Convertible car seats
A well selected and properly installed seat can keep a child safe for several years
Car seats should be at the top of every new parent's to-buy list. Not only will you need one to take your baby home from the hospital, but for every car ride thereafter. Every state requires that children up to 4 years old be secured in a car seat while riding, and most require booster seats for older children.
Motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death for children under age 14 in the U.S. In 2007, of the 385 child passengers under age 4 who died in motor-vehicle crashes, 30 percent were riding unrestrained (see NHTSA crash test video of unrestrained infant).
Car seats can reduce fatalities of infants younger than one year by 71 percent and by 54 percent for children aged one to four years. (See our full coverage of all car seats.)
CR convertible-seat test key findings
- There was a wide disparity in how easy the seats were to properly install and fit into a variety of vehicle types.
- A recent study shows keeping children 23 months old and younger in a rear-facing position helps prevent severe injury.
- Our technicians found rear-facing car seat installations more difficult than forward-facing.
- Two seats, the Evenflo Triumph Advance and the Recaro Signo, cracked during testing but they—and all the seats we tested—still passed the federal standard for crash performance. Following Evenflo's modification of the mold for the Evenflo Triumph Advance, the seats were retested and did not crack.
Infant vs. convertible car seats
A rear-facing infant seat is the first stage. A built-in harness secures the infant, reclined at an angle typically between 30 and 45 degrees, to provide optimum protection in a crash without interfering with breathing. Infant seats can accommodate most children from birth up to about 22 lbs. or more. (See our infant seat Ratings.)
With its removable carrier and swing-up handle, an infant seat lets you move your baby in and out of the car without disturbing him. Though it might be a better value to jump into a convertible seat first, infant seats, by their design, tend to be more compact and secure infants better when compared to larger convertible models, which is why we recommend them as the first step.
Though convertible seats can be used for a newborn, they will likely fit better in an infant seat. Convertible seats are best for when a baby's weight reaches the infant seat's limit, which may be as early as 6 to 9 months old. Orienting the convertible seat in a rear-facing position until your baby is at least 1 year old and over 20 lbs. is a must. But new research shows that babies up to 23 months are better protected rear-facing (see Rear-facing longer is better). Eventually, you can "convert" the seat to face forward, and use it that way until your toddler reaches the seat's forward-facing height and weight limits. Overall, height requirements or limits for the convertible seats we tested ranged from 19 inches to 53 inches, and weight limits from 5 pounds to 80 pounds, so they can be used for several years. (Learn more about convertible car seats for kids up to 100 pounds.)
Our convertible car seat tests: Two models cracked
The Evenflo Triumph Advance convertible car seat cracked when we tested it in a simulated 30 mph frontal impact on the test sled in a rear-facing orientation with a 3-year-old sized dummy and three-point belt (see Our tests: What we looked for). The seat shell cracked completely where the shoulder belt exits the belt-path opening (see image at right). We retested it under the same conditions and got the same results. Though cracked, the lap portion of the belt did retain the seat on the test sled and no injury or excursion values as dictated by the test standard were exceeded.
During testing, it was discovered that the crack occurred on seats made from one of the two molds used to create the seat shell in an area where a small indent was included (see indent location in photo at right). After the test results were brought to Evenflo's attention, they quickly modified that mold, eliminating the small indent. Evenflo Triumph Advance seats manufactured after Dec. 4, 2008 were made with the corrected mold. In our retests of the corrected version, the seat did not crack.
Since a 3-point belt installation is not part of the federal standard, this model did not technically fail the standard. This seat also was one of the higher-rated seats for ease-of-use and fit-to-vehicle in our tests. However, since 3-point belts are a common method of installation in current vehicles, our testers felt the cracking of the shell in the seats made on or before Dec. 4, 2008 was less than optimal, despite the functionality of the seat. We recommend either a post-Dec.4, 2008 model that earned a Very Good rating or another top-performer in our Ratings. If you own an Evenflo Triumph Advance made on or before Dec. 4, 2008 that includes the indent feature (see images below for where to find the manufacturing date) and plan to use it rear-facing with a child who weighs more than 22 pounds, we recommend you install it using LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) or a lap-belt (not a 3-point belt). Seats made after Dec. 4, 2008 can be used forward- or rear-facing using seatbelts or LATCH.
The Recaro Signo cracked in simulated 30 mph frontal crash tests on the test sled where the LATCH bar meets the seat shell when tested in a rear-facing position with a 3-year-old (35.65 lb.) dummy and LATCH installation. (See image at right.) We retested it under the same conditions and got the same results. Although the LATCH installation is part of the federal standard, this seat also does not fail the standard because the shell did not crack completely, and because the location of the crack would not come into contact with the child. The seat performed very well under other crash test conditions, but since it had low scores for ease-of-use and fit-to-vehicle, it scored only Fair overall. Models of this seat made between February 1, 2008 and September 30, 2008 have been recalled due to a potential problem with a harness strap adjuster.)
When in doubt, throw it out
The results from the Evenflo Triumph Advance and Recaro Signo tests reinforce the message that it's best not to re-use any car seat that has been in a crash, whether or not it shows visible cracks. After our tests, even models that were not visibly cracked were still potentially compromised: Plastics were visibly stressed, internal structures and bars were bent or changed position, and parts that help create a taut, secure fit became pinched or difficult to use.
The federal crash standard: Realistic to today's vehicles?
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213, which governs requirements for child restraints, was introduced in 1971. Though it was updated in the last few years, our technicians have found that it isn't representative of current vehicles. Our engineers note that in order to be representative, the "bench"-style seat used should be more contoured and have a firmer cushion. The standard also uses two-point belts instead of the three-point lap-and-shoulder belts found in contemporary passenger vehicles. Finally, the standard lacks a side-impact test. While improvement in the standard is needed, car seats are still effective when properly installed. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, properly used safety seats decrease the risk of death by 71 percent for infants and 54 percent for toddlers. They are often installed improperly, however. (Go to the American Academy of Pediatrics Web site for car seat installation tips, and see car seat installation tricks of the trade for more information.)
