I am looking for a website where you can see the crash test results for all of the different car seats. I MUST purchase another carseat for my LO. Right now we have 2 Graco Nautlis seats, but need a third for the nanny just to go around our small town. Money is a huge issue for us right now and I don't have a lot to spend, but I don't want to put my child at risk either. SO I am trying to figure out my best bang for my buck.
Thanks.
All car seats offered for sale must meet the minimum requirements for safety in the USA. Whether it is $30 or $200. All meet the requirements.
Consumer Reports has this info--do you subscribe?
Also you could look at: www.nhtsa.gov
Could you put one of the Nautiluses in the nanny's car and rotate the one between your 2 cars?
I find the Nautilus a fairly easy seat to move compared to some others we've had.
Just a thought...
Here is a site I like: http://www.car-safety.org/basics.html
But I have to admit I will never again purchase Evenflo and I also will not purchase Dorel (Cosco). (Those were on their list; and the Nautilus wasn't even there so I have to wonder how current it is.)
Because there is a huge difference between the different seat manufacturer's.)
HTH! GL!
http://www.car-seat.org is a good reference because many regulars there are certified child-passenger safety technicians (CPSTs) who have a lot of practical experience with car seat installations and usage (Consumer Reports can have helpful info on *car* selection but IMO they aren't the best reference for car seats as it isn't their area of expertise). Yes all seats on the market have to pass the same standards, but not all are equally easy to use and seats with the same *listed* height and weight limits could be outgrown at very different rates depending on what their top harness slot heights are.
CPSTs will have practical experience on which seats are easier to install in various vehicles and which ones will last longer before being outgrown (many seats are outgrown by *height* long before weight - depends on what the tallest harness setting of the seat is. the "height limits" stated on the car seat labeling are approximates b/c it's the child's *torso* height, not overall height, that determines whether or not a child still fits a harnessed seat by height - for a forward facing harnessed seat, the harness slots need to be at or slightly above the child's shoulders)
What is your child's age, weight, and torso height (seated distance from rear end to shoulder)? Post that info with your question at the forums of http://www.car-seat.org and they'll help you figure out what would give you the most bang for your buck.
We use Cosco from Walmart. They only cost about $50 or $60. Never had any problems.
