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In this report

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Convertible Car Seats: Ratings of Sources
Total of 12 Sources

For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.

1. ConsumerReports.org
As of Aug. 2007
Convertible Car Seats
by Editors of Consumer Reports
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Consumer Reports tops our chart because it's the only reviewing organization that crash tests car seats in a laboratory. Following a model similar to government crash tests, reviewers examine 27 seats for… crash safety (including infant, convertible, toddler and booster seats), then analyze ease of use and installation. Consumer Reports pays special attention to safety standards regarding tether use, and emphasizes correctly sized car seats for a baby's height and weight. The downside is that only five convertible car seats are tested, and that testing appears not to have been updated in two years.

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2. Baby Bargains
Seventh Edition, 2007
Convertible Seats
by Denise and Alan Fields
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

With an emphasis on value, safety and durability, this book provides useful shopping tips and recommendations on dozens of baby products. While car seats aren't independently crash tested, the authors… perform some hands-on testing, and parent, manufacturer and retailer interviews are also conducted. Writeups are very thorough, including data regarding manufacturers' recall history. Updates to the book are posted online.

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3. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
As of Aug. 2008
Child Safety Seat Ease of Use Ratings
by Editors of NHTSA
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

The NHTSA tests child car seats for ease of use (including assembly, evaluation of labels, evaluation of instructions, installation features and securing the child) and assigns each an overall rating of A… or B, although some models receive a rating of C in some categories. This is helpful information, but not as comprehensive as Consumer Reports' crash testing, and not as insightful as reportage at Baby Bargains.

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4. CarSeatData.Org
As of Aug. 2008
Convertible Seats
by Toby McAdams
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment CarSeatData.org has a great compatibility chart for which car seats can go into which cars. There is also a nice report on the various kinds of car seats, along with recommendations. The top pick for convertible car seats is the Britax Marathon, which the author commends for its higher weight limit, allowing a child to be rear-facing for a longer period of time.
5. BabyCenter.com
As of Aug. 2008
Parents' Picks Car Seats
by Contributors to Baby Center
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

BabyCenter.com is an online store that allows owners to write reviews of products they purchase. The Parent's Picks section includes the items that have received high ratings from owners. Four Britax… convertible car seats get high ratings, including the Roundabout, the Marathon, the Boulevard and the Decathlon. Most of the parent's picks, however, are lower-priced convertible car seats such as the Safety 1st Enspira.

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6. Epinions.com
As of Aug. 2008
Car Seats
by Contributors to Epinions
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Epinions invites parents to rate their car seats. There are a great number of reviews written on car seats, but individual reviews vary in quality. The number-one convertible car seat is the Britax… Roundabout. While some of the reviews are very helpful, this site suffers from the same fault as other opinion sites: the popular seats have a lot of reviews, while the others may have no reviews at all.

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7. About.com
Not Dated
Top 8 Convertible Car Seats
by Heather Corley
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

About.com Guide to Baby Products Heather Corley doesn't appear to have examined these seats in person. Rather, this list represents car seats that "consistently earn rave reviews from car seat experts and… parents alike." Corley doesn't say which experts she consulted, however. Coming in at number one is the Britax Boulevard, followed by the The First Years True Fit, Britax Marathon and Fisher-Price Safe Voyage. (Note that About.com and ConsumerSearch are owned by the same parent company, but are not affiliated editorially.)

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8. Amazon.com
As of Aug. 2008
Infant and Toddler Car Seats
by Contributors to Amazon.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

It's tricky finding reviews at Amazon.com. That's because each year when a manufacturer introduces new fabrics, reviews for the older styles are often lost, even if the product hasn't changed functionally.… Still, with a little more clicking, you can find reviews. The Britax Marathon and Britax Roundabout are particular site favorites. Convertible car seats are mixed up in the listings with infant and toddler car seats.

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9. Parenting.com
Not Dated
Baby Gear Guide: Car Seats
by Molly Lyons
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment In this brief article, Molly Lyons discusses injuries that can occur even when car seats are outside of the car, namely when the car seat tips or falls over. She includes some safety tips for preventing these accidents.
10. Which.co.uk
Oct. 2007
Child Car Seats
by Editors of Which.co.uk
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Which? is a European consumer advocacy site similar to Consumer Reports in the U.S. It posts news, gives product information, conducts testing and makes recommendations. Which? has an excellent comparative review of car seats with ratings based on crash test results, but tested models are only available in Europe. This should be your first stop if you are buying a car seat in Europe.
11. Mumsnet.com
As of Aug. 2008
Car Seats from Birth
by Editors of Mumsnet.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment There is a lot of helpful information at Mumsnet.com, and a lot of valid information about car seats. Mumsnet.com is a European site, so certain issues like measurements can be confusing. In addition, many of the seats mentioned are not sold in the U.S. If you're a European consumer, this is the place to look; if not, the site still has a lot of useful safety information that you may find helpful.
12. ConsumerGuide.com
As of Aug. 2008
Convertible Car Seats
by Editors of ConsumerGuide.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Consumer Guide, which is partnered with How Stuff Works, has a fairly informative guide to convertible car seats. The site includes a recently updated buyer's guide, information on key features, safety… recommendations and product reviews. Nineteen car seats are reviewed, and ten, including the Graco ComfortSport and the Britax Boulevard, receive Best Buy ratings. Unfortunately, it's not evident how products are chosen, and there are no specifics in this review to indicate that any testing was performed.

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