note that most of the seats tested received either an A or a B, with a few Cs in the listings.
Consumer Reports
As their website states, “No brand is more widely recognized and trusted…than Consumer Reports. Since 1936, [it]…has delivered thorough…consumer product recommendations, while maintaining a…reputation for objectivity and accuracy.…In this age of public skepticism…[CR] has maintained its lofty status, a testimony to the organization’s strict standards and steely integrity.” Consumer Reports generally has great information on various products. Unfortunately, Consumer Reports released a car seat rating survey in February 2007 that found problems with a number of car seats, but they had to retract the report a few days later when it was shown they had made an error in the calculation of the speed of a side impact crash. There is controversy in the car seat community about how they test and that their test methods do not reflect real world situations. Read their reports, but use the information carefully, and don’t limit yourself to their top models.
Car Safety
This website has lots of very useful information. As they state: “Car-Safety.Org is an independent, not-for-profit, volunteer based website. We strive to provide other parents with correct and up-to-date information on the selection and safe installation of child safety restraints, including car seats, as well as vehicle safety. Our websites currently include buying guides and information for vehicles and car seats, an expansive car seat FAQ, a discussion community for child passenger safety issues, a list of car seat inspection stations and events for Illinois and extensive links to other websites on injury prevention and vehicle safety related topics.”
Car Seat Data
This website recently transitioned from a volunteer only website, to an organization with a goal to provide parents with objective, educational resources addressing every aspect children’s travel safety. It lists car seat compability with different vehicles (very helpful, at times!), gives a buying guide, and also supplies measurements for various car seats.
Other Parent Ratings
The internet is a wonderful place to get different opinions about things. On websites such as amazon.com and epinions.com, there are a number of reviews of all kinds of car seats. These reviews may be greatly helpful, but remember that sometimes people give wrong and dangerous information on these websites. Don’t make a decision based solely on one review.
Best wishes in finding your car seat. Ratings are important, but remember – the best car seat is the one that fits your child, your vehicle, gets installed correctly, and gets used properly.
