Baby Bargains Book Blog

Experts: Toddlers belong in rear-facing car seat until age 2

The American Academy of Pediatrics is now recommending toddlers stay rear-facing in car seats until age 2, according to a report released today. (See below for full report).

The AAP reports: 

Recent data shows why toddlers between ages 12 and 23 months who ride rear-facing in a car safety seat are more than five times safer than those riding forward-facing in a seat.

This replaces a previous recommendation that toddlers be rear-facing until age one. Other safety experts recommend rear-facing for "as long as possible"---this is the first report that specifies age 2.

The only hitch to this recommendation: some car seats won't be able to safely hold a two-year-old rear-facing. Why? According to CDC growth charts, the average weight of a 24 month old baby is 28 pounds (boys) and 26.5 pounds (girls). (FYI: We corrected these figures after a reader below pointed out our initial post overstated these numbers---we apologize for that).

While most convertible car seats work to 35 pounds rear-facing, a few models still only go to 30 or 33. Example: Combi's new Cocorro convertible seat only goes to 33 pounds. And the Combi Zeus is only 22 pounds rear facing. Most Britax seats, however, are 35 pounds rear-facing.

And remember that the 27-28 pound weight of a 2 year old is the MEDIAN figure---or 50th percentile weight. The biggest babies (100th percentile) would be close to 34 pounds by the time they hit their 2nd birthdays.

Bottom line: be sure you get a car seat that works rear-facing to at least 35 pounds. 

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Above, we posted a link to a summary of this report that is on the AAP web site. The actual article in the AAP news is on their subscription-only part of their web site (that is, not viewable by the public). Since we've received so many queries about this today, we are reprinting the entire report below:

New advice: Rear-facing car seats safer for children until they are 2

by Lori O’Keefe • Correspondent

Toddlers between the ages of 12 and 23 months who ride rear-facing in a car safety seat are more than five times safer than toddlers in that same age group who ride forward-facing in a car seat.

Overall, children under the age of 2 are 75% less likely to die or experience a serious injury when they ride in a rear-facing car seat, according to the first U.S. data to substantiate the benefits of toddlers riding rear-facing until they are almost 2 years old (Henary B, et al. Inj Prev. 2007;13:398-402).

There is a common myth that rear-facing toddlers whose feet reach the back of the vehicle seat are more likely to suffer injuries to the lower extremities in a car accident, according to a commentary co-written by Marilyn J. Bull, M.D., FAAP, AAP District V chair and one of the co-authors of the study. However, lower extremity injuries are rare with rear-facing seats, Dr. Bull wrote in the commentary (Bull MJ, Durbin DR. Pediatrics. 2008;121:619-620).

Rear-facing seats are more likely to support the back, neck, head and pelvis because the force of a crash is distributed evenly over the entire body. Forward-facing children are more likely to be injured because the force of the crash is concentrated on seat belt contact points, and younger children’s heads are disproportionately large for their small, weak necks, according to the study.

“I teach my medical students that parents worry about leg injuries but that it is far better to send children to orthopedic specialists to have lower extremities treated than to send them to neurological specialists to have cervical spine injuries treated,” said Dr. Bull. “I put it into the context of rehabilitation potential: fracture vs. paralysis.”

In Sweden, children ride in rear-facing seats until the age of 4, which has been proven to be 90% effective compared to children who ride unrestrained. However, car seats are engineered differently in Sweden to allow older toddlers to remain rear-facing longer.

“Since motor vehicle injuries are the leading cause of death in children, the Academy must do whatever it can to educate our members and the general public about the safest ways for children to ride in motor vehicles,” said AAP President David T. Tayloe Jr., M.D., FAAP. “We should make sure all of our members know to encourage parents to keep their children in rear-facing car seats as long as they do not exceed the size limits of the car seats.”

Dr. Bull noted that it takes less than 30 seconds to tell parents that children are five times safer riding rear-facing until their second birthday — a statistic that is likely to stick with parents.

 

Chicago Tribune: 31 infant car seats failed in unpublished government crash tests

The Chicago Tribune recently reported that unpublished government crash tests showed 31 of 66 infant car seats separated from their bases or exceeded injury limits. Link.

The government ran the tests, but never published the data---or even informed many car seat makers of the concerns. 

Why did so many infant car seats fail? The government's tests were more severe than the usual tests that car seat makers use. Infant car seats are tested on a bench seat in a 30 mph head on crash. But these government tests used actual vehicles in 35 mph crashes, both frontal and side impact.

Three specific seats were cited in the report: The Combi Centre/Shuttle, which was recalled and redesigned after failing the government test. Also the Britax Companion "exceeded injury limits"---that seat is now discontinued but still for sale on some sites. The Graco SafeSeat also was cited in the report as flying off its base during a crash---Graco disputes that report and says the government didn't properly secure the seat.

The Evenflo Discovery also failed the tests---and this led to a recall of 1 million Discovery infant seats last year.

Of course, the big question here is: why didn't government make public these crash tests? And are the current bench seat tests accurate in assessing car seat safety?

NHTSA recalls Recaro Signo for defective strap

Child Restraint Brand Name / Model or Model No.:     Production Dates:     RECARO / SIGNO     FEB 01, 2008 - SEP 30, 2008 Manufacturer: RECARO NORTH AMERICA, INC. Mfr's Report Date: FEB 27, 2009 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 09C002000 NHTSA Action Number: N/A

Component: CHILD SEAT: HARNESS

Potential Number of Units Affected: 5444

Summary:   RECARO NORTH AMERICA, INC. IS RECALLING 5,444 SIGNO CHILD RESTRAINT ASSEMBLIES MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUAY TO SEPTEMBER 2008. THE CENTRAL FRONT ADJUSTER STRAP ON SOME SEATS MAY SLIP WITHIN THE METAL ADJUSTER (A LOCK) THAT CONTROLS TIGHTNESS OF THE HARNESS AND MAY PREVENT THE HARNESS FROM BEING PROPERLY TIGHTENED.

Consequence:   IF THIS CONDITION EXISTED AND A VEHICLE CRASH OCCURRED, THE CHILD WOULD NOT BE PROPERLY SECURED IN THEIR CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM AND MAY SUSTAIN INJURY.

Remedy:   RECARO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE ANY DEFECTIVE CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH 2009. OWNERS CAN CONTACT RECARO CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-888-473-2290.

Notes:   OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TOHTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .

RECALL: Peg Perego Primo Viaggio infant car seat

As we reported back in November, Peg Perego found some of their infant car seats had sharp edges that cut some babies. We have now of the official recall:

Child Restraint Brand Name / Model or Model No.:     Production Dates:     PEG PEREGO / PRIMO VIAGGO SIP (JACADI)     JUL 01, 2007 - MAR 14, 2008     PEG PEREGO / PRIMO VIAGGO SIP 30/30     JUL 01, 2007 - MAR 14, 2008 Manufacturer: PEG PEREGO USA, INC. Mfr's Report Date: DEC 22, 2009 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 09C001000 NHTSA Action Number: PE08049

Component: CHILD SEAT

Potential Number of Units Affected: 32641

Summary:   THE PLASTIC ADJUSTMENT COVER ON CERTAIN PEG PEREGO PRIMO VIAGGO SIP 30/30 INFANT CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JULY 1, 2007 AND MARCH 14, 2008, COULD HAVE AN EXPOSED MOLD FLASH WITH A SHARP EDGE. THE MODEL NUMBERS OF THE AFFECTED SEATS ARE PEG PEREGO IMUN00US32MD41KN41, IMUN00US35CR13BU13, IMUN00US35CR13PL46, IMUN00US35CR24BU24, IMUN00US35TL49KN53, IMUN00US35TL53KN46, IMUN00US61FG13ST53, IMUN00US61FG53ST49, IMUN00US61FG53ST64, IMUN00US61ST13IC53, IMUN00US61ST34IC53, IMUN00US61ST48IC53, AND JACADI MODEL NO. IMCB00JA57RJ31JU31.

Consequence:   THE SHARP EDGE OF THE FLASH COULD CAUSE CUTS, SCRATCHES, OR ABRASIONS ON THE FEET OR LEGS OF BARE-FOOTED INFANTS.

Remedy:   PEG PEREGO WILL NOTIFY REGISTERED OWNERS AND PROVIDE A FREE REPAIR KIT. THIS SAFETY CAMPAIGN BEGAN DURING APRIL 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PEG PEREGO TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-671-1701.

Notes:   PEG PEREGO HAS NOT MADE A DECISION THAT THESE UNITS CONTAIN A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT, HOWEVER PEG PEREGO IS PROVIDING A FREE REPAIR KIT. CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .

Safety notice: Perego Primo Viaggio 30-30 infant set has defective strap

After a reader posted this item to our message boards (claiming a defective strap had cut her child), we asked Peg Perego if in fact there was a problem with their Primo Viaggio infant car seat. 

Here is their reply:

Over the past few months, Peg Perego learned of a few incidents where infants have received scratches and minor bleeding to their lower legs while sitting in a Primo Viaggio 30-30 car seat. We have not heard of any instances where professional medical care was required.  
 
We immediately inspected all of the car seats in inventory and discovered that on some Primo Viaggio 30-30 seats, the interior edge of the plastic adjuster strap cover had minor excess flashing (a molding situation where excess plastic leaks from the mold and creates an unintended edge on the component). Our inspectors did not find any seats where the flash was sharp enough to fail the “sharp edge” safety test procedure. We immediately revised the mold to eliminate this problem.
 
NHTSA has been notified about the problem and Peg Perego is working with them for a formal/legal solution to resolve it.
 
We have also undertaken an informal solution by providing our consumers with an immediate solution for this problem.  We have provided this information to bloggers and we will place this Customer Notification information on our web site:
 

Replacement part available for Primo Viaggio SIP 30/30

A new adjuster cover has been sent to all consumers who have registered their Peg Perego Primo Viaggio SIP 30/30 car seat, manufactured between July 2007 and March 2008.                                   

Peg Perego has sent and will continue to send a new improved adjuster cover to any consumer calling about this problem                                                              

 Toll-Free number to call:  1-800-671-1701.

We have taken this voluntary action because a mold flash, creating a rough edge, may exist on some of the car seat adjuster covers manufactured between July 2007 and March 2008.

The part in question has scratched the heels of a very small percentage (less than π of 1%) of babies who were not wearing socks. In all reports, the scratches were minor and did not need professional medical attention.

Peg Perego takes each and every concern seriously, and responds proactively to help keep your baby as safe and secure as possible. 

Update: We also asked Perego about the parent's allegations that the seat accidently detached from the stroller. Here is their response:

We’ve had very few instances where consumers reported that their Primo Viaggio car seat became unintentionally detached from and fell out of the stroller. 

All of these reports were investigated; we’ve had some of the products returned to us where we inspected them in our certified safety lab and we statistically sampled and inspected identical products from the same production batch. We have never been able to duplicate an unintentional detachment, when the car seat was installed according to the instructions. We advise consumers that after they attach the car seat in the stroller, they should lift up on the car seat handle to insure that it is attached. We are in the process of rewriting this instruction to be so that it will not be overlooked.
  

RECALL: Chicco infant seat, travel systems

On the heels of the disappearing Jardine cribs, we have another mystery at Babies R Us: what's up with Chicco's KeyFit infant seat? The seat (and the corresponding Cortina travel system) have disappeared at BRU, say readers:

I've been trying to buy my Chicco base and can't find one anywhere. I talked to someone at Babies R Us this afternoon (in Indianapolis, where I live) who told me that they got a memo from corporate this weekend to remove all travel systems, bases and car seats from the sales floor immediately. They were not told why, but this employee suspects that there is an issue and/or investigation into the bases because all products with bases were removed but products without bases (such as strollers) are still on the floor.

Here's the news, straight from Chicco:

I can confirm a voluntary recall of Chicco KeyFit and KeyFit 30 car seat bases, which was formally announced a short while ago this afternoon. I've attached a copy of the Chicco press release so you can see the various specifics. Nationwide, only about 18,000 car seat bases manufactured between February 26, 2008 and March 17, 2008 may be affected.
 
Recall information has been posted on the wire and on a Chicco recall Web site (chiccocarseatrecall.com), and this information will surely appear on car seat safety and government sites. Chicco will be sending all affected consumers a replacement car seat base, and consumers have been directed to a call center at 800-807-8817 to learn how they can receive this base.    
 
Chicco sincerely regrets this manufacturing defect and the inconvenience this recall may cause consumers.
 

Graco readying new version of SnugRide infant seat

A Graco PR person emailed us this heads up: Graco plans to announce shortly that it will be debuting a new version of its popular SnugRide car seat. The new SnugRide will have a higher weight limit . . . but no other details are known yet.

So if you were planning to buy a SnugRide car seat, you might want to wait a bit.

Stay tuned. We will blog on this as soon as we learn more.

Britax debut's new seat: the Frontier with harness up to 80 lbs

Yes, it is official: Britax has announced a new seat aimed at the 5-point harness, older toddler market: the Frontier.

While we were signing books at Great Beginnings in MD this weekend, the Britax reps there had a Frontier prototype to show off---yes, the first time the Frontier has been spotted out in the wild.

Is Britax feeling the Graco Nautilus heat? Take a look at the Frontier's specs:

• Forward-facing seat 25 lbs to 80 lbs. Belt-positioning booster to 100 lbs.
• Designed for kids at least two years and 25 pounds---standing height 30"-53" for the harness, 42" to 60" in height for the belt-positioning booster
• Side impact protection.
• Nine (wow!) harness slots, with the top slot at 18.25 inches (we measured it on the prototype). Three crotch strap positions.
• Four fashions (two-toned with black as the base: tan, grey, red, pink).
• Available: mid May.
  

So, what's not to love? Well, the price is (are you sitting down?) $280. Yes, you can almost buy TWO Graco Nautiluses for the price of one Britax Frontier.

But, the Britax does have the side impact protection missing in the Nautilus. And Britax's five-point harness works to 80 pounds (the Nautilus only to 65 pounds).

Here's our take: while we do like the five-point harness for older toddlers, the difference between 65 lbs and 80 lbs is meaningless. Why? Let's look at when the average kid hits 65 pounds: for "average" kids that is age NINE. When do kids hit 80 pounds in weight? Age 11.

Now folks, we seriously doubt many nine year old kids (third graders) will be willing to riding in a Britax Frontier "baby seat" with a five-point harness. Ditto for 11 year olds (fifth graders).

That doesn't mean the five-point harness is without merit---we LOVE the five-point harness for older toddlers, especially those three, four and five year olds who have outgrown their convertible seats . . . but who may not be mature enough to sit in a belt-positioning booster. BUT,  the difference between 65 pounds and 80 pounds is mostly hype, since most kids will have long graduated to the belt-positioning booster before you hit those weights.

Given that factor and the Britax's huge price tag, we think the Graco Nautilus is a better bet.

Shhhh! Secret Britax online sale starts Feb 24

Sure, we love Britax car seats . . . but the prices can be hard to swallow.

Well, here's a little secret about Britax: twice a year, Britax relaxes its draconian Internet Pricing Policy and lets online retailers hold a sale. (Britax forbids online retailers from regularly discounting their products; stores like Babies R Us can discount whatever they like). Yes, it is crazy and makes no sense, but there you have it.

Good news: the first 2008 Britax sale is next week! Starting February 24, you can save big time on Britax seats.

Examples, from the folks at BabyCatalog.com: Marathon's for $209 (reg: $269), Boulevard $238 (reg. $289), Decathlon $226, Roundabout, $179, Monarch, $119, Regent, $209. And those prices include FREE shipping and NO sales tax to all states.

Of course, most other big Britax online sellers are having sales too, including Albee Baby, Baby Universe and more. If you can't buy  now, there probably will be another sale in September (but no guarantees, as Britax could change its policy at any time).

Post the best deals you find to our comments section below! And the let savings begin!

Reader mail: Combi disappoints

Reader Laurie D. writes in today about her experiences with Combi's car seats and strollers:

Hi Mr. & Mrs. Fields,

I just wanted to give you some feedback on Combi products.  With my first child I bought the combi savvy.  It was AWFUL!!!  After only a couple of months the whole frame bent where only three of the wheels touched down.  My son is light (weighs in the 40th percentile). 

When I had my second child I was cautiously optimistic that my first experience was a fluke.  So I purchased the Combi Centre infant seat and double stroller because of the light weight.  The infant seat is very heavy and was EXTREMELY hard to install (which is a common complaint on the babies r us website) 

The stroller (definitely not the infant seat) was significantly lighter than most of the other double strollers but this too was constructed so poorly.  The middle wheels which are supposed to make navigating the stroller easier, made it impossible to push.  The middle wheels would go in one direction and the front wheels would go in another.  With the infant seat attached, I could barely push the stroller with two hands, let alone with one which when you have an armful of bags is what you normally have to do.  Also, when you have the infant seat attached, the basket below is completely unusable. 

I would give both the single and double strollers and F rating and the infant seat a D+.

I hope this input was helpful. Thanks for your time.

Laurie D.