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Car Seat Safety --- Did you know?

Rebecca - posted on 11/09/2011 ( 11 moms have responded )

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This is an extension on the extended rear facing post. I'm wondering how many parents are aware that there are no current car seat safety comparisons in the United States. Yep -- that's right. There is currently no publically available database that allows you to compare carseat safety. There are guidelines that manufacturers test against, but there is no actual requirement that the manufacturer realize that data. Strange? I think so. If you go to the National Highway Transportation website, they will rank car seats by "Ease of Use", but there is nothing to compare the crash test results for various car seats. SOME manufacturers release this data on their websites, but there is no easy or convenient way to compare ratings. Consumer Reports ranks car seats, but frankly, I question the reliability of their data since they aren't exactly experts in crash safety.

Personally, I would like to see some nationwide database for car seat safety. I would also like an actual ranking system. If I can find out if my car has a 5 star crash test ranking, why can't I find out the same information for a seat that is carrying my most precious cargo? Interested on everyone's feedback.

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Caitlin - posted on 11/12/2011

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Yeowch.. hope you weren't hurt badly! Sounds like a nasty one (side impacts are painful - I spun out and hit a pole broadside at 70km/hr 4 years ago). Good luck with the insurance!

Sherri - posted on 11/11/2011

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That is actually good news Rebecca. I wish you the best!!

Rebecca - posted on 11/11/2011

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I think the new seats will be covered -- the airbags deployed, the impact was on the doors where the seats were located, and I was injured. So they should be covered. If my insurance won't cover them, I will ask the business that hit me to cover the cost. It was a commercial van that hit me and their driver admitted that he was at fault.

Sherri - posted on 11/11/2011

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Yikes good luck with that Rebecca. Hopefully you will meet all the criteria to qualify so insurance pays for it and it isn't out of pocket.

Rebecca - posted on 11/11/2011

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Considering I was broadsided today and now need 4 new car seats, I will probably end up with at least 2 Britax seats.

Sherri - posted on 11/11/2011

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That is why I tend to only go with car seats that are world renowned. Such as Britax which my 5 1/2 yr old uses now. Although I can't give you a place to compare them Rebecca all I can give you is the test results for the actual Britax. http://www.britaxusa.com/learning-center...

Rebecca - posted on 11/11/2011

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Nope. It gives general information, but nothing containing the detail I am looking for, e.g., how the Britax Marathon compares to an Evenflo Triumph. Like I mentioned, I can pull up my model of car and research what it's side-impact crash safety rating is compared to other cars, but I can't do the same for a carseat.

Tracey - posted on 11/11/2011

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IS this any help?
www.carseat.org
www.childcarseats.org.uk/standards/r4403.htm

Rebecca - posted on 11/10/2011

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Wow -- my conversation just reappeared! Cool!

Medic - posted on 11/09/2011

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Rebecca- can you and Sara just come and safety rate my house? Both of y'all (and others too) have soooo much knowledge.

~♥Little Miss - posted on 11/09/2011

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Hmmmm....I really thought they had stars for safety on them. Maybe not a data base of them....but I was certain ours was labeled. Maybe it was just a rating for ease of use. I am gonna ask my husband when he gets home. He is the one that did all the research. That is a scary thought though.

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