Car seat safety? Have you read the Consumer's Report?

Question

I have the Graco Safeseat. It was one of the twelve seats tested by CR that did poorly. I find this terrifying for two reasons: 1) Just last night I had a dream that I had a car wreck and then couldn't find my child (a dream like this has not ever happened to me before); and 2) My son loves this seat and so do I.

Does anyone else have the Graco Safeseat? What do you think of it?

Has anyone actually read the CR Article? If so, can you shed any light on this for me?

Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

Consumer Reports is known for taking safety to the next level, and in its most recent round of testing rear-facing, infant car seats, it went beyond the current federal safety standards for seat performance in a collision. The government tests seats in front crashes of 30 mph, but Consumer Reports simulated front impacts of 35 mph and side impacts of 38 mph (the same standards used for car safety testing). The results in this more stringent environment were dramatic, with 10 of the 12 seats either twisting too far or coming out of their bases.

Consumer Reports' testing also showed serious failings in seats secured by the LATCH system. The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) itself calls the LATCH system confusing and Consumer Reports notes that the NHTSA is planning a public hearing on the system later this year.

Here's how the seats fared in Consumer Reports' tests:

The Good
Baby Trend Flex-Loc Adjustable Back
Graco Snugride with EPS

The Bad
Chicco KeyFit
Peg Perego Primo Viaggio SIP
Compass I410
Evenflo Embrace
Britax Companion
Graco SafeSeat
Safety 1st Designer
Combi Centre ST
Evenflo Discovery
Eddie Bauer Comfort

Answer 2

2

Answer 3

I read the article. Apparently Graco is arguing the results because the tests were conducted under different circumstances than the required standard, but to me, your baby is the most important thing to protect, and it might be worth the extra money to buy a new one if you are worried. I found it most troubling that car seats only have to pass safety tests at 30 mph. Who the heck only drives 30 mph?

Answer 4

I have read it, and your right, it is scary.
Those tests were only done at 35 mph and 38 mph
Here's a link to the story in case anyone wants to read it.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070105/ap_on_he_me/infant_seats
If I owned one of these seats, I think I would get rid of it.
I did look up the 2 seats that passed the tests, they say they are about $90, but I couldn't find one under $130

Answer 5

they extremely do not put up protection rankings, as all seats contained in the U. S. ought to conform to a similar protection criteria. some seats exceed those criteria, yet ALL ought to fulfill them, so technically, no seat is safer than the different seat. inspite of the indisputable fact that, some seats have useful factors making them a lot less stressful to apply which in turn makes them safer, or some seats very last more that is suggested to cause them to safer as youngsters might want to stay in a seat as long as achievable. A Cosco Scenera seat is a sturdy decision (the only without the overhead shelter!) becuase this is going to rear face to 35lbs. toddlers might want to stay rear dealing with as long as achievable! not merely to 20lbs/1year. it truly is the bare minimum for turning a toddler round and who needs to do the bare minimum for his or her youngsters? Their bones have not ossified yet and destroy a lot less stressful and they prefer the bracing a rear dealing with seat delivers in a crash. The seat is often basic to position in in all automobiles, besides. Its truthfully not the cushiest or something, inspite of the indisputable fact that it truly is unquestionably secure. right here's the grey area - its not AS secure as different seats, becuase it don't have any skill soaking up foam in it. the froth enables take sooner or later bring about a crash extra conserving a baby. So its secure, and many vehicle seat techs actrually placed aside their Britax seats straight away to apply one in each of those b/c it rear faces to 35lbs and Britax rear faces to 33lbs.