The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently released new car seat ease-of-use ratings. A new five-star ratings system will help parents evaluate car seat features before they buy.
Safety
isn’t a factor in the ratings because all seats rated by the NHTSA meet
Federal Safety Standards and crash performance standards. The seats are
rated in four categories:
- Evaluation of instructions
- Vehicle installation features
- Evaluation of labels
- Securing the child
I checked out our car seat and the ratings and comments were spot-on.
Our seat is great in many ways. But it doesn’t have a way to insert the
harness buckles one-at-a-time or to even keep the two pieces together
as you’re trying to insert them. It’s been a source of frustration for
me from day one. While it certainly is easier than it was at first,
it’s no fun to wrestle a wiggly baby into his seat straps. Baby Trend
could help make it easier.
So if you’re looking for any car safety seat — infants, toddlers, or
4-8 year old kids — check out the Five-Star Ease-of-Use ratings system.
I certainly will when our little guy outgrows his current seat. And at
his current rate of growth, that won’t be long at all.
By Becky Scott
Contributing Editor
national highway traffic safety administration (nhtsa)