As you may have heard, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have released new car seat guidelines. The AAP and NHTSA now recommend the following:
- Keeping toddlers rear-facing until they’re two years old.
- Keeping kids in boosters until they’re 4 feet 9 inches (between 8 and 12 years of age).
- Kids under 13 should ride in the back seat.
That means some of you may have suddenly found yourselves in the market for a new seat. Here are a few tips to help you choose:
Choosing a Convertible Seat
We’ve seen several new high weight limit convertible car seats hit the market over the past year or so, and these new recs will no doubt encourage car seat makers to release even more models. The following sites offer recommendations, ratings and reviews of convertible seats:
- The NHTSA gives the following rear-facing convertible car seats an overall Ease of Use rating of 4/5 stars: Britax Advocate 70, Britax Boulevard 70, Britax Marathon 70, Evenflo Momentum 65 DLX with SureLatch, Evenflo Momentum 65 LX with Quick Connector, Graco MyRide65, Recaro ProRide. The The First Years True Fit Premier and the The First Years True Fit Recline are the only seats to get 5/5 stars.
- CarSeatSite.com likes the Combi Coccoro and the Cosco Scenera 40RF, Evenflo Triumph 65, and the First Years True Fit
- CarSeatBlog.com recommends the Britax Advocate, Cosco Scenera, Graco MyRide65, Sunshine Kids Radian XTSL, Safety 1st Complete Air 65 LX, First Years True Fit, Evenflo Triumph Advance 65 and a few others.
Seats that we see on multiple lists AND cost less than $200 include the budget-friendly Cosco Scenera 40RF ($63; rear faces to 35 lbs), Graco MyRide65 (lists for $159, rear faces to 40 lbs), Evenflo Triumph 65 ($140, rear faces to 40 lbs.), and First Years True Fit Recline (currently $152.84 at Amazon, rear faces to 35 lbs). The Britax Marathon 70 has gone below $200. It usually hovers around $220 (rear faces to 40 lbs).
Choosing a Booster
- For boosters, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gives a”Best Bet” rating to the following boosters: Cosco Juvenile Pronto, Britax Frontier 85, Clek Oobr, Graco TurboBooster Crawford, Maxi-Cosi Rodi XR, and Recaro Vivo. You can see the complete list here.
- The NHTSA gives a 5-star Ease of Use rating to boosters including Chicco KeyFit Strada, Compass B505, The First Years B570 Pathway, Magna Clek Oobr, Maxi-Cosi Rodi XR, Evenflo Big Kid Amp, Eddie Bauer Auto Booster (No Back).
- CarSeatBlog.com’s list of recommended high back boosters include Britax Parkway SG, Clek Oobr, Graco TurboBooster, and others.
- Some forward-facing only combination seats offer extended 5-point harnessing for older kids. Popular models include Graco Nautilus ($135, 5-pt harnessing to 65 lbs., and Britax Frontier (currently $209.99; 5-pt harnessing to 85 lbs.).
There is no perfect seat for every child. Ultimately, the seat that’s best is the one that fits your vehicle and your child well. For more info on car seats, check out Car-Safety.org’s “basics” page. CarSeatData.org lets you check the compatibility of your car with various seats.
What do you think of the new car seat safety recommendations?
Note: Target currently retails the 40lb RFing Scenera for $54.99.
Another great reference for things car seat related are the forums at car-seat.org
I, for one, am glad that the AAP has upped the recommendation for rear facing. it really is much safer and definitely doable with the new seats companies are coming out with. I have kids in the 90th percentile for height and these new seats accommodate that rather well. Love the MyRide, been wanting a TrueFit too.
While I understand the reasoning behind the recommendation, I think its not always as simple as following the recommendation. My son will be 2 next week and we were recommended to keep him rearfacing as long as possible, but the simple facts were that we have a small sedan and his carseat would not fit rear facing in our car unless it was in teh middle. And if we put it in the middle then his sister’s car seat wouldn’t fit in the car. So to fit both kids in our small car, it had to be forward facing. A van is on our list, so #3 will likely learn the joy of rear-facing far longer than the other two did.
I think the new recommendations are AWESOME!! I’ve been adhering to them for years and been called an overprotective nut lol! Yup, that meant my kindergardeners were still in a 5pt and my middle schooler is still in a booster! I’m so glad that the AAP is on board, now we just need to get these recommendations passed into law because there are still parents out there that won’t adhere unless forced.
I had the Graco MyRide 65 and it was pure garbage. The harness never really got tight enough. I will never buy another car seat that doesn’t say Britax on it.
Unfortunately, these new guidelines won’t make a bit of difference…many people completely disregard even the old guidelines of at least 1 year and 20 lbs. I see this going the same way.
Walmart has the SCENERA for $35!!!!
This is a great seat!!
It doesn’t surprise me that they recommend rear-facing until they’re two years old, our police station (and other sources) recommended that when they installed our seat. I’m always a little confused though. At what age can they be in a booster with just a seatbelt (without the 5 point harness)? Is it a height/weight thing or an age? I have a 3 1/2 old that we use the Frontier 85 with the 5 point harness. But I didn’t know if I could use a high back booster in our 2nd car (that only gets used a couple times a month).
I realize I am probably the only mom who thinks this and will probably get blasted for saying so, but 4 foot 9? Really? WIth no age limit? I know some adults who are that size. So they need to ride in booster? And I was a teacher for a long time, and MANY of my high school girls were that size. You tell me you are giong to get a high schooler to ride in a booster? nope. There needs to be some common sense about this stuff.
Oh my, this is getting ridiculous. What two year old wants to sit facing backwards into a car seat for hours on end, with no where to put their legs? Isn’t that considered torture in some countries?
And PLEASE…are they seriously suggesting that a 12 year old ride in a booster seat? Four foot nine is tall. I would never have ridden in a booster seat at 12 years old. I thought asking them to ride in them after 5 was ridiculous.
Maybe, just maybe, someone in the car-seat lobby has something to do with the ever lengthening list of who should ride in their seats. Pretty soon they’ll suggest that all adults ride in one! I, for one, plan to just use my own common sense on this one.
It’s not ridiculous, it’s about safety. And 2 year olds can rear face EASILY. Both my girls are ~90% for height and my oldest stayed rearfacing ’til she was 2 yrs, 9 months, and my youngest is still rearfacing at 2 years 2 months. The kids don’t think it’s uncomfortable, you just think they do. I think it’s actually more uncomfortable for them to forward face – my oldest always sits cross-legged in her seat because it’s comfier than letting her legs dangle.
It’s not considered torture in some countries, it’s considered the law. Some countries they rear face until they are 4! The next time you think it’s crazy, so seek out an insurance claims field adjuster. RF babies are 75% less likely to DIE in a collision.
I don’t know how I could fit my son rear facing until 2 years old. He is in a Britax Marathon and at about 15 months he had to spread his legs wide open to sit comfortably rear facing, otherwise he would swallow his knees. I could never find any adjustment to allow more legroom rear facing.
I don’t mind the new recommendations. I do, however, mind that they are putting out ages instead of just height and weight for car seats. My 14 month old is bigger than most two year olds I know, so he’ll hit his seat’s rear-facing HEIGHT limit well before he hits two. On the other hand, there are many smaller two year olds who would benefit from rear-facing beyond two years. Aiming for a law that sets age as the only factor (which, despite height and weight recommendations, is how it will happen) is forcing parents to sacrifice safety if their kid isn’t in the 50th percentile for height and weight before the age of two.
And while I understand the 4’9” recommendation for the booster seat, that’s one I’m glad they’re sticking an age on. Otherwise I would have been 16 and riding in a booster seat.
I also agree a lot more decisions in childcare should be based on weight and not age.
But I think the reason they say until age 2, is to allow full development of the spine/vertebrae. This usually happens by 2 years of age and adds significant support to the neck should they suffer whiplash.
@Stacy- Not all RF cars eats are created equal. My 38 (39?)” 2 yo has ample legroom in his Radian80. The Radians have a deeper seat than most which allows much more legroom.
Nicole, Most automobile manufacturers design vehicles for the average sized person, without much regard to those that are shorter or much taller. A seat belt on a person who is 4′ 9″ won’t be aligned properly and will not protect that person as well as someone who is 5′ 1″. The same can be said for someone who is 6’3″.
I know a few petite women who sit on cushions in order to see over the steering wheel and reach the pedal, even after the seat is pushed forward and up. And items like adjustable height pedals and telescoping steering wheels are pretty much only available on luxury vehicles.
Instead of complaing about “recommendations”, because they’re not laws, perhaps we should start demanding manufacturers design more vehicles that accomodate people of smaller heights, especially children. Some car companies already do a great job of that but others do not.
At the end of the day, each of us must do what we feel is best for our family. Unless they pass a law requiring everyone under 4′ 9″ use a booster seat, take the recommendation for what it is.
@Stacy – I have the same concern. We have the Britax Boulevard for our (very tall) 10 mos old daughter and it is in rear-facing position, but her feet are jammed up against the seat. I won’t be able to make it to two years rear-facing. Is that just a Britax issue? That’s unfortunate since they are supposed to be one of the best.
Does anyone know of a RF that would fit in a Civic? And under $100 if possible.
I’m not a fan of the 2 year old rule. My son had bad reflux and some babies have terrible nausea from reflux riding backwards. Every car ride was absolute hell. Turning him around helped quite a bit. He’s a big kid too and his legs were jammed into the back of the seat as it was. I’m not sure how realistic it is.
The other recommendations seem in line with safety though and trauma events so I’m glad that has been clarified and altered.
@ Eva – we have a 1997 2-door Civic and I can vouch that the Marathon 70 fits rear-facing just fine in the middle or behind one of the seats (but the main driver is only 5ft8in, not sure if it would work with a taller driver). Under $100, I can also vouch that the Cosco Scenera works rear-facing but we’ve only used that carseat in there twice (to get to/from the airport as that’s our travel seat).
Just a quick note to those asking about their childrens’ feet hitting the back of the seat if they RF (rear face) beyond 1 year…it’s perfectly okay for the kids to sit cross-legged, or let their legs hang to the sides, or tuck them up in a way that’s comfortable for them. Keeping their spines, necks, and heads safe is the most important reason to RF. The legs are okay! Here are two great videos that visually show you why it’s a great idea to keep your kids RF as long as possible – hope this helps!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8mFsXNXOLw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8gU9zzCGA8
This is not in reference to the new recommendations, but rather a question that I hope someone might be able to answer. We are making a switch to a car where we will need to use the car’s seat belts to secure the car seats as opposed to using LATCH. My son’s Nautilus has built in lock-offs and is very simple to get secure. My daughter’s Nautilus does not have the lock-off so I can not get a good tight fit without using the locking clip and it is still tough. Can anyone tell me what car seats have the built in lock-offs besides the Britax? And if you know where the best deal on one of them is, that would help, too! She is going to be four years old in two weeks, but is very tiny…weighing 33 pounds and about 36 inches tall so she should be in a five point harness for a while. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!