Infant and Baby Needs

As a parent myself, I understand how frustrating it can be trying to find the best, and safest booster seat available. There are so many to choose from, all of which claim to be safe, but it seems that safety can sometimes take a back seat to, ease of use, or length of use. This is where I get frustrated. I don't care how easy it is to install, I don't care if it comes with cup holders or pretty colors, I want to know if it's SAFE! Now I know I'm not the only one that feels this way, so I decided to do a little research and this is what I found.

Are Booster Seats tested by the Federal Government?

Yes they are. In fact, the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) is responsible for administering these tests. The Federal Government regulates them. The current standard for crash testing car seats is a 30 mph sled test. In other words, they use a sled with a bench seat attached, not an actual vehicle, and they crash it at 30 mph. They say that these crash tests are actually considered to be more severe than 97% of real-life crashes.

How do you know if a booster seat has passed this test?

If it's currently for sale in the U.S., then it has passed to test. Unfortunately, the actual results from these tests are not made public, so all we know is that they passed. Now, keep in mind that these crash tests are only designed to simulate a front-collision crash. The Federal Government does not test for side-impact collisions.

So, why do you see "Side-Impact Tested" certifications on car seats and boosters seats?

Manufacturer's have taken it upon themselves to test their own car seats and booster seats for side-impact collisions, that's where those certifications come from. These tests are not regulated by the Federal Government, but they do give parents added reassurance. Can we trust these manufacturers? I'd say yes, if the manufacturer is well-known. Some companies, like Britax, are very open with their crash test results, and in some cases even post YouTube video's of the actual sled tests. I personally, like the fact that they've stepped up to the plate. From what I understand, the NHTSA is currently working to design a side-impact test that will be regulated by the Federal Government, but until then, I say we should take whatever extra reassurance we can get.

What does "BEST BET Booster Seat" mean, and who comes up with these ratings?

The answer is, the IIHS (Insurance Institute For Highway Safety). They are a non-profit organization that basically researches vehicle crashes in the U.S. and tries to figure out how to prevent them, or how to minimize casualties and/or injuries if prevention fails. They've also taken it upon themselves to test for booster seat safety. Their tests do not involve any sleds, or even crashes, they basically check to see if the seat offers a good belt fit. Vehicles, and vehicle seat belts are designed for adults, not children, and a booster seat is supposed to boost your child up, putting them in the correct path to be properly belted in by the vehicles seat belts. Placement of the lap and shoulder belts is extremely important when it comes to minimizing injury in the event of a crash, and the IIHS wants to see if manufacturers are designing their belt guides correctly. The highest score is a "BEST BET" fit, meaning that both the lap and shoulder belts are guided correctly, and fit properly. The lowest score would be a "NOT RECOMMENDED", in this case they would have discovered that the belt path was wrong for both the shoulder and the lap belt. To fit properly, the lap belt must fit snugly across the dummies thighs, not their stomach, and the shoulder belt must fit snugly across the dummies chest, and the middle of the shoulder, not their neck or face.

Click here to see IIHS's most recent Booster Seat Evaluations.

For a list of some of the safest booster seats available, visit http://TheBestCarSeatsReviews.com. Read full in-depth reviews, compare prices and features, and watch video demonstrations.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tasha_Franklin
http://EzineArticles.com/?Safest-Booster-Seats---How-To-Tell-If-A-Booster-Seat-Is-SAFE&id=6776673