Report Details the Safest Child Seats for Cars

Consumer Reports has created a new information program for consumers looking to purchase the safest child seat for their vehicle.

The organization, which independently tests many products for defects or safety issues, has redesigned their method of testing child seats for safety issues. The test uses pediatric information about babies’ and childrens’ growing bodies, especially damage from impacts on the head, to measure potential damage in vehicle crashes. Based on their new test protocol, which was in development for two-and-a-half years, the group has issued a report of the top five safest child seats.

“Basic does not imply unsafe,” Jennifer Stockburger, director of operations at Consumer Reports’ auto test center in Connecticut, told The New York Times. “We aren’t going to say, ‘Don’t buy this child seat.'”

The best performing child seats according to Consumer Reports are:

• Chicco KeyFit and KeyFit 30, $170 and $180
• Combi Shuttle, $180
• Cybex Aton 2, $300
• Safety 1st Onboard 35 Air, $160
• Uppa Baby Mesa, $280

The group also issued a list of “Best Buys,” for parents looking for high-quality child seats that cost less. The list includes the Safety 1st Comfy Carry Elite Plus and the Graco SnugRide 30 Classic Connect and Safety 1stOnboard 35.

Consumer Reports tested 34 child seats in all. Of those, only 13 of the rear-facing child seats performed well in a simulated crash. Rear-facing child seats are designed specifically for infants.

The test comes after a federal child seat recall in February of this year, in which the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration demanded that Graco, a subsidiary of Newell Rubbermaid Inc, issued a huge voluntary child seat recall but failed to recall some of the seats recommended by the NHTSA.

Child Seat Regulation

When you are expecting a child, purchasing a child safety seat is one of the most important decisions to consider.  There are a variety of options to choose from, and although protecting your child is foremost in your mind, he or she may not be as safe in the back seat of your vehicle as you think.

The federal government mandated an attachment system, known as LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) to be put in place after inspections found child-safety seats were frequently installed incorrectly.

A 2004 report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that belt buckles and other seat hardware could get in the way of the child seat connectors, and that the anchors could become buried in the seat and therefore be out of reach. Consistent problems with belts and buckles on child safety seats can lead to product recalls to improve safety conditions for children; however, manufacturers are consistently on the defensive regarding their products, sometimes compromising child safety for profit margins.

The Strom Law Firm Can Help With Defective Product Cases, Such As Inadequate Child Seats

If you or someone you know has been injured by defective or dangerous product , such as an inadequate child seat, and feel that you may be owed financial compensation, we urge you to contact one of our lawyers as soon as possible. The attorneys at the Strom Law Firm offer free, confidential consultations to discuss the facts of your case.  803.252.4800.