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