Infant Car Seats

ConsumerReports.org, the only U.S. non-government organization to perform independent crash testing for car seats, has included 11 of the most popular infant car seats in this undated report. All models… pass the crash tests, so editors rank them according to how well they perform in lab tests for ease of use and fit to vehicle. Most best-selling car seats are included. The ConsumerReports.org blogs have some helpful articles on selecting and using infant car seats.

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This investigative report from the Chicago Tribune reveals details about government crash testing involving infant car seats. The tests were used to rate the safety of cars, not car seats, and were never… publicized. Links are included at the end of the article to a database of all the crash tests showing which models detached from the base and exceeded injury limits for chest or head. These results are not scientific; not all car seats were tested, and some seats were crash tested far more often than others. So while the results can't be considered conclusive, it's still interesting to read about the testing. The Graco SnugRide was by far the most tested (31 crashes versus one crash test for many models). While it did fail at times, it passed most of the crash tests. The only car seat models to get perfect scores were among those that underwent only one test: the Chicco KeyFit and the Maxi-Cosi Mico. It's hard to say how much that reflects on the car seat's quality versus the odds of a failed test being much lower with a single test. The car seats were tested on a wide variety of car models as well, and there wasn't any sort of consistency. Overall, it is impossible to determine which car seats are best or worst since the government testing itself did not provide apples to apples comparisons and testing.

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration tests child car seats only for ease of use (including evaluation of labels, evaluation of instructions, installation features and securing the child) and… assigns a rating for individual categories and overall performance. What is even more helpful is that parents can click on each model to see a photo, comments and a detailed report about how each performed in testing. The car seat ratings on the site as of this report are for 2008 and involve testing of models that were manufactured by the companies in 2007, so they are a bit dated compared to what is on the shelves in stores now. This year, the NHTSA will test models that were manufactured in 2008.

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This website allows visitors to post reviews and encourages contributors to identify themselves as "looking for value" or "busy mom," among other traits. About 30 car seats are listed here, and some get as… many as 100 reviews. Although average ratings are listed, they are so similar overall that it's hard to tell at a glance what model might be the best choice. Among infant seats, the Chicco KeyFit and Graco SnugRide are highest-rated. The site also features a pretty thorough buyer's guide, including choosing the right model, car seat laws and finding a car seat on a budget.

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This site features video reviews of various products, including infant car seats, and also allows owners to discuss the products. On the down side, some reviewers focus on appearance rather than… performance. Most car seats have just one video review to date, although the Graco SnugRide has more than 30 reviews. Still, it's clear many of the reviewers have a lot of personal experience using the car seats, which they are eager to share. One dad, for example, notes that the Graco SnugRide tipped to the side when his baby hit around 18 pounds.

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The reviews are a bit sporadic on this site and several of the infant car seats have only one review posted. Although you can see the overall ratings for each car seat, you can't tell how many reviews it's… received until you click on it. For some of the most popular models (like the Graco SnugRide) there are more reviews and some good parent/user insights. Parent reviewers give mixed reviews to the Maxi-Cosi Mico, however, which averages three out of five stars in more than 150 reviews. Many of the complaints relate to the car seat being too bulky or too difficult to install or remove from its base.

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