| Match the seat with your child's weight and age and | | | | forward-facing child seat that has a harness and |
| make sure that the seat is anchored securely in the | | | | accommodates toddlers weighing more than 20 |
| car. | | | | pounds. There are also some booster-seat versions. |
| A child car seat should be high on your to-buy list. You'll | | | | Built-in seats must meet the same performance |
| need one to bring your baby home from the hospital | | | | standards as add-on child seats. However, they offer |
| and for every car trip thereafter. In fact, hospitals and | | | | little or no side protection and they're usually located |
| birthing centers generally won't let you leave by car | | | | next to a door, instead of in the center--the safer |
| with your newborn if you don't have one. Every state | | | | position. You may also need a regular car seat for |
| requires that kids up to 4 years of age ride in a car | | | | when your child travels in other vehicles. |
| seat; many require booster seats for older children. | | | | IMPORTANT FEATURES |
| WHAT'S AVAILABLE | | | | Since Sept.1, 2002, all child car seats with an internal |
| The major brands of car seats you're likely to | | | | harness and nearly all passenger vehicles sold in the |
| encounter are, in alphabetical order: Baby Trend, Britax, | | | | U.S. have been required to include equipment designed |
| Chicco, Combi, Cosco, Eddie Bauer, Evenflo, Graco, | | | | for simpler buckling. This system, called LATCH (Lower |
| Peg Perego, and Safety 1st. | | | | Anchors and Tethers for Children), consists of child |
| There are also car beds for preemies and other very | | | | car-seat connections that attach to anchor points in |
| small newborns if there's a concern that a car seat | | | | the vehicle, eliminating the need to use a vehicle's |
| may not provide a secure fit or that it may | | | | safety belts to install the seat. You can still use safety |
| exacerbate breathing problems. In addition, there are | | | | belts to install a LATCH-equipped child car seat--for |
| specially designed car seats for children with physical | | | | example, in an older car that lacks LATCH anchors. |
| disabilities. Every model of car seat sold in the U.S. | | | | You can also retrofit some non-LATCH car seats with |
| must meet federal safety standards. These are your | | | | LATCH features. |
| basic choices: | | | | Today's car seats cater to every possible taste--plain |
| Infant seats. These rear-facing seats are for babies up | | | | colors, plaids, animal and paw-print motifs, and patriotic |
| to 22 pounds. They allow infants to recline at an angle | | | | red, white, and blue. Remember that, style aside, babies |
| that doesn't interfere with breathing and protects them | | | | tend to be messy, so washable fabric is a plus, |
| best in a crash. Many strollers are now designed to | | | | especially if your car seat will be with you beyond the |
| accommodate infant car seats. All infant car-seat | | | | first year, when training cups and eating on the go can |
| models come with a handle, and nearly all have a base | | | | kick into high gear. Car seats from some leading |
| that secures to your vehicle with LATCH connections | | | | brands, however, require hand washing and line drying. |
| or a vehicle safety belt, a convenience that lets you | | | | Make sure you're up for that; most coverings are |
| remove the seat and use it as a carrier. You can strap | | | | rigged through the harness-strap system and are held |
| most infant seats into a car without a base, using the | | | | in place with elastic so they can be removed for |
| vehicle safety belts, but most people don't use them | | | | laundering. But in some cases extracting the fabric |
| that way. | | | | from the seat can require extensive dismantling. Check |
| Infant seats have either a three-point harness--two | | | | the seat's manual for how-to's. |
| adjustable shoulder straps and a lock between the | | | | Extras such as add-on seat covers ("boots"), thicker |
| child's legs or--even better--an adjustable five-point | | | | padding, additional reclining options, or adjustable |
| system--two straps over the shoulders, two for the | | | | head-support cushions may offer greater comfort. But |
| thighs, and a crotch strap. The handle usually swings | | | | buy them only if they are sold by the same maker as |
| from a position behind the seat's shell when in the car | | | | the seat and for that specific seat, since they were |
| to an upright position for carrying. Remember to swing | | | | tested that way; mixing brands is very risky. Some |
| the handle to the vehicle position before each trip. Slots | | | | models have elastic side pockets for toys, bottles, or |
| underneath most seats help them attach to the frame | | | | snacks. As your baby grows, they can come in handy, |
| of a shopping cart. | | | | but they're not absolutely necessary. |
| With an infant car seat, you also can move your baby | | | | Some infant and convertible seats have a level |
| from car to house or vice versa without waking him or | | | | indicator on the side to help you install them facing the |
| her up--a plus for both of you. Note also that extra | | | | rear at a safe angle. A top tether is a webbed strap |
| bases are available so you can keep a secured base | | | | that can be used with all front-facing seats for children |
| in each of your vehicles. Your baby may outgrow an | | | | up to 40 pounds and with some up to 65 pounds. It's |
| infant car seat quickly and become too heavy for you | | | | located on the back of a convertible or toddler seat |
| to use it as a carrier. As a result, you may find yourself | | | | and hooks into an eye bolt in a vehicle's rear deck, |
| having to buy a convertible car seat after your baby is | | | | floor, roof, or seatback. Passenger vehicles |
| 6 to 9 months old. However, our advice is still to start | | | | manufactured on or after Sept.1,1999 have the anchors |
| with an infant seat before moving up to a convertible | | | | in place in their rear seats, but older models may need |
| seat. | | | | to have the hardware added. Obviously, you can't use |
| Price range: $30 to $180. | | | | a tether with cars that lack a top-tether anchor or that |
| Travel systems. Travel systems offer one-stop | | | | have no provision for a retrofit. |
| shopping: You get an infant car seat and a stroller all in | | | | HOW TO CHOOSE |
| one. Most car-seat manufacturers offer these | | | | Start with an infant seat for a newborn and pay close |
| combination strollers/infant car seats. And many | | | | attention to the height and weight limits as your child |
| stand-alone strollers are now designed to | | | | grows. When your baby reaches the infant seat's limits |
| accommodate infant car seats. With these strollers, | | | | for height and weight, or becomes too heavy for you |
| you create a carriage by snapping an infant car seat | | | | to tote, use a convertible seat in the rear-facing |
| into a stroller. The car seats of travel systems also | | | | orientation up to the seat's limits in that mode. Then |
| come with a base, which stays in the car. The snap-on | | | | use the convertible seat front-facing until your toddler |
| car seat is generally positioned atop the strollers so the | | | | reaches the next height and weight limits. After that, |
| infant rides facing the person pushing. Your baby can | | | | use a booster seat until your child is tall enough to use |
| also ride in the stroller seat alone when he or she is big | | | | the car's safety belts, typically at least 57 inches. |
| enough. | | | | Buying three seats instead of two may cost more, but |
| Most travel-system strollers can be used only with a | | | | it can pay off in protection and peace of mind |
| car seat from the same company. They can also be | | | | Make sure the seat is compatible with your car. One |
| bulky, so if you're a city dweller who negotiates more | | | | of the first things you should do in choosing a seat for |
| subway stairs than highways or if the trunk of your | | | | your child is to check the fit of any models you're |
| car isn't too roomy, you may be better off with a | | | | considering in your own car. Even before that, though, |
| separate car seat and a compact stroller that is | | | | we suggest placing similar-looking models side by side |
| appropriate for a newborn. | | | | in the store to compare features. (If you've already |
| Price range: $40 (stroller frame only) to $400. | | | | had your baby, place your child in the seat, to get a |
| Convertible seats. With a convertible seat, the child | | | | sense of the ease of buckling and unbuckling.) Then, if |
| faces rearward as an infant, then toward the front of | | | | possible, bring the floor model to your car for a mock |
| the vehicle as a toddler. The seat can function as a | | | | installation. Be aware that some vehicle seats are too |
| rear-facing seat for infants up to 30 or 35 pounds, | | | | short, indented, or excessively sloped to allow a good |
| depending on the model, and as a front-facing seat for | | | | fit of a child car seats. |
| toddlers generally up to 40 pounds (a few have a | | | | If you're considering a convertible car seat, try the floor |
| 65-pound limit). Models typically have an adjustable | | | | model in both the rear- and front-facing positions. |
| five-point harness system--two straps over the | | | | Check out the harness release button in the |
| shoulders, two for the thighs, and a crotch strap | | | | rear-facing position; in some models it may be too low |
| between the legs. Some models have a tray shield | | | | to reach comfortably. If you're thinking about an infant |
| that lowers over the baby's head and fastens with a | | | | car-seat/stroller combination, also known as a travel |
| buckle between the legs. However, our tests show | | | | system, check to be sure that it fits in your trunk or |
| that children, especially small ones, are better restrained | | | | vehicle cargo area. If the store won't let you take the |
| with a five-point harness. | | | | seat out to your car to try it, make sure you can |
| A convertible car seat can be a money saver, taking | | | | return any car seat you buy--or go to another store. |
| your child from infancy to kindergarten and beyond. | | | | Insist on new. Although there are many baby items |
| We advise starting with an infant seat first, though, as | | | | you can borrow or buy secondhand, don't make a car |
| mentioned earlier. Keep in mind that convertible seats | | | | seat one of them if you can avoid it. A used seat may |
| are not compatible with strollers, so you will have to | | | | have been in a crash or recalled. The manufacturer's |
| transfer your baby from the convertible car seat to a | | | | instructions may be missing. If, for some reason, you |
| carriage or stroller when you're ready to set out on | | | | must use a secondhand seat, avoid those with an |
| foot. Such jostling can wake a sleeping baby, a | | | | unknown history or that are older than six years. In the |
| problem if you need to take your child on frequent | | | | world of car seats, a six-year-old model is a relic--and |
| shopping expeditions or other errands. | | | | risky. You'll also want to avoid recalled models. |
| Price range: $50 to $290. | | | | Send in the registration card. You should be notified by |
| Toddler/booster seats. Looking like large versions of | | | | the manufacturer if the car seat is recalled. To play it |
| convertible seats, these front-facing seats are used | | | | extra safe, you can also sign up for the Consumer |
| with an internal harness for toddlers 20 to 40 pounds. | | | | Product Safety Commission's e-mail subscription list at |
| They're either LATCH-attached or can be secured | | | | Updated recall information will be sent directly to your |
| using the vehicle belts and tethers. When kids reach | | | | e-mail in-box. Or check monthly issues of Consumer |
| 40 pounds, the seat becomes a belt-positioned | | | | Reports or visit Other sources of information on |
| booster seat, which children can use until they're 80 or | | | | car-seat recalls include NHTSA's Web site ( and the |
| 100 pounds. With a belt-positioned booster seat, the | | | | Consumer Product Safety Commission site, |
| child is restrained using the vehicle's lap and shoulder | | | | Check the store's return policy. If you're not happy with |
| belt system. | | | | a particular car seat for whatever reason, it's important |
| Booster seats. These are generally for children | | | | to know that you can return it and try again with |
| weighing 40 to 80 pounds. (A very tall child may begin | | | | another model. Be aware that a badly soiled or |
| using a booster seat at 30 pounds.) Booster seats use | | | | damaged seat may not be exchanged. |
| the vehicle's own safety belts to restrain the child. | | | | Copyright © 2002-2006 Consumers Union of U.S., |
| Built-in seats. Some U.S. and foreign automakers offer | | | | Inc. |
| on select cars and minivans an integrated, | | | | |