Which car seat brand is the best?

What should I look for when buying a car seat?

How long are carseats good for?

Every car seat brand is different, but many manufacturers set an expiration date of six years. Therefore, you shouldn’t use or buy a car seat that’s older than six years, or one past the date specified on your particular model.

What car seat has the best crash rating?

The Graco Extend2Fit earned the best score in our analysis of crash test results. The Graco had one of the best-combined head and chest sensor results, indicating an additional margin of protection over the competition. This convertible seat has excellent results for LATCH installation.

Is Graco a safe car seat?

All Graco car seats meet or exceed the US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213. But at Graco, we go above and beyond the requirements to provide additional safety testing and features for your peace of mind.

Are steel frame car seats safer?

Steel frame car seats are more durable and safer than plastic car seats. They are also stronger and can better withstand the force of a car crash. However, steel seats are usually more expensive. If you consider purchasing a car seat for your child, steel is the clear winner for me.

Are all car seats crash tested?

Car seats are not currently tested for performance in a side-impact crash test. In 2002, however, NHTSA analyzed how two car seats performed, one convertible seat and one rear-facing infant seat, in side-impact tests of eight vehicles, as an experiment to see if side-impact data could be successfully obtained.

Why do car seats expire?

In general, car seats expire between 6 and 10 years from the date of manufacture. They expire for a number of reasons, including wear and tear, changing regulations, recalls, and the limits of manufacturer testing.

Can my 1 year old sit in a front facing car seat?

Keep your child in the back seat at least through age 12. Your child under age 1 should always ride in a rear-facing car seat.

Should my 5 year old be in a car seat or booster?

Current California Law:

​Children under the age of 8 must be secured in a car seat or booster seat in the back seat. Children who are 8 years of age OR have reached 4’9” in height may be secured by a booster seat, but at a minimum must be secured by a safety belt.

When should a child be out of a 5-point harness?

A child is ready for a booster seat when they have outgrown the height or weight limit of their 5-point harness car seat. This is usually when they reach over 65 pounds or 49 inches. You can check your car seat’s manual for its height and weight limits and if it can be converted to a booster seat.

What age can a child stop using a 5-point harness?

On our Facebook group and on our Facebook page, we host a wide variety of questions but one that comes up a lot is: when should my child make the switch from a 5 point harness to a belt positioning booster? While each child and each situation is different, our minimum recommended age for booster seats is 5 years old.

What kind of car seat does a 5 year old need?

Young children under age 5 or 6 are safer in a 5-point harness car seat. Don’t rush to “graduate” your child to a booster seat. If your child still fits in his 5-point harness car seat, leave him there!

Can my 5 year old sit in a backless booster?

While any child older than four can legally ride in a backless booster seat, safety experts are more conservative with their recommendations. Car seat experts recommend that children stay in high-back boosters for as long as possible, although older children can use backless seats up to 100 pounds.

What is the right car seat for a 6 year old?

What car seat should a 6 year old be in? Most 6 year olds are big enough and mature enough to ride in a high back booster seat or even a backless booster seat. If your 6 year old can’t sit still in the car or still likes to sleep in the car, it’s better to choose a 5-point harness.

What car seat should a 4 year old be in?

4 – 7 Years

Keep your child in a forward-facing car seat with a harness and tether until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the forward-facing car seat with a harness, it’s time to travel in a booster seat, but still in the back seat.

Does a 4 year old need a 5-point harness?

Even big kids need to be safe in cars! NHTSA recommends children remain in a forward-facing car seat with a 5-point harness until the child reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by the seat. At which time, the child can move into a belt positioning device.