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Station 1
160 Hawley Street
Grayslake, IL
60030
Tel (847) 223-8960
Fax (847) 223-8964
Station 2
1200 Brae Loch Rd.
Grayslake, IL
60030
Tel (847) 986-3020
Fax (847) 986-3022
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A Families Guide To Car
Safety Seats
One of
the most important jobs you have as a parent is keeping your child safe
when riding in a vehicle. Each year thousands of young children are
killed or injured in car crashes. Proper use of car safety seats helps
keep children safe. But with so many different car safety seats on the
market, it’s no wonder many parents find this overwhelming.
The
type of seat your child needs depends on several things including your
child’s size and the type of vehicle you have. To be sure your child is
using the most appropriate seat, read on.
Types of car safety seats at a glance
The
chart below is a quick guide on where to start your search. However,
it’s important to read more about the features and how to use your car
safety seat.
|
Age |
Type of Seat |
General Guideline |
|
Infants |
Infant seats and rear-facing convertible seats |
All infants should
always
ride rear-facing until they are at least 1 year of age
and
weigh at least 20 pounds. |
|
Toddlers/Preschoolers |
Convertible seats |
It is best to ride rear-facing as long as possible. Children 1
year of age and at least 20 pounds can ride
forward-facing. |
|
School-aged children |
Booster seats |
Booster seats are for older children who have outgrown their
forward-facing car safety seats. Children should stay in a
booster seat until adult belts fit correctly (usually when a
child reaches about 4' 9" in height and is between 8 and 12
years of age). |
|
Older children |
Seat belts |
Children who have outgrown their booster seats should ride in a
lap and shoulder belt in the back seat until 13 years of age. |
The right car safety seat
Infants—rear-facing
The
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all infants should
ride rear-facing starting with their first ride home from the hospital.
They should remain rear-facing until they reach the highest weight or
height allowed by their car safety seat’s manufacturer. At a minimum,
children should ride rear-facing until they have reached at least 1 year
of age and weigh at least 20 pounds.
There
are 2 types of rear-facing car safety seats: infant-only seats and
convertible seats.
Infant-only seats
 |
Are
small and have carrying handles (and sometimes come as part of a
stroller system). |
|
Are
used only for travel (not for positioning outside the vehicle).
|
|
Are
used for infants up to 22 to 32 pounds, depending on the model. |
|
Many
come with a base that can be left in the car. The seat clicks into
and out of the base so you don’t have to install the base each time
you use it. Parents can buy more than one base for additional
vehicles. |
Convertible seats (used rear-facing)
|
Can
be used rear-facing, then “converted” to forward-facing for older
children. This means the seat can be used longer by your child. They
are bulkier than infant seats, however, and do not come with
carrying handles or a separate base. |
|
Have
higher rear-facing weight and height limits than infant-only seats,
which makes them ideal for bigger babies. |
|
Have
2 types of harnesses: |
|
5-point harness—
attach at the shoulders, at the hips, and between the legs
 |
Overhead shield—
a padded tray-like shield that swings down over the child
 |
Installation tips for rear-facing seats
When
using a rear-facing seat, keep the following in mind:
|
Make
sure the car safety seat is installed tightly in the vehicle and
that the harness fits the child snugly. |
|
Never
place a rear-facing car safety seat in the front seat of a vehicle
that has an active front passenger air bag. If the air bag inflates,
it will hit the back of the car safety seat, right where your baby’s
head is, and could cause serious injury or death. |
|
If
your rear-facing seat has more than one set of harness slots, make
sure the harnesses are in the slots at or below your baby’s
shoulders. |
|
Be
sure you know what kind of seat belts your vehicle has. Some seat
belts need locking clips. Locking clips come with all new car safety
seats. If you’re not sure, check the owner's manual that came with
your vehicle. Locking clips are not needed in most newer vehicles.
|
|
If
you are using a convertible seat in the rear-facing position, make
sure the seat belt is routed through the correct belt path. Check
the instructions that came with the car safety seat to be sure.
|
|
If
your vehicle was made after 2002, it may come with the LATCH system,
which is used to secure car safety seats. See below for information
on using LATCH. |
|
Make
sure the seat is at the correct angle so your infant’s head does not
flop forward. Many seats have angle indicators or adjusters that can
help prevent this. If your seat does not have an angle adjuster,
tilt the car safety seat back by putting a rolled towel or other
firm padding (such as a pool noodle) under the base near the point
where the back and bottom of the vehicle seat meet. |
|
Be
sure the car safety seat is installed tightly. If you can move the
seat more than an inch side to side or front to back, it’s not tight
enough. |
Common
questions
Q:
What if my baby weighs more than 20 pounds but is not yet 1 year old ?
A:Use a seat that can be used rear-facing by children who weigh more
than 20 pounds and keep your baby rear-facing as long as possible into
the second year of life, or at least until he has reached his first
birthday.
Q:
What do I do if my baby slouches down or to the side in his car safety
seat?
A: Pad around your child (never under or behind)
with rolled-up cloth diapers or blankets. Do not use any sort of car
safety seat insert unless it came with the seat or was made by the
manufacturer of the seat.
Q: Can
I adjust the straps when my baby is wearing thicker clothing, like in
the winter?
A: Yes, but make sure the harnesses are still snug. Also remember to
tighten the straps again after the thicker clothes are no longer needed.
Dress your baby in thinner layers instead of a bulky coat or snowsuit,
and tuck a blanket around your baby over the buckled harness straps if
needed.
Q: Are rear-facing convertible seats OK to use for preemies?
A: Premature infants should be tested while still in the hospital to
make sure they can ride safely in a reclined position. Babies who need
to lie flat during travel should ride in a crash-tested car bed. Very
small infants who can ride safely in a reclined position usually fit
better in infant-only seats; however, if you need to use a convertible
seat, choose one without a tray-shield harness. The shields often are
too big and too far from the body to fit correctly.
Toddlers and
preschoolers—forward-facing
Once
your child has reached the highest weight or height allowed by the
manufacturer of the seat for rear-facing, she can ride forward-facing in
a convertible seat. However, it is best for her to ride rear-facing to
the highest weight or height allowed by the manufacturer of her car
safety seat. She should ride in a forward-facing seat with a harness
until she outgrows it (usually at around 4 years of age and about 40–65
pounds).
There
are 5 types of car safety seats that can be used forward-facing.
|
Convertible seats—seats
that “convert” from rear-facing to forward-facing seats. |
|
Forward-facing toddler seats—these
seats can be used forward-facing with a harness for children who
weigh up to 40 to 80 pounds (depending on the model). |
|
Combination forward-facing/booster seats—these
seats can be used forward-facing with a harness for children who
weigh up to 40 to 65 pounds (depending on the model) or without the
harness as a booster (up to 80 to 120 pounds). |
|
Built-in seats—some
vehicles come with forward-facing seats built in. Weight and height
limits vary. Read your vehicle owner’s manual or contact the
manufacturer for details about how to use these seats. |
|
Travel vests—these
can be worn by children between 20 and 168 pounds and can be an
alternative to traditional forward-facing seats. They are also
useful for when a vehicle has lap-only seat belts in the rear.
|
|
|
Installation tips for forward-facing seats
Make
sure the car safety seat is installed tightly in the vehicle and that
the harness fits the child snugly.
To
switch a convertible seat from rear-facing to forward-facing,
|
Move
the shoulder straps to the slots that are at or above your child’s
shoulders. On some convertible seats, the top harness slots must be
used when facing forward. Check the instructions that came with the
seat to be sure. |
|
You
may have to adjust the recline angle of the seat. Check the
instructions to be sure. |
|
Make
sure the seat belt runs through the forward-facing belt path. When
making these changes, always follow the car safety seat
instructions. |
|
If
your vehicle was made after 2002, it should come with the LATCH
system, which is used to secure car safety seats. See below for
information on using LATCH. |
A
tether is a strap that attaches to the top of a car safety seat and to
an anchor point in your vehicle (see your vehicle owner’s manual to find
where the tether anchors are in your vehicle). Tethers give important
extra protection by keeping the car safety seat and the child’s head
from moving too far forward in a crash or sudden stop. All new cars,
minivans, and light trucks have been required to have tether anchors
since September 2000. New forward-facing car safety seats come with
tethers. For older seats, or if your tether is missing, tether kits are
available. Check with the car safety seat manufacturer to find out how
you can get a tether if your seat does not have one.
Common
questions
Q:
What if I drive more children than can be buckled safely in the back
seat?
A: It’s best to avoid this, especially if your vehicle has air bags in
the front seat. All children younger than 13 years should ride in the
back seat. If absolutely necessary, a child in a forward-facing car
safety seat with a harness may be the best choice to ride in front. Just
be sure the vehicle seat is moved as far back away from the dashboard
(and the air bag) as possible.
Q:
What do I need to know if my child will be driven by someone else, such
as for child care or school?
A: If your child is being driven by someone else, make sure
|
The
car safety seat your child will be using is appropriate for the
vehicle used for transport. |
|
The
car safety seat being used is appropriate for the age and size of
your child. |
|
The
person in charge of transporting your child knows how to install and
use the car safety seat correctly.
|
Child
care programs and schools should have written guidelines for
transporting children. These guidelines should include the following:
|
All
drivers must have a valid driver’s license. In some states, school
bus drivers need to have a special type of license. |
|
Staff-to-child ratios for transport should meet or exceed those
required for the classroom. |
|
Every
child should be supervised during transport, either by school staff
or a parent volunteer, so the driver can focus on driving.
|
|
School staff, teachers, and drivers should know what do to in an
emergency, know how to properly use car safety seats and seat belts,
and be aware of other safety requirements. |
Q:
Should my child ride in a car safety seat on an airplane?
A: Most infant, convertible, and forward-facing seats can be used on
airplanes, but booster seats and travel vests cannot. The Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) and the AAP recommend that when flying,
children should be securely fastened in certified child restraints until
4 years of age, and then should be secured with the airplane seat belts.
This will help keep them safe during takeoff and landing or in case of
turbulence. Check the label on your car safety seat or call the car
safety seat manufacturer before you travel to see if your seat is
certified for use on an airplane. You can also consider using a
restraint made only for use on airplanes and approved by the FAA.
School-aged
children—booster seats
Booster seats are for older children who have outgrown their
forward-facing car safety seats. It is best for children to ride in a
harnessed seat as long as possible, at least to 4 years of age. If your
child outgrows his seat before reaching 4 years of age, consider using a
seat with a harness approved for higher weights and heights. A child has
outgrown his forward-facing seat when any one of the following is true:
|
He
reaches the top weight or height allowed for his seat with a
harness. (These limits are listed on the seat and also included in
the instruction booklet.) |
|
His
shoulders are above the top harness slots. |
|
His
ears have reached the top of the seat. |
Booster seats are designed to raise the child up so that the lap and
shoulder seat belts fit properly. High-back and backless booster seats
are available. They do not come with harness straps but are used with
the lap and shoulder seat belts in your vehicle, the same way an adult
rides. Booster seats should be used until your child can correctly fit
in lap and shoulder seat belts. Booster seats typically include a
plastic clip or guide to help ensure the correct use of the vehicle lap
and shoulder belts. See the instruction booklet that came with the
booster seat for directions on how to use the guide or clip.
Installation tips for booster seats
Booster seats must be used with a lap and shoulder belt (never a
lap-only belt). When using a booster seat, make sure
|
The
lap belt lies low and snug across your child’s upper thighs.
|
|
The
shoulder belt crosses the middle of your child’s chest and shoulder.
|
Common
questions
Q:
What if my car only has lap belts in the back seat?
A: Lap belts work fine with infant-only, convertible, and forward-facing
seats. They cannot be used with booster seats. If your car only has lap
belts, use a forward-facing car safety seat with a harness and higher
weight limits. Other options are
|
Check
to see if shoulder belts can be installed in your vehicle.
|
|
Use a
travel vest (some can be used with lap belts). |
|
Consider buying another car with lap and shoulder belts in the back
seat. |
Q: Is
there a difference between high-back and backless boosters?
A: Both types of boosters are designed to raise your child so the seat
belts fit properly. High-back boosters are useful in vehicles that do
not have head rests or have low seat backs. Many seats that look like
high-back boosters are actually combination seats. They come with
harnesses that can be used for smaller children and can then be removed
for older children. Backless boosters are usually less expensive and are
easier to move from vehicle to vehicle. Backless boosters can be safely
used in vehicles with headrests and high seat backs.
Older children—seat belts
Seat
belts are made for adults. Your child should stay in a booster seat
until adult seat belts fit correctly (usually when the child reaches
about 4' 9" in height and is between 8 and 12 years of age). This means
|
The
shoulder belt lies across the middle of the chest and shoulder, not
the neck or throat. |
|
The
lap belt is low and snug across the upper thighs, not the belly.
|
|
Your
child is tall enough to sit against the vehicle seat back with her
knees bent without slouching and can stay in this position
comfortably throughout the trip. |
Other
points to keep in mind when using seat belts include
|
Make
sure your child does not tuck the shoulder belt under her arm or
behind her back. This leaves the upper body unprotected, putting
your child at risk of severe injury in a crash or with sudden
braking. |
|
Never
allow anyone to “share” seat belts. All passengers must have their
own car safety seats or seat belts. |
Common
Questions
Q:
I’ve seen products that say they can help make the seat belt fit better.
Should we get one of these?
A: No, these products should not be used. In fact, they may actually
interfere with proper seat belt fit by causing the lap belt to ride too
high on the stomach and making the shoulder belt too loose. They can
even damage the seat belt. This rule applies to car safety seats too; do
not use any extra products unless they came with the seat. There are no
federal safety standards for these products and until there are, the AAP
does not recommend they be used. As long as children are riding in the
correct restraint for their size and age, they should not need to use
any additional devices.
Shopping for car safety seats
When
shopping for a car safety seat, keep the following tips in mind:
|
No
one seat is the “best” or “safest.”
The best seat is the one that fits your child’s age and size, is
correctly installed, fits well in your vehicle, and can be used
properly every time you drive. |
|
Don’t
decide by price alone.
A higher price does not mean the seat is safer or easier to use.
|
|
Avoid
used seats if you don’t know the seat’s history.
Never use a car seat that
 |
Is too old. Look on the label for the date it was made. Check
with the manufacturer to find out how long it recommends using
the seat. |
|
Has any visible cracks on it. |
|
Does not have a label with the date of manufacture and model
number. Without these, you cannot check to see if the seat has
been recalled. |
|
Does not come with instructions.
You need them to know how to use the seat. |
|
Is missing parts. Used car safety seats often come without
important parts. Check with the manufacturer to make sure you
can get the right parts. |
|
Was recalled. You can find out by calling the manufacturer or by
contacting the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888/327-4236. You can also visit the
NHTSA Web site at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls/childseat.cfm.
|
|
|
Do
not use seats that have been in a moderate or severe crash.
Seats that were in a minor crash may still be safe to use. The NHTSA
considers a crash minor if all of the following are true:
|
The vehicle could be driven away from the crash. |
|
The vehicle door closest to the car safety seat was not damaged.
|
|
No one in the vehicle was injured. |
|
The air bags did not go off. |
|
You can’t see any damage to the car safety seat. |
|
If you
are unsure, call the manufacturer of the seat. See “Manufacturer phone
numbers and Web sites” below for manufacturer contact information.
Installing car safety seats correctly
What
you should know about air bags
All
new cars come with front air bags. When used with seat belts, air bags
work very well to protect teenagers and adults. However, air bags can be
very dangerous to children, particularly those riding in rear-facing car
safety seats and to child passengers who are not properly positioned. If
your vehicle has a front passenger air bag, infants in rear-facing seats
must ride in the back seat. Even in a relatively low-speed crash,
the air bag can inflate, strike the car safety seat, and cause serious
brain and neck injury and death.
Vehicles with no back seat or a back seat that is not made for
passengers are not the best choice for traveling with small children.
However, the air bag can be turned off in some of these vehicles if the
front seat is needed for a child passenger. See your vehicle owner’s
manual for more information.
Side
air bags
Side
air bags improve safety for adults in side-impact crashes. Read your
vehicle owner’s manual for more information about the air bags in your
vehicle. Read your car safety seat manual for guidance on placing the
seat next to a side air bag.
LATCH
LATCH
(Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) is an attachment system that
improves safety by eliminating the need to use seat belts to secure the
car safety seat. Vehicles with the LATCH system have anchors located in
the back seat. Car safety seats that come with LATCH have attachments
that fasten to these anchors. Nearly all passenger vehicles and all car
safety seats made on or after September 1, 2002, come with LATCH.
However, unless both your vehicle and the car safety seat have
this anchor system, you will still need to use seat belts to install the
car safety seat.
Important reminders
-
Be a
good role model.
Make sure you always wear your seat belt. This will help your child
form a lifelong habit of buckling up.
-
Never
leave your child alone in or around cars.
Any
of the following can happen when a child is left alone in or around
a vehicle:
|
Temperatures can reach deadly levels in minutes, and the child
can die of heat stroke. |
|
He can be strangled by power windows, sunroofs, or accessories.
|
|
He can knock the vehicle into gear, setting it in motion.
|
|
He can be backed over when the vehicle backs up. |
|
He can become trapped in the trunk of the vehicle. |
Always read and follow manufacturer’s instructions.
If you do not have the manufacturer’s instructions for your car
safety seat, write or call the company’s customer service
department. They will ask you for the model number, name of seat,
and date of manufacture. The manufacturer’s address and phone number
are on the label on the seat. Also be sure to follow the
instructions in your vehicle owner’s manual about using car safety
seats.
All
products listed below meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 as
of the date of publication. There may be car safety seats available that
are not listed in this publication. The following information is current
as of the date of publication. Before buying a car safety seat, check
the manufacturer’s instructions for important safety information about
proper fitting and use.
The
NHTSA has put together an Ease of Use Ratings system to educate parents
and caregivers about car safety seat features and to assist them in
finding the appropriate seat for their needs. You can view this list at
www.nhtsa.dot.gov/CPS/CSSRating/Index.cfm.
Manufacturers' names are
boldfaced.
|
Infant-only seats |
|
Name |
Harness Type |
Rear-Facing
Weight Limits |
Height Limits |
Price |
|
Baby Trend
EZ-Loc, Flex-Loc, Latch-Loc Adjustable Back |
5-point |
5-22 pounds |
28.5" |
$79.99-$129.99 |
|
Chicco
KeyFit Infant Car Seat |
5-point |
4-22 pounds |
30" |
$160-$170 |
|
Chicco
KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat |
5-point |
4-30 pounds |
30" |
$170-$180 |
|
Combi
Centre ST/DX/EX |
5-point |
5-22 pounds |
29" |
$110-$130 |
|
Combi
Connection |
5-point |
5-22 pounds |
29" |
$159.99 |
|
Combi
Shuttle |
5-point |
5-22 pounds |
29" |
$125-$150 |
|
Compass Baby
Infant Car Seat |
5-point |
4-22 pounds |
30" |
$120-$140 |
|
Eddie Bauer
Deluxe Infant Car Seat |
5-point |
5-22 pounds |
19"-29" |
$100 |
|
Eddie Bauer
Sure Fit |
5-point |
4-22 pounds |
Up to 29" |
$120-$130 |
|
Eddie Bauer
Sure Fit 30 |
5-point |
4-30 pounds |
Up to 32" |
$130-$140 |
|
Evenflo
Discovery 5 |
5-point |
5-22 pounds |
19"-29" |
$50-$60 |
|
Evenflo
Embrace |
5-point |
5-22 pounds |
19"-29" |
$60-$90 |
|
Evenflo
First Choice 5 |
5-point |
5-22 pounds |
19"-29" |
$40 |
|
The First
Years
Via Infant Car Seat |
5-point |
4-22 pounds |
Up to 30" |
$129.99 |
|
Graco
SnugRide |
5-point |
5-22 pounds |
29" |
$80-$120 |
|
Graco
SnugRide 32 |
5-point |
5-32 pounds |
32" |
$140-$160 |
|
Maxi-Cosi
Mico Infant Car Seat |
5-point |
5-22 pounds |
19"-29" |
$170 |
|
Mia Moda
Viva, Viva Supreme Infant Car Seat |
5-point |
22 pounds |
29" |
$99-$139 |
|
Orbit
Infant Car Seat |
5-point |
22 pounds |
29" |
$900 |
|
Peg Perego
Primo Viaggio SIP 30/30 |
5-point |
30 pounds |
30" |
$299-$349 |
|
Safety 1st
Designer |
5-point |
5-22 pounds |
19"-29" |
$65-$80 |
|
Safety 1st
OnBoard |
5-point |
4-22 pounds |
19"-29" |
$120 |
|
Safety 1st
OnBoard 30 |
5-point |
4-30 pounds |
Up to 32" |
$120-$130 |
|
Convertible seats |
|
Name |
Harness Type |
Rear-Facing
Weight Limits,
Height Limits |
Forward-Facing
Weight Limits,
Height Limits |
Price |
|
Britax
Boulevard, Boulevard CS |
5-point |
5-35 pounds |
20-65
pounds, up to 49" |
$309.99-
$329.99 |
|
Britax
Decathlon |
5-point |
5-33 pounds |
20-65
pounds, up to 49" |
$294.99 |
|
Britax
Diplomat |
5-point |
5-35 pounds |
20-40
pounds, up to 40" |
$259.99 |
|
Britax
Marathon |
5-point |
5-35 pounds |
20-65
pounds, up to 49" |
$279.99 |
|
Britax
Roundabout |
5-point |
5-35 pounds |
20-40
pounds, up to 49" |
$229.99 |
|
Combi
Coccoro |
5-point |
5-33 pounds |
20-40 pounds |
$200 |
|
Combi
Zeus |
5-point |
5-33 pounds |
20-40 pounds |
$275-$300 |
|
Cosco
Scenera |
5-point
shield |
5-35 pounds,
19"-36" |
22–40
pounds,
34"-43" |
$50-$60 |
|
Eddie Bauer
Deluxe (rear-facing, forward-facing, or booster) |
5-point |
5-35 pounds,
19"-36" |
Forward
facing: 22-40 pounds,
34"-43"
Belt-positioning booster:
40-80 pounds,
43"-52" |
$120-$130 |
|
Eddie Bauer
Deluxe 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat (rear-facing,
forward-facing, or booster) |
5-point
|
5-35 pounds,
19"-36" |
Forward
facing: 22-40 pounds,
34"-43"
Belt-positioning booster:
40-100 pounds,
43"-52" |
$180-$190 |
|
Evenflo
Symphony |
5-point |
5-35 pounds |
Forward
facing: 20-40 pounds, 50"
Belt-positioning booster:
30-100 pounds,
57" |
$180-$200 |
|
Evenflo
Titan Elite |
5-point |
5-35 pounds |
20-50 pounds |
$80-$100 |
|
Evenflo
Tribute 5 |
5-point
|
5-35 pounds |
20-40 pounds |
$50-$70 |
|
Evenflo
Triumph Advance |
5-point |
5-35 pounds |
20-50 pounds |
$120-$180 |
|
The First
Years
True Fit |
5-point |
5-22 pounds
without upper seat back installed
5-35 pounds with upper seat back installed |
23-65
pounds,
up to 50" |
$199.99 |
|
Graco
ComfortSport |
5-point |
5-30 pounds |
20-40
pounds,
40" |
$80-$120 |
|
Maxi-Cosi
Priori |
5-point |
5-35 pounds,
19"-36" |
22-40
pounds,
34"-43" |
$200-$230 |
|
Orbit
Toddler Seat |
5-point |
15-35 pounds |
20-50
pounds,
up to 49" |
$300 |
|
Recaro
Como, Signo |
5-point |
5-35 pounds
|
20-70
pounds,
50" |
$249-$289 |
|
Safety 1st
All-in-One, All-in-One Deluxe or Alpha Brand Alpha
Omega (rear-facing, forward-facing, or booster) |
5-point |
5-35 pounds,
19"-36" |
Forward
facing: 22-40 pounds,
34"-43"
Belt-positioning booster:
40-80 pounds,
43"-52" |
$140-$160 |
|
Safety 1st
All-in-One or Alpha Brand Alpha Omega (rear-facing,
forward-facing, or booster) |
5-point |
5-35 pounds,
19"-36" |
Forward
facing: 22-50 pounds, 35"-45"
Belt-positioning booster:
40-80 pounds,
43"-52" |
$150-$160 |
|
Safety 1st
or Alpha Brand Alpha Omega Elite (rear-facing,
forward-facing, or booster) |
5-point |
5-35 pounds,
19"-36" |
Forward
facing: 22-40 pounds, 34"-43"
Belt-positioning booster:
40-100 pounds,
34"-52" |
$150-$160 |
|
Safety 1st
or Alpha Brand Alpha Omega Elite (rear-facing,
forward-facing, or booster) |
5-point |
5-35 pounds,
19"-36" |
Forward
facing: 22-50 pounds, 34"-45"
Belt-positioning booster:
40-100 pounds,
34"-52" |
$160-$170 |
|
Safety 1st
Avenue |
5-point |
5-35 pounds,
19"-36" |
22–40
pounds,
34"-43" |
$80-$90 |
|
Sunshine
Kids
Radian65 Car Seat |
5-point |
5-35 pounds |
Up to 65
pounds,
53" |
$219.99 |
|
Sunshine
Kids
Radian80 Car Seat |
5-point |
5-35 pounds |
Up to 80
pounds,
53" |
$249.99 |
|
Tripleplay
Products/Lilly Gold
Sit n' Stroll |
5-point |
5-30 pounds |
20-40 pounds |
$249.95 |
|
Combination seats |
|
(Can be used with 5-point harness or as belt-positioning
booster.) |
|
Name |
Weight Limits,
Height Limits
With Harness |
Weight Limits,
Height Limits as
Booster |
Price |
|
Britax
Frontier Harness-2-Booster |
2 years of
age and 25-80 pounds,
30"-53" |
40-100
pounds,
42"-60" |
$279.99 |
|
Cosco
High Back Booster |
22-40
pounds,
34"-43" |
40-80
pounds,
43"-52" |
$50 |
|
Cosco
Ventura |
22-40
pounds,
34"-43" |
40-80
pounds,
43"-52" |
$60 |
|
Eddie Bauer
Adjustable High Back Booster |
22-40
pounds,
34"-43" |
40-100
pounds,
43"-48" |
$99 |
|
Eddie Bauer
Deluxe High Back Booster |
22-40
pounds,
34"-43" |
40-100
pounds,
43"-52" |
$120 |
|
Evenflo
Express, Chase |
20-40 pounds |
30-100
pounds,
54" |
$50-$70 |
|
Evenflo
Generations, Bolero |
20-40 pounds |
30-100
pounds,
57" |
$70-$100 |
|
Graco
Platinum/Treasured/Ultra CarGo |
20-40
pounds,
27"-43" |
30-100
pounds,
35"-54" |
$69-$99 |
|
Graco
Sprout |
20-65
pounds,
52" |
As high back
booster: 30-100 pounds,
38"-57"
As backless booster: 40-100 pounds,
40"-57" |
$149 |
|
Recaro
Young Sport |
20-40
pounds,
27"-40" |
30-80
pounds,
37"-59" |
$249 |
|
SafeGuard
GO Booster |
22-60
pounds,
41"-52" |
40-100
pounds,
43"-57" |
$199 |
|
Safety 1st
Apex 65 |
22-65
pounds,
34"-52" |
40-100
pounds,
43"-57" |
$130 |
|
Safety 1st
Summit |
22-40
pounds,
34"-43" |
40-100
pounds,
43"-52" |
$99.99 |
|
Safety 1st
Vantage, Surveyor |
22-40
pounds,
34"-43" |
40-100
pounds,
43"-52" |
$80 |
|
Forward-facing toddler seats |
|
Name |
Harness Type |
Weight Limits |
Height Limits |
Price |
|
|
Britax
Regent |
5-point |
22-80 pounds |
19"-53" |
$279.99 |
|
|
Graco
Toddler SafeSeat |
5-point |
20-40 pounds |
27"-43" |
$129-$149 |
|
|
SafeGuard
Child Seat |
5-point |
22-65 pounds |
57" |
$399 |
|
|
Booster seats |
|
Name |
Type |
Weight Limits |
Height Limits
|
Price |
|
Chicco
KeyFit Strada Booster |
High back
Backless |
30-100
pounds 40-100 pounds |
38"-57" |
$120-$140 |
|
Clek
Olli Booster Seat |
Low back |
40-100
pounds |
40"-57" |
$89.99 |
|
Clek
Oobr Booster Seat |
High back |
33-100
pounds |
38"-57" |
$239.99 |
|
Clek
Ozzie Booster Seat |
Low back |
40-100
pounds |
40"-57" |
$69.99 |
|
Combi
Dakota |
Backless |
33-100
pounds |
33"-57" |
$27-$50 |
|
Combi
Kobuk |
High back |
33-100
pounds |
33"-57" |
$80-$90 |
|
Compass Baby
Deluxe, Ultimate, Premier Folding Booster Car Seat |
High back |
30-100
pounds |
38"-57" |
$60-$100 |
|
Cosco
Ambassador, High Rise |
Backless |
30-100
pounds |
34"-57" |
$20 |
|
Cosco
Complete Voyager |
High back |
40-80 pounds |
43"-52" |
$20-$25 |
|
Cosco
Protek |
High back |
30-100
pounds |
34"-57" |
$30-$50 |
|
Cosco
Pronto! |
High back |
30-100
pounds |
34"-57" |
$35 |
|
Disney
Pronto! |
Backless |
40-100
pounds |
43"-57" |
$24 |
|
Eddie Bauer
Auto Booster |
High back |
30-100
pounds |
34"-57"
|
$70 |
|
Evenflo
Big Kid, Big Kid Amp |
Backless
|
40-100
pounds |
57" |
$15-$20 |
|
Evenflo
Big Kid Deluxe/LX, Everest, Quantum |
High Back
Backless |
30-100
pounds
40-100 pounds |
57" |
$40-$80 |
|
Evenflo
Sightseer |
High back |
30-100
pounds |
37"-54" |
$30-$40 |
|
Graco
My CarGo |
High back |
30-100
pounds |
35"-54" |
$40 |
|
Graco
TurboBooster |
High back
Backless |
30-100
pounds
40-100 pounds |
38"-57"
40"-57" |
$50-$80
$20-$25 |
|
Jané
Indy Plus Booster Car Seat |
High back |
30-80 pounds |
Up to 49" |
$199.99 |
|
Maxi-Cosi
Rodi XR |
High back
|
30-100
pounds |
34"-57"
|
$160 |
|
Recaro
Start |
High back |
30-80 pounds |
59" |
$349 |
|
Recaro
Vivo, Vivo Lite |
High back |
30-100
pounds |
37"-59" |
$89-$99 |
|
Sunshine
Kids
Monterey Booster Seat |
High back
Backless |
30-120
pounds |
63" |
$139.99 |
|
Travel vests |
|
Name |
Weight Limits
(Age Limits) |
Price |
|
E-Z-ON
Adjustable Vests
103Z Vest
203 Vest |
20-168 pounds
20-65 pounds |
$120 |
|
E-Z-ON
86Y Harness |
66-168
pounds |
$60-$80 |
|
E-Z-ON
Non-adjustable Vests
101 Zipper Vest
101 Push Button Vest |
20-168 pounds
20-65 pounds |
$120-$140 |
|
RideSafer
Travel Vest by Safe Traffic Systems |
Small vest:
35-60 pounds (3-6 years)
Large vest: 50-80 pounds (5-10 years) |
$99.99 |
|
Built-in (integrated) seats |
|
Built-in or
integrated child safety seats are available on selected
models from some motor vehicle manufacturers. Check with the
manufacturers for specifics.
|
Phone numbers and Web
site addresses are as current as possible, but may change at any time.
Prices are
approximate and may vary.
The information
contained in this site should not be used as a substitute for the
medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in
treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts
and circumstances.
|
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