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For more information, see our Car Seat Buyer's Guide.
In order to 'educate parents and caregivers about child safety seat features and which are easy to use as well as to assist you in narrowing your choices by selecting the appropriate child safety seat for your needs,' the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has released ease of use ratings for child car seats. Under the new rating system, child restraints are given an overall ease-of-use rating at the 'A', 'B' or 'C' levels.
Remember that an 'A' rating doesn't mean that a car seat is safer than one with a 'B' or 'C' rating, but only that it is easier to use. A car seat that is easy to use may be less likely to be used incorrectly though, and so might be safer than a seat that is hard to use and is used improperly.
Here are the list of Forward Facing Car Seats that were rated, with their overall ease of use rating.
Combination Seat Ratings*
|
| Manufacturer and Model Name |
Model Number and
Date of Manufacture |
Harness Type |
Weight/Height Range |
Overall Ease of Use Rating |
|
Century/Graco Breverra Ascend SE (B)
|
44892LBRO (02-03-2003) |
high back |
30-100 lbs/35"-50" |
B |
|
Century/Graco Breverra Ascend SE (FF)
|
44892LBRO (02-03-2003) |
5pt |
30-40lbs/35"-43" |
B |
|
Century/Graco Next Step (B)
|
44912LCBX (02-22-2003) |
high back |
30-100lbs/35"-52" |
B |
|
Century/Graco Next Step (FF)
|
44912LCBX (02-22-2003) |
5pt |
20-40 lbs/27"-43" |
B |
|
Cosco/Dorel Alpha Omega (B)
|
22-150-BNG (02-04-2003) |
high back |
30-80 lbs/52" or less |
B |
|
Cosco/Dorel Alpha Omega (B)
|
22-180-WAL (02-05-2003) |
OH shield |
5-35lbs/52" or less |
B |
|
Cosco/Dorel Alpha Omega (FF)
|
22-150-BNG (02-04-2003) |
5pt |
22-40lbs/29"-40" |
B |
|
Cosco/Dorel Alpha Omega (FF)
|
22-180-WAL (02-05-2003) |
OH shield |
22-40lbs/29"-40" |
B |
|
Cosco/Dorel Alpha Omega (RF)
|
22-150-BNG (02-04-2003) |
5pt |
5-35 lbs |
B |
|
Cosco/Dorel Alpha Omega (RF)
|
22-180-WAL (02-05-2003) |
OH shield |
5-35 lbs |
B |
|
Cosco/Dorel Alpha Omega LX (B)
|
22-269-CRK (11-13-2002) |
high back |
30-80 lbs/52" |
B |
|
Cosco/Dorel Alpha Omega LX (FF)
|
22-269-CRK (11-13-2002) |
5pt |
22-40lbs/29"40" |
B |
|
Cosco/Dorel Alpha Omega LX (RF)
|
22-269-CRK (11-13-2002) |
5pt |
5-35lbs |
B |
|
Dorel Safety First (B)
|
22-500-WAL (11-12-2002) |
high back |
30-80 lbs/52" or less |
B |
|
Dorel Safety First (FF)
|
22-500-WAL (11-12-2002) |
5 pt |
22-40 lbs/29"-40" |
B |
|
Dorel Safety First Vantage Pt (B)
|
22-560-FLG (02-07-2003) |
high back |
30-100lbs/52" or less |
A |
|
Dorel Safety First Vantage Pt (FF)
|
22-560-FLG (02-07-2003) |
5 pt |
22-40 lbs/29"-40" |
B |
|
Dorel/Cosco Summit (B)
|
22-260-HOU (01-09-2003) |
high back |
30-100 lbs/38"-52" |
B |
|
Dorel/Cosco Summit (FF)
|
22-260-HOU (01-09-2003) |
5pt |
22-40lbs/29"-40" |
B |
|
Dorel/Cosco Ventura (B)
|
22-240-PEP (01-02-2003) |
high back |
30-80 lbs/38"-52" |
B |
|
Dorel/Cosco Ventura (FF)
|
22-240-PEP (01-02-2003) |
5pt |
22-40lbs |
B |
|
Evenflo Chase Comfort Touch (B)
|
3241346P1 (01-01-1900) |
high back |
30-80lbs/37"-54" |
A |
|
Evenflo Chase Comfort Touch (FF)
|
3241346P1 (02-23-2003) |
5pt |
20-40lbs/29"-43" |
B |
|
Evenflo Comet (B)
|
3221208P1 (02-20-2003) |
high back |
30-80lbs/37"-54" |
B |
|
Evenflo Comet (FF)
|
3221208P1 (02-20-2003) |
5pt |
20-40 lbs/29"-43" |
B |
|
Evenflo Express Combo (B)
|
3182198P1 (02-24-2003) |
high back |
30-80lbs/37"-54" |
A |
|
Evenflo Express Combo (FF)
|
3182198P1 (02-24-2003) |
5pt |
20-40lbs/29"-43" |
B |
|
Evenflo Express CT (B)
|
(07-18-2002) |
high back |
30-80 lbs/37"-54" |
B |
|
Evenflo Express CT (FF)
|
(07-18-2002) |
5 pt |
20-40lbs/29"-43" |
B |
|
Graco Cargo Platinum (B)
|
8489NVC (02-20-2003) |
high back |
30-80lbs/35"-54" |
B |
|
Graco Cargo Platinum (FF)
|
8489NVC (02-20-2003) |
5pt |
20-40lbs/27"-43" |
A |
|
Graco Treas. Cargo (B)
|
8486PRO (07-24-2002) |
high back |
30-80lbs/35"-54" |
B |
|
Graco Treas. Cargo (FF)
|
8486PRO (07-24-2002) |
5pt |
20-40lbs/27"-43" |
B |
|
Graco Ultra Cargo (B)
|
8487HEN (01-14-2003) |
high back |
30-80 lbs/35"-54" |
B |
|
Graco Ultra Cargo (FF)
|
8487HEN (01-14-2003) |
5pt |
20-40 lbs/27"-43" |
A |
*Notes:
- FF = Forward Facing
- RF = Rear Facing
- B = Booster
- Some seats got a different rating when they were used in the forward facing versus the rear facing position versus using it as a booster seat. For example, the Graco Ultra Cargo seat got a 'B' rating when used as a booster seat, but an 'A' in the forward facing position. In this case, it was likely because it was thought to be harder to install it as a booster seat versus using the 5 point harness.
Next page > Booster Seat Ratings > Page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Car Seat Safety Internet Resources:
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