Crash Tests on Infant Car Seats

Texastechmh

Does anyone know where to find the crash test ratingS on infant car seats? My understanding is that all seats pass the 30 mile an hour crash test done by the NHTSA, but I also have read that Consumer Reports has done their own tests that at times have very different results sometimes throwing the babies from the vehicle.

Also, I wonder how current some of the info is as I don't want to pay to find out the seats they have tested are not even available for purchase any longer (which was one of the comments from a 2010 post on their site). Any of you mommies know? The seat looking nice is great, but I want my little girl as safe as possible.

 Thanks!

Magnum13

Gosh darn it, I found a great website that had all the info I was looking for and now I can't find it. I wish I had bookmarked it. All I know is that the Graco Snugride 35 scored 10 out of 10 on all rating, rating higher than Britax and Safety 1st...I'll search my history to see if I can locate the website, but I decided on the Graco because a combination of safe and cheap is just a win in my book. 

penguingrrl

I don't know who releases them. I do know that carseat techs absolutely distrust Consumer Reports tests because of the method they use (I don't know details, just know I've come across it on car-seat.org a lot). Basically they feel the consumer reports tests are extremely flawed and their testing criteria is not accurate.

Carseat techs treat all seats that make it to market as equally safe and you will see them using all different brands for their own children. Any seat is safe as long  as it's used correctly 100% of the time.

I'll add that worry more about learning how to install and use it correctly. I see incorrectly installed seats, coats in carseats, children way too young forward facing or in boosters, loose harness straps, chest clips at the belly and a slew of other issues. And these are often with parents who spent the money on a britax that they're using incorrectly and therefore wouldn't help the child anyway.

pitterpatter129

penguingrrl:

I don't know who releases them. I do know that carseat techs absolutely distrust Consumer Reports tests because of the method they use (I don't know details, just know I've come across it on car-seat.org a lot). Basically they feel the consumer reports tests are extremely flawed and their testing criteria is not accurate.

Carseat techs treat all seats that make it to market as equally safe and you will see them using all different brands for their own children. Any seat is safe as long as it's used correctly 100% of the time.

I'll add that worry more about learning how to install and use it correctly. I see incorrectly installed seats, coats in carseats, children way too young forward facing or in boosters, loose harness straps, chest clips at the belly and a slew of other issues. And these are often with parents who spent the money on a britax that they're using incorrectly and therefore wouldn't help the child anyway.

  Pictures friends post on fb of their improperly installed carseat with a kid with one arm out of the strap make my eye twitch.

I post this a lot, but it's my favorite carseat related website.  A picture guide to carseat safety...  https://dailymomtra.com/2011/03/30/the-picture-guide-to-car-seat-safety/

Personally, I like our convertible carseat better than our infant carrier.  It was made for 5lbs and up (we used it closer to 12 pounds though.)  We just used a Moby carrier outside of the car most of the time, so it was silly for us to have bought the infant carrier in the first place.  We will probably go ahead and use the carrier for the first month again this time though until we purchase a second convertible.   We have an Evenflo Momentum 65 and I really like it.  Nice and cushy, easy to install and easy to clean.

 

Texastechmh

Thanks for all the suggestions ladies! I really appreciate it. I will check this all out. I spent all day at BabiesRUs and BuyBuy Baby today and came home very frustrated. :-( I will do some more research and make a decision. I did see the brand new Graco Snugride 40 at BRU. Maybe we will end up with that. It has some nice features.