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
car seat
