Remember, the only way a car seat will keep your child safe is when it’s properly installed. Both the car seat and your vehicle have to have their respective components in order to use the LATCH system. Any vehicle made in the year 2000 or later will have tether anchors. One set can be found in the backseat tucked between where the seat and backrest meet . You will always find two anchors on both the passenger and driver side seats, and vehicles with only one row of seats in the back also have anchors for middle-seat installation. While all car seats sold in the United States are required to meet federal standards, there are additional safety features that can be helpful when buying a seat.
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links. This desirable feature in some models allows parents to recline the seat during naptime or prop it up to avoid reflux after a meal. The seat pad, harness straps, and buckle can be spot cleaned with water, a cloth, and mild soap. For tough stains, the seat pad can be removed and washed in a washing machine on the cold setting. The Graco Sequel 65 has a ten-year life span from the date of manufacture.
The seat is also LATCH-equipped, Side Impact Tested, and features convenient integrated cup holders. The 3rd row rear-facing seats are an intriguing option – and are for children who are at least 37 inches tall and short enough that the top of the child’s head can not contact the vehicle and who weigh between pounds. The 3rd row rear-facing seats remain as an option – and are for children who are at least 37 inches tall and short enough that the top of the child’s head can not contact the vehicle and who weigh between pounds. Check with the manufacturer to make sure you can get the right parts.
Always read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your car safety seat. If you do not have those, write or call the company’s customer service department. Staff will ask you for the model number, name of seat, and date of manufacture. The manufacturer’s address and phone number are on a label on the seat. Also, be sure to follow the instructions in your vehicle owner’s manual about using car safety seats. Some manufacturers’ instructions may be available on their websites.
There are certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians available by appointment or on call. We highly recommend this service, even if you feel like you have installation dialed in. The LATCH connectors and anchors are only part of the LATCH equation. Whether the straps are easy to tighten and loosen is also something to consider. As previously noted, the Clek Foonf doesn’t have straps for forward-facing installation, and the Chicco NextFit has its “SuperCinch” method with a 2-step tightening system engineered to do the hard work for you. We perform detailed tests on each seat over several months using a testing protocol developed for BabyGearLab by a National Highway Transportation Safety Administration certified Child Passenger Safety Technician.
From birth — until booster age, Baby Trend car seats will be here for your little one every step of the way. All Baby Trend car seats have been designed to meet the needs that parents value most and also exceed the most up to date safety standards. The LATCH system present in cars made after September 1, 2002, allows you to secure your car seat more safely and securely than using seat belts.
Graco SlimFit comes with sleek design that can save around 10% space in the backseat of the car. Graco SlimFit also comes with rotate-away cup holders to make it slimmer. We have shortly-reviewed Graco SlimFit and Graco Milestone then discussed about their differences. MomStart writer does a side by side comparison of Graco’s 4Ever and Milestone car seats.
Conversions, the Sequel 65 can convert from rear-facing to forward-facing. The 4Ever can convert from rear-facing to forward-facing, to highback booster, to backless booster. Additionally, since it doesn’t have a base, it can’t be moved easily from vehicle to vehicle or attached to a stroller. On theirRecall and Safety Notifications page, you can find a list of Graco products that have been recalled. To say up to date on any item that you’ve purchased from Graco, make sure that you register your product once you’ve received it.
The 5-point harness is ensures your little one stays snug and secure, and an integrated cup holder keeps baby’s drink secure too. The Contender 65 convertible car seat holds a rear-facing infant from 5-40 lb and a forward-facing toddler in its 5-point harness from lb. It easily grows with your child with the Simply Safe Adjust harness system, which automatically adjusts both the harness and headrest height. As parents, you want an infant car seat that will give you peace of mind. Your child deserves a seat that won’t fail and will give them the smoothest car trip possible.
If your vehicle doesn’t allow the LATCH method to be used in the center location, what is the best alternative? Should you use the center seat with a vehicle belt or the LATCH system on a side seat? One of the most critical aspects of seat installation is graco booster seat ensuring the car seat is securely and tightly anchored to the vehicle. All of the car seats we test passed the Federal minimum safety standards. Therefore, every seat has at least the basic level of crash safety protection required by US Federal law.