A car seat rating report : your child safety merits the best !
Don't settle with less than the highest car seat rating. The safety of your children is so important !
We have reviewed, for you, the reports of The National Highway and Transportation Safety
Administration (NHSTA) on infant car seat models. We have identified those meeting the
highest standards. Let's take a look at these standards and what are some of the best car seat
models for each category.
Rear-facing infant seat
Important car seat rating standards to look for in this category are :
Five-point harness : has shoulder straps, lap straps to hold the lower body and a crotch
strap which may be adjusted to fit the child exactly.
Shoulder strap slots : Shoulder straps fit best when they are close to the
child, so the more slots the better. Look for a minimum of 3 slots.
Two Crotch Strap slots : With two strap locations the harness can always be kept close
to the child's body as he is growing
Two-piece Chest clip : The clip keeps the shoulder harness straps positioned properly. The
2-piece clip is more durable and more difficult to open by the infant.
Detachable base : This a very practical feature. The infant can be carried in and out of
the vehicle without removing or re-installing the base every time. Also, if the base is
adjustable it will help achieve the correct angle for young babies.
Carry handle : The handle is a must to be able to carry a small baby in the seat
Some of the models meeting the above car seat rating standards are :
* Avanta by Century/Graco (birth to 22 lbs)
* Celestia by Century/Graco (birth to 22 lbs)
* SmartFit Plus 22/Supreme (birth to 22 lbs)
Forward-facing child seat
Models with the highest car seat rating in this category should have the following features :
Five-point harness : See details above
Shoulder strap slots : See details above
Two Crotch Strap slots : See details above
Two-piece Chest clip : See details above
Front-access harness adjuster : This feature allows the shoulder harness straps
to be adjusted without removing the seat from the car or loosening the vehicle belt
Tilt-lock tether strap adjuster : With this adjuster the tether can be tightened or
loosened after installation in the vehicle without unhooking or re-threading the strap
Some of the models meeting the above car seat rating features are :
* Super Elite by Britax (20-80 lbs)
* Traveller Plus by Britax (20-105 lbs)
* Gorilla by Snug Seat (20-105 lbs)
Manufacturers also make convertible or combination car seat models. Convertible models with
the best car seat rating are the Accel, the Bravo and the SmartMove, all manufactured by
Century/Graco. In the combination category the highest car seat rating is obtained by the
NextStep DX or MX made by Century/Graco or the Express from Evenflo.
If you are looking for a car seat for your child, be demanding, set your standards high and
don't settle for low quality. It will be one of the best investment of your life.
To shop for models with the highest car seat rating, click here.
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