Car Seat Safety FAQ

[missym]

This thread was originally compiled by Splash in 2006 on the old forum. If you have a Frequently Asked Question (and answer!) to add, please email a moderator.

[missym]

Splash posted 07-28-2006

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The roundabout is a 5-40 pounds convertible seat. It has a single anchor strap routed through the belt path. It can be tethered rear facing and rear faces from 5-33 pounds. It can also be used forward facing from 20-40 pounds AND over a year old.

The marathon, decathlon, and boulevard are all 5-65 pound convertible seats.

The marathon is the first and most basic. It features 4 harness heights, double straps anchor attachments with bars (instead of using the belt path). It can be tethered rear facing and used rear facing from 5-33 pounds and forward facing from 20-65 AND over a year old.

The decathlon features additional infant padding that makes this a very plush seat and very supportive for newborns. It use a single anchor strap routed through the belt path. It has 3 different crotch strap settings and 4 harness heights. It can be tethered rear facing and used rear facing for 5-33 pounds and forward facing 20-65 pounds AND over a year old.

The boulevard also has additional padding for infants, as well as side 'wings' marketed br Britax as "True Side Impact Protection." These EPS lined wings help to contain the child's head in a side impact crash. The harness on this seat is adjusted with a knob and can be adjusted 1/16 of an inch at a time, allowing for a perfect fit every time. It has double anchors straps that are hooked to bars and not routed through the belt path. It rear faces from 5-33 pounds and forward faces from 20-65 pounds AND over a year old. It can also be tethered rear facing..

[missym]

Splash posted 07-29-2006

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The best and safest seat fits your car, fits your child, and will be used correctly EVERY time.
That said, most of us are big Britax fans for several reasons. However we also realize that it's not within everyone's budget to have a Britax seat (or perhaps they want a lower priced seat for a lesser used car or for travel).

The most recommended seats are-

Cosco Scenera, five point harness ONLY! It can be used rear facing from 5-35 pounds and forward facing from 22-40 pounds AND over a year of age AND 34 inches tall. It is very lightweight and generally easy to install. It has very minimal padding, but most children don't mind. There is no EPS foam in this seat and it cannot be tethered rear facing. It costs between $40-$60.

Sunshine Kids Radian- A convertible car seat that can be used from 5 to 33 (or 40, if made in 09/08 or later) pounds rear facing and 20-65 (or 80, if it's the RN 80 or XT model) pounds forward facing AND over one year of age. It has some installation issues, so this is definitely a try before you buy seat. It is EPS lined, can be tethered rear facing, and folds in half for travel. It costs about $175



Britax Roundabout 50- This seat is very similar to the Britax Marathon. It can rear face from 5-35 pounds and forward face from 20-50 pounds AND over a year of age. It is well padded and lined with EPS foam. It costs about $200.



Seats that are less recommended-

Cosco Alpha Omega/Eddie Bauer 3n1/- This seat bills itself as the last car seat you will ever need. It's not true! This seat is often difficult to use and having confusing instructions. It can be used rear facing from 5-35 pounds, which is a plus, and from 22-40 (newer models go to 50lbs ff) pounds AND over a year of age forward facing, plus as a booster from 30-100 pounds AND over a year of age (but the booster fit is unacceptable. Treat this seat as a convertible only). It cannot be tethered rear facing but is lined with EPS foam. It costs between $100-$200, depending on the model.
So why it is less recommended?
It's hard to use
It has extremely low top slots so most children outgrow it VERY early (50 lb models are tall, will last harnessed to age 6 or longer)
It is difficult to use as a booster and the belt guides can introduce slack
It does not adjust taller for booster use
It is very expensive

Graco ComfortSport- This seat is a convertible seat that can be used rear facing from 5-30 pounds and forward facing from 20-40 pounds AND over a year of age. Higher end models are lined with EPS foam. This is a narrow seat that costs anywhere from $60-$140. This seat cannot be tethered rear facing.
Why is it less recommended?
Extremely low top slots mean children outgrow this seat VERY early
Harness adjuster is very difficult to use when rear facing
Seat only rear faces to 30 pounds which is inadequate for most children

Evenflo Triumph- This seat can be used rear facing from 5-30 pounds and forward facing from 20-40 pounds AND over a year of age. It features a five position recline, including an awesome newborn setting. It is EPS lined and generally easy to install, and cannot be tethered rear facing. It costs between $110-$150.
Why is it less recommended?
Top harness slots are low, meaning children outgrow this seat very early
Seat shell is very short, meaning children outgrow it rear facing very early (my son was too tall to rear face in this seat at 10 months old, YEARS before he is ready to forward face!) and also outgrow it forward facing quite early even if they don't reach the weight limit of the top slots
Memory harness can be very confusing (but some people love it!)
Some people hate the harness adjustment on this seat (some people love it!)
It is very wide and very heavy
It only rear faces to 30 pounds, which is inadequate. However the very short seat shell means most kids won't even make it to 30 pounds.

Evenflo Titan- This seat rear faces from 5-35 pounds and forward faces from 20-50 pounds AND over a year of age. It is well padded, is EPS lined but cannot be tethered rear facing. It costs between $80-$120
Why is it less recommended?
Top slots are low, meaning many children outgrow this seat before tehy are booster ready
Harness adjuster can be difficult to use when rear facing


Remember- ALL seats in the US meet the same minimum government standards for safe use, so all seats will keep your child very safe in a crash. The most important safety feature of a seat is it's user! A correctly installed, correctly used seat that fits the child and the vehicle will always be safer than a seat that is not used correctly or does not fit, regardless of brand names. None of the seats above are bad seats, and if the seat you like or will be able to use correctly is on the less recommended list, it doesn't mean your child will be unsafe in a vehicle crash.

[missym]

jeanum posted 07-29-2006

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Q: Should I replace my child's carseat after a crash?

A: Ideally you would replace your child's carseat for peace of mind regardless of the details of the crash. The carseat has been subjected to crash forces even if it was unoccupied at the time of the crash. There could be unseen damage from the stress of the crash that could potentially cause the seat to fail to properly protect your child in the event of another crash.

The at fault driver’s insurance company should be contacted to cover the replacement unless you live in a no fault state and need to go through your own insurance company. If the insurance company balks at replacing the carseat(s), you may need to present the insurance company with FAQ information or other documentation from the carseat manufacturer and/or NHTSA to back you up.

Here are some useful carseat manufacturer links for addressing the issue of crashed carseat replacement:

Graco says to replace the carseat after any type of crash according to the FAQ at http://www.gracobaby.com/customerser...px?catID=1#132

Evenflo’s FAQ at https://plweb.evenflo.com/faq_detail...=2273instructs parents to discontinue using the crashed seat immediately and to contact Evenflo for additional guidance.

Cosco/Safety 1st/Eddie Bauer seat owners can go to http://www.coscojuvenile.com/contact_us.asp for contact information and guidance.

Britax’s FAQ refers to the NHTSA criteria for carseat replacement after a crash at http://www.britaxusa.net/support/faq.aspx:

Q: What should I do with my child restraint that’s been involved in a crash?

A: Britax recommends that use of a child restraint be discontinued if it has been in a severe crash. We further advise of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) position that it is not necessary to replace a child restraint after a minor crash. A minor crash is one that meets ALL of following criteria:

* The vehicle was able to be driven away from the crash site;
* The vehicle door nearest the child restraint was undamaged;
* There were no injuries to any of the vehicle occupants;
* The air bags (if present) did not deploy; AND
* There is no visible damage to the child restraint.

If your Britax child restraint has been involved in a severe crash, it may be eligible for consideration for a new one of the same or similar design. See the Voluntary Crashed Restraint Exchange section of our website for more details.


Here is the direct link to NHTS’s crashed carseat replacement criteria: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/inju...raintReUse.htm

If the insurance company gives you a hard time even when presented with the manufacturer’s guidelines and/or NHTSA criteria for crashed seat replacement, ask the insurance company for a document stating it assumes full liability if the crashed carseat fails to properly protect your child in a subsequent crash. This is an approach reported to have worked in cases where insurance companies weren't cooperating about covering crashed carseats.

__________________
Regards,

Jean
CPST

[missym]

jeanum posted 07-29-2006

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Q: How do I dispose of a crashed or expired carseat?

A: Trash pickers abound and may be tempted to re-use or even sell your crashed or expired carseat. To prevent this, remove the cover, cut up the harness, and use a permanent marker to write something like “CRASHED/EXPIRED - NOT SAFE TO USE!!” several times on the seat’s shell. Then discard the various parts in a couple of dark trash bags, or inquire if your community can handle recycling the plastic shell and other plastic parts. Or smash up the plastic seat shell with a sledgehammer or cut it up with a chainsaw, lol. Your insurance company may ask you to turn in your crashed seat if they are covering the cost of a replacement, but it’s still a good idea to take the seat apart and use the marker on the shell before you turn it over.

If your replacement carseat is the exact same model, you may want to save the old seat’s cover as a spare, or to sell if it’s in good shape and a popular cover. If a crashed carseat was unoccupied at the time of the crash, you may also want to save the internal harness as a spare if your new seat is the exact same model. If the seat was occupied during the crash however, or if the seat is expired, the internal harness should definitely be cut up and discarded because the harness is no longer safe to re-use.

__________________
Regards,

Jean
CPST

[missym]

Splash 07-30-2006

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Unfortunately, most convertible seats on the US market are outgrown, normally by height, before a child is ready for a booster seat. 4 years AND 40 pounds is the bare minimum that a child should ride in a booster, but the longer they are harnessed, the safer they are. Remember, the child must sit up straight, not slouch, not mess with the belt, not lean forward, not fall asleep, and not be out of position for the entire car ride, each and every time, if they are using a booster. Some four year olds can do this, but 5 or 6 is really more realistic in terms of being mature enough to handle a booster. That means that after most convertible seats are outgrown, you still need another harnessed seat. Here are some options


Combination seats- Harness to 40 pounds and then can be used as a booster. They generally have much higher top slots than most convertible seats, thus buying a lot more height before they are outgrown.

Evenflo Generations/Bolero- This is a seat that harnesses to 40 pounds (47 in Canada) and afterward can be used as a booster until 100 pounds. The Generations is a bit more padded and can be reclined, but they are essentially the same seat. This is one of the better combination seats to use as a booster because it has open shoulder guides and the headrest is adustable as the child grows taller. The harness adjuster is by the child's knees and is a knob that you turn, versus pulling on a strap like most car seats. Make sure that you like this adjuster before buying this seat, as it is often a love it or hate it type thing. This seat will likely last in booster mode until your child is ready for an adult seatbelt. This seat does not have EPS foam. It costs $80-$120

Evenflo Chase/Traditions/Vision- These are all basically the same seat, but vary in the amount of padding they have. They all harness to 40 pounds (47 in Canada) and can be used as boosters until 100 pounds after that. They are so so as boosters, have open belt guides on the side (rather than the front) of the seat, and not being able to adjust the headrest at all. You will likely need another booster after this seat as most children will outgrow this seat in booster mode by height before they are ready for an adult seatbelt. The harness adjuster is also on the harness itself, a large metal clip that rests on the child's abdomen. Most children don't mind this, but it is best to make sure your child will not mess with it. This seat does not have EPS foam. This is a good budget seat, ranging from $40-$90.

Graco Cargo booster (Cherished, Ultra, Platinum)- Before I talk about this seat, it is important to know that there is one model that does NOT have a front adjuster, the Treasured Cargo. Avoid this one, as the seat must be uninstalled every time you need to tighten or loosen the harness. The other models (Cherished, Ultra, and Platinum) differ in the amount of padding they have, EPS foam, and recline bar. The platinum is the top model, having an EPS lined shell in the head area, los of padding, and a recline bar. The Cherished is a bit less padded but keeps the EPS foam. The Ultra does not have EPS foam. All of these seats can be used in the harness until 40 pounds (48 in Canada) and then as a booster until 100 pounds. These seats are great harnessed seats and so so as boosters. The clips for the shoulder belt (in booster mode) do not allow the belt to move freely, and can introduce slack (this can be fixed by locking the seatbelt if you have retracting belts) and this seat does not adjust taller for older children, and will likely be outgrown by height before your child is ready for an adult seatbelt. This seat costs from $80-$120, depending on the model. The Treasured Cargo is cheaper, but is NOT recommended because of the rear belt adjustment.

Cosco/Safety 1st Prospect/Eddie Bauer Cubb- This seat can be used in the harness until 40 pounds, and then as a booster until 100 pounds. It has an EPS lined head rest and is very padded. However, many find this seat, especially the head area, TOO padded. Many people have reported that the headrest pushes the child's head forward and is uncomfortable, so be sure to make sure your child likes this seat before buying it. This is also a very WIDE seat, so not good for 3 across situations in smaller vehicles. That said, it is a good booster, having open belt guides and an adjustable headrest, but you must have a vehicle headrest behind it as it is not reinforced. This seat will likely last until your child is ready for an adult seatbelt. This seat costs $80-$120.

Cosco Alpha Elite/Safety 1st Apex- This seat harnesses to 65 pounds (as opposed to 40 like all other combination seats) and then can be used as a booster until 100 pounds. It is a very wide seat, and very tall. It is a great budget choice for people who want a seat that harnesses over 40 pounds but don't want to spend a lot of money. However, the main drawback to this seat is that you MUST have high vehicle seatbacks or adjustable headrests to use it, as you must discontinue using the seat when the child's head is above the VEHICLE seatback, since the headrest of this seat is not reinforced. The same rule applies to harnessed and booster mode. As a booster, this seat is pretty good. It has an adjustable headrest as well as open belt guides. Unlike many seats with armrests, the vehicle belt must go BEHIND this seat's armrests, so be sure to remember that when using it as a booster. This seat does not have EPS foam. It costs $100-$130.

Recaro Young Sport- This seat can be used with the harness until 40 pounds and as a booster until 80 pounds. Either way, this is a superb seat. It is EPS lined and adjusts taller, so this will likely be the last seat your child needs. It REQUIRES a top tether when used as a booster. This is a great seat, but does not come cheap. It costs $250.

Safeguard GO- This seat is really more of a vest than a seat. It can be used until 60 pounds with the harness, and until 100 pounds as a backless booster. It folds up into it's own case for travel, which is very unique. It also allows use of lower anchors when used as a backless booster, almost making it part of the vehicle. This seat REQUIRES a top tether when used with the harness, and also requires you to stop using it when the child's ears go over the top of the vehicle seat or vehicle headrest, so in order to use this seat to it's full potential you must have high seatbacks or adjustable headrests. This seat is EPS lined and will likely be the last seat you need if you want to use it as a BACKLESS booster, as it is NOT a highback booster. It costs $180.

Cosco Summit/Safety 1st Vantage Point- This seat can be used with the harness until 40 pounds and as a booster until 100 pounds. However, the harness slots on this seat are not much higher than a convertible seat, and nowhere near as tall as other combination seats. This means that most children will outgrow this seat in the harness by height before reaching 40 pounds. As a booster, this seat has open belt guides but does not adjust taller, meaning it will not last your child until they are ready for an adult seatbelt. This, coupled with the fact that the harness is much lower than other combination seats, means that this seat is not often recommended. This seat does not have EPS foam. It costs $80-$120.

Other Cosco/Safety1st/Eddie Bauer combination seats not mentioned above- Dorel Juvenile Group (parent company of Cosco, Safety 1st, and Eddie Bauer) makes a slew of combination seats under many different names. All of them (except the ones listed above)can be used with the harness until 40 pounds and as a booster until 100 pounds, but have very low top slots and do not adjust taller for booster use. This means that most children will outgrow the harness before they are ready for the booster, and will outgrow the booster before they are ready fo ran adult seatbelt. These seats are not often recommended for this reason. However, these seats are very cheap, and can sometimes be found for as low as $30. These seats are definitely budget seats, and may be the only options available if the family doesn't have a lot of money to spend on the seat. They are just as safe and the other ones listed above, they just will not last as long. These seats range from $40-$100 normally.

I will also mention the Graco SafeSeat 2 here. It is a forward facing only seat that does not convert to a booster. However it is very easy to use and comfortable and has very high top slots. It is EPS lined with deep 'wings' for a child to rest his/her head on. Though it is not a combination seat, it is worth considering if you know you will want a dedicated booster afterwards. It costs $120-$140.



High Weight Harness seats- These seats harness past 40 pounds but cannot be used as boosters.

Britax Marathon/Decathlon/Boulevard- These are convertible seats (can be used rear or forward facing) that harness to 65 pounds. They are on a base, therefore sit quite tall. They all have EPS lined shells, and the Boulevard has side impact wings as well. These seats cost $220-$280

Fisher Price Safe Voyage Deluxe- This is a convertible seat that harnesses to 55 pounds. It sits high on a base, and is EPS lined. It costs about $180.

Sunshine Kids Radian- This seat is a convertible seat that harnesses to 65 pounds. It is very narrow and has a low profile, so is good in three across situations in smaller vehicles. It has some installation issues, so make sure you can safely secure it in your car. It folds for travel which is unique, but is still very heavy! it is EPS lined and costs about $180.

Britax Regent- This is a forward facing only seat that harnesses up to 80 pounds. It is the largest child restraint on the US market for general use (some special needs seats are larger) and thus has the highest limits. It requires a top tether for use over 50 pounds. It is very well padded and EPS lined and most children can last in this seat until 8-10 years old, sometimes skipping a booster entirely. It costs $200-$250. This seat is virtually identical to the Britax Husky, which it replaced in early 2006.

Safeguard Child Seat- This is a forward facing only seat that harnesses until 65 pounds. It is EPS lined, very well padded, very easy to install and use, and VERY expensive. It's big, so make sure you have room for it in your vehicle. This seat costs $450.

[missym]

jeanum 07-31-2006

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Q: When and why do carseats expire?

A: Carseats generally expire 6 years from their date of manufacture (DOM), not from the purchase date or the date the seat was first used by a child. The DOM is stamped on the seat’s shell or on a label affixed to the carseat. Some seats may also be stamped with “do not use after DATE” on their shells with DATE being the official expiration date. Some manufacturers or models may differ from the 6-year general expiration period, so it’s always best to check your specific model’s manual or labeling or contact the manufacturer to be certain. For example, some older discontinued Fisher Price models like the Safe Embrace and Stay in View expire 8 years from their DOM.

Seats expire because the seat's shell, buckles, harness straps, and other parts are subjected to wear and tear and temperature extremes, causing the parts to degrade over time. Even when stored, the parts can become brittle/deteriorate over time. This could potentially cause the seat to fail to perform properly in a crash. Parts may also get lost or misplaced, safety regulations may change, and new and improved safety features may become available over time.

__________________
Regards,

Jean
CPST

[missym]

jeanum 07-31-2006

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Q: Where/what is the carseat compatibility database?

A: The online searchable compatibility database is at http://www.carseatdata.org/compatibility_search.php. Not all vehicle and seat combinations are listed because the database is composed of voluntary entries submitted by techs and parents, but it can be a very helpful starting point when you’re carseat shopping. You may also follow the instructions to submit your carseat and vehicle combinations to add to the database.

[missym]

CPSDarren 08-01-2006

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And for what isn't already covered:

http://www.car-safety.org/faq.html

Darren
www.seatcheck.net

[missym]

o_mom 08-02-2006

Marathon, Decathlon, and Boulevard Features

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All three are the same size - 5-33lbs rearfacing, up to 65lbs forward facing and dimension-wise are pretty much the same.

Adjuster: DC has a push-button adjuster, MA and BV have a lever-type adjuster

Harness height adjustment: BV has a knob you turn to move the harness height up and down without removing straps, MA and DC you remove and re-thread the straps.

Padding: DC and BV come with infant inserts - more padding for small babies, DC has an infant head positioner where the BV has the wings. DC and BV also have a toddler pillow. MA has no extra padding, but is still quite cushy.

Crotch strap: DC has three crotch strap positions, BV/MA have one.

LATCH connectors: DC has a single strap that is threaded through the belt path with adjusters on each end. MA and BV have two separate straps attached to bars on the sides of the seat.

Seatbelt lockoffs: DC has slightly different style than MA and BV. Some people have reported problems with the DC forward facing lockoffs damaging seatbelts. Other people have reported the rear-facing lockoffs on the MA are easily broken.

Side impact protection: BV has True Side Impact Protection in the form of head support wings. MA and DC have EPS foam around the head.

Covers: BV and DC come in 4-5 different covers, MA has many different covers. This is changing as the BV and DC are on the market longer.