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Infant Car Seat Links
If a baby reaches their infant seat's weight limit (generally 22 pounds; 30 or 32 pounds with some newer high-capacity models) or exceeds the seat's height limit (usually between 29 and 32 inches) before their first birthday, experts say you need a convertible car seat (or a larger capacity rear-facing seat). Convertible seats can accommodate heavier infants in the rear-facing position until they are 1 year old, then convert to a front-facing toddler seat later. See our separate reports on convertible car seats and booster seats for more information.
Car seat/stroller combos, also known as travel systems, are convenient for families who spend a lot of time getting in and out of the car. With these, you can take the child out of the car and snap the carrier into the stroller without waking them up. Travel systems are also addressed in a separate report, car seat strollers.
Children with specific health problems or medical conditions may require a special car restraint system. For premature infants who need to travel lying flat, your doctor may recommend a car bed such as the AngelGuard (*est. $100).
Car seat research
ConsumerReports.org is easily the best review source for crash tests, but you must be a subscriber to read their articles. Editors do sometimes make general safety information available free of charge on their website.
The Chicago Tribune reveals details about government crash testing that were not previously made public.
Experts say that four out of five car seats are improperly installed, so it's a great idea to have your seat checked by professionals. Many fire and police stations offer free inspections; the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website has a list of participating stations.
To find additional free check sites, visit SeatCheck.org or call (866) 732-8243.
CarSeat.org offers information on types of car seats, fit, features, recalls and frequently asked questions.
Sacred Journeys, a blog by Tiffany Brown, a certified child-passenger safety technician, offers information and online videos about the proper use of car seats.
The American Academy of Pediatrics announced in April 2009 that new research indicates that toddlers are more than five times safer riding rear-facing in a car seat until they reach the age of 2.
The American Academy of Pediatrics also offers a useful article called, "Car Safety Seats: A Guide for Families 2009."
Car seat recalls
One problem that seems to affect every car seat manufacturer at some point is recalls. It's important to send in your car seat registration so that the manufacturer can contact you if your infant seat is ever affected by a recall. Before you buy a car seat, experts also recommend checking with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recall database. Almost all manufacturers that have a safety recall will send customers replacement parts to fix the problem, or send brand-new seats when needed.
In April 2009, Team-Tex America, Inc. recalled about 200 Babyride infant car seats (model 374199) manufactured on Dec. 18, 2008. According to the NHTSA, the belt-routing label with the horizontal reference line is not in the right place. Improperly routed belts could result in injury during a crash. Team-Tex will notify owners and mail new labels along with instructions for proper label placement. For more information, call Team-Tex at (877) 912-1313. The company had a similar recall for the same reason in January 2007.
"Baby Bargains" is a good resource for parents who are concerned about a car seat manufacturer's recall history, as the book discusses the major car seat companies and features a section on their safety record. This book is available at most bookstores. For more up-to-date information, visit their website at .
Car seat manufacturers
Manufacturers' websites offer detailed specs, recall information and accessory lists for available models:
Compass (Learning Curve/The First Years)
