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10 Car Seats Fail Crash Test!

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Eyes Wide Shut Especially eHealthy
January 9th, 2007
Consumer reports is known for taking safety to the next level, and in its most recent round of testing rear-facing, infant car seats, it went beyond the current federal safety standards for seat performance in a collision. The government tests seats in front crashes of 30 mph, but consumer reports simulated front impacts of 35 mph and side impacts of 38 mph (the same standards used for car safety testing). The results in this more stringent environment were dramatic, with 10 of the 12 seats either twisting too far or coming out of their bases.

Consumer reports' testing also showed serious failings in seats secured by the latch system. The national highway traffic and safety administration (nhtsa) itself calls the latch system confusing and consumer reports notes that the nhtsa is planning a public hearing on the system later this year.

Here's how the seats fared in consumer reports' tests:

the good
baby trend flex-loc adjustable back
graco snugride with eps

the bad
chicco keyfit
peg perego primo viaggio sip
compass i410
evenflo embrace
britax companion
graco safeseat
safety 1st designer
combi centre st
evenflo discovery
eddie bauer comfort

what you can do:

read the full consumer reports safety alert.

Tell us what you think of this news: take our poll.

Visit our car seat safety bulletin board to talk to other parents about this issue.

Find a child safety seat inspection station near you to make sure your seat is fastened as securely as possible.

Check our infant car seat safety article over the coming days for updates on this issue as more information becomes available.
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kezia333
replied January 9th, 2007
Experienced User
I just bought a chicco keyfit carseat, should I return it?
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Eyes Wide Shut
replied January 9th, 2007
Especially eHealthy
I mean, I would. Esp if I hadn't used it yet.

But .Oni's in a front facing seat (sometimes) so it's kinda late for me!

Sarah
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Sandbox Party
replied January 9th, 2007
Especially eHealthy
Caitlyns is a snugride, so hers is one of the two that passed. I couldnt see the ratings for .Jacobs, the site wouldnt let me without paying for a membership which I thought was rediculous.

You can also google recalls on your carseats to see if there are problems.
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Bridget
replied January 9th, 2007
Especially eHealthy
rainfire1424 wrote:
the site wouldnt let me without paying for a membership which I thought was rediculous.


that's why they do this every year. They want to scare you into paying for a membership.
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AyaMiyaki
replied January 9th, 2007
Especially eHealthy
*sigh* we use the .Evenflo .Discovery. After reading that, I think we'll be headed to the police station soon for an inspection. Neutral
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Nataliachick7
replied January 9th, 2007
Extremely eHealthy
babymajic0506 wrote:
i mean, I would. Esp if I hadn't used it yet.


But .Oni's in a front facing seat (sometimes) so it's kinda late for me!


Sarah


sarah, mike works at the fire department and its my understanding that it is very dangerous to have a baby under the age of 1 facing forward.
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Bridget
replied January 9th, 2007
Especially eHealthy
nataliachick7 wrote:
babymajic0506 wrote:
i mean, I would. Esp if I hadn't used it yet.



But .Oni's in a front facing seat (sometimes) so it's kinda late for me!



Sarah


sarah, mike works at the fire department and its my understanding that it is very dangerous to have a baby under the age of 1 facing forward.


i always thought it was the law that they need to be rear-facing until they're 1 *and* 20 pounds (not one or the other). Is it just a recommendation?
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Becky
replied January 9th, 2007
Especially eHealthy
Over here a front facing car seat can be used from 9 months but I don't really know the laws on car seats.



Layla has a front facing one that turns into a booster seat and logan still has a rear facing one cause he's a titch but i'm getting him a front facing one soon
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lil_blaze2004
replied January 9th, 2007
Community Volunteer
Embarassed Embarassed trey was in a forward car seat by 8 months cause he was so big, he was squished the other way. I asked a friend who works for the saaq (the dmv) and she said if they can sit properly and are over 20 lbs then they can be in a front facing one. I mean the kid was almost walking and weighed over 25lbs! I couldn't keep him in a infant one.
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Eyes Wide Shut
replied January 9th, 2007
Especially eHealthy
Nat, I asked her dr about front facing seats and he said "it depends on the weight restrictions of the seat." her seat is for 20 - 80lbs.

We only use it occasionally though. I would love to wait till she's a year. But there's no way. Her feet hang about 3 inches over her regular car seat. Rolling Eyes

i'm paranoid though, so I think i'm gonna return it and get a different one. This one doesn't have much *lean* to it, so she sits straight up, like she's on a roller coaster. I don't want her to get car sick...


Sarah
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Sail Away
replied January 9th, 2007
Extremely eHealthy
I hear what you guys are saying because brayden is in a front facing seat. I think he'd be safer in that one then to be in his regular carseat that he's way too big for. They do have carseats that go up to like 80lbs that go both forward and backwards but when brayden is in his backwards his feet get all scrunched up in the seat. He is at 90% for his height so he's really long.
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Eyes Wide Shut
replied January 9th, 2007
Especially eHealthy
Oni too...That's why we put her in the front facing.
It's waaay more comfy for her, and us. We don't have to practically sit on the dashboard when we get in the car!!! Lol...

Sarah
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Bridget
replied January 9th, 2007
Especially eHealthy
They're actually recommending you keep them rear-facing for longer than a year now. They can bend their legs or sit with them indian-style to fit properly.

Finn's going to reach 20 pounds before he's 1 but i'm still going to keep him rear-facing until then and then i'll go from there. I'd rather sit squished up by the dashboard than compromise his safety.

I'm not knocking anyone, i'm just saying what i'm going to do.

To quote my new favorite phrase, "to each their own"!
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ladylee70
replied January 9th, 2007
Extremely eHealthy
It looks like we will be buying a new baby car seat instead of using nathan's old one (3 years old). I can't believe only two passed!
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Eyes Wide Shut
replied January 9th, 2007
Especially eHealthy
Ummm....Alright.

I think that if .Oni's Dr. Would have told me "hell no! Don't do it till she's 1." I would wait. As he's an educated man and knows what's best for my baby at this point and time.

I've done research and that's the reason why I limit the amount of time she spends front facing.

I've tried to sit indian style for longer than 10 mins, and my feet fall asleep from lack of blood flow. You'd fell it'd be ok to do the same to a baba? How comfy if riding 45 mins indian syle??

To each their own...

Sarah
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Bridget
replied January 9th, 2007
Especially eHealthy
Little kids are flexible. I'd rather have his legs be a little stiff than have him be seriously injured in an accident.


I've done my research too.


Http://www.Car-safety.Org/rearface.Html


and I said I wasn't knocking anyone else's choices.
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Bridget
replied January 9th, 2007
Especially eHealthy
Disclaimer: this is not directed to anyone specifically, i'm posting it for everyone!

unfortunately, some carseat advocates and even some pediatricians are not fully aware of the important safety benefits that rear-facing carseats provide. Some still adhere to obsolete recommendations from many years ago. In fact, the policy statement from the american academy of pediatrics says, "children should face the rear of the vehicle until they are at least 1 year of age and weigh at least 20 lb to decrease the risk of cervical spine injury in the event of a crash. Infants who weigh 20 lb before 1 year of age should ride rear facing in a convertible seat or infant seat approved for higher weights until at least 1 year of age. If a car safety seat accommodates children rear facing to higher weights, for optimal protection, the child should remain rear facing until reaching the maximum weight for the car safety seat, as long as the top of the head is below the top of the seat back."
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Eyes Wide Shut
replied January 9th, 2007
Especially eHealthy
This is good info you've given. I knew about all of this prior to putting .Oni in a front facing seat.

When I state that I do it occasionally, it means that it's only used as means of emergency. Ie, .Baron takes the car and I need to leave the house for a Dr.S appt.

I will, though, continue to have her rear facing! Wink

i've gotten brakes slammed on my twice and hit someone in a frontal crash. According to your info, it's better in a rear seat for frontal crashes. But the facing of the baby makes no difference if you're rear ended...Kiinda strange.

I'm about to take some pics of .Oni! She passed out in her high chair!!!!!

Sarah
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Bridget
replied January 9th, 2007
Especially eHealthy
It's all physics. If you go to the link I posted it has all these stats for types of accidents and which happen more often.

I seriously wasn't trying to offend anyone or anything. I just want everyone's babies to be as safe as possible!


You'd better post those pics! The other night finn was sitting in his bumbo but facing away from me so he could watch nick. He kept slumping to the side and I just kept fixing him and sitting him back up and finally nick turned around and saw he was asleep! I felt bad that I just kept readjusting him and he was sleeping. Poor little guy!
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