Child Safety Seats

Written By: MyRide.com
Reprinted under license.

How to use, and who should ride in what

Child Safety Seats

Selecting the "best" safety seat for your child
Statistics show that four out of five child safety seats are used incorrectly. Therefore, the "best" child safety seat is the one that fits your child, fits your vehicle, and will be used correctly on every trip. Selecting the appropriate seat along with using and installing it properly can save your child's life. The information below is designed to:

- Educate you about the various types of child safety restraints available.
- List all new child safety seats with five-star 2008 Child Safety Seat Ease of Use Ratings from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). All seats rated meet NHTSA crash and safety standards.
- Provide recommendations for the correct use of each type of safety seat and which is appropriate for your child.
- Allow you to click for a complete evaluation of each model.

Recommendations for child restraint use
Child restraint laws vary by state but the following guidelines should keep your child safe and you on the right side of the law. Use a rear-facing child seat for children from birth to 20 pounds and one year of age. Use a forward-facing child seat for children who are 20-40 pounds and between one and five years of age. Use a belt-positioning booster seat for children weighing 40-80 pounds, are up to eight years old and at least 4 feet 9 inches tall. Use the vehicle's standard lap and shoulder belt for a child who has outgrown a booster seat and can sit with his back straight against the vehicle's seatback cushion, with knees bent over the seat edge, without slouching and with feet on the floor (over 4 foot 9 inches tall and 80 pounds). For a full breakdown of individual state requirements, visit the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's website.

Child Safety Seat Registration Card and Recalls
After purchasing a new child safety seat fill out and return the registration card. This is the only way a manufacturer can notify you in case of a recall. To determine if your child safety seat has been recalled visit the NHTSA website. To report a possible defect with your child safety seat or with your vehicle, you can report it online or call the NHTSA Hotline at 1-888-DASH2DOT (1-888-327-4236).

2008 NHTSA Five Star-Rated Child Safety Seats

Manufacturer/Model	Model Number	Date of Manufacture	Harness Type	Weight	Height
AngelGuard AngelRide	AA02403FOF	April 28, 2006	3-pt	up to 9 lbs	up to 20"
Compass B510	B510	July 4, 2006	High Back	30-100 lbs	38"-57"
Eddie Bauer Auto Booster (Highback)	22-888-SDU	August 2, 2007	High Back/No Back	30-100 lbs	34"-57"
Eddie Bauer Auto Booster (No Back)	22-828-SON	Jun 27, 2007	No Back	40-100 lbs	43"-52"
Eddie Bauer Comfort Highback (B)	22-868-LRS	Feb 7, 2007	High Back	40-100 lbs	43"-52"
Evenflo Big Kid (Highback)	3371751	October 22, 2006	High Back/No Back	30-100 lbs	up to 57"
Evenflo Chase/Traditions (B)	3261692	December 11, 2006	5-pt	30-100 lbs	37"-54"
Evenflo Confidence	3131737	December 1, 2006	High Back	30-100 lbs	up to 57"
Evenflo Embrace	3981754	January 15, 2007	5-pt	5-22 lbs	19"-29"
Evenflo Express (B)	3181198	Dec 19, 2007	High Back	30-100 lbs	up to 54"
Evenflo Sightseer	2692198	November 15, 2007	High Back	30-100 lbs	34"-57"
Graco Air Booster	8G00SRM	July 20, 2007	High Back	30-100 lbs	38"-57"
Graco TurboBooster (Highback)	8674BUZ	August 13, 2004	High Back	30-100 lbs	38"-57"
Jane Indy Plus	INDY4543	April 1, 2006	High Back	30-80 lbs	up to 57"
Maxi-Cosi Priori (RF)	22-476-NFR	July 11, 2007	5-pt	5-35 lbs	19"-36"
Mia Moda Viva	5050	January 15, 2007	5-pt	up to 22 lbs	up to 29"
Peg Perego Primo Viaggio SIP 30/30	IMUN00US35TL53KN46	October 29, 2007	5-pt	5-30 lbs	up to 30"
Recaro Vivo	9400000807	August 19, 2007	High Back	30-100 lbs	37"-59"
Recaro Vivo Lite	8200000009	May 15, 2007	High Back	30-100 lbs	37"-59"
Recaro Young Sport (B)	500131364	November 14, 2007	High Back	30-80 lbs	37"-59"
Recaro Young Style	500097726	May 9, 2007	High Back	30-80 lbs	up to 59"
Safeguard Child Seat	F17560	October 20, 2005	5-pt	22-65 lbs	up to 57"
Safeguard Go (FF)	F101860	December 5, 2007	5-pt	22-60 lbs	31"-52"
Safety 1st Summit (B)	22-565-WAL	February 7, 2007	High back	40-100 lbs	43"-52"
Safety 1st Surveyor (B)	22-567-GRH	December 3, 2007	High Back	40-100 lbs	43"-52"

By Staff; product information sourced from NHTSA
Photo credit: the Manufacturers and the NHTSA

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