Jan. 16, 2007

Only two of 12 tested infant car seats can be recommended, says Consumer Reports magazine.
Most infant seats (for babies up to 22 pounds, typically) that meet federal infant-seat crash requirements fail when crash-tested at slightly higher speeds, says Consumer Reports in its February issue. Infant seats are supposed to withstand a 30 mph frontal crash. But cars themselves are crash tested at 35 mph (front) and 38 mph (side) and at those speeds, only two of 12 rear-facing seats held up. CR said infant car seats might get better faster if the government used star ratings as it does for car crash tests. About 100 children die in their first year in car accidents each year.



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