NHTSA’s Ease-of-Use Ratings let you compare how easy it is to use certain car seat features so you can make informed decisions about the right car seat.
Using the Car Seat Finder, just enter your child’s age, height and weight, then click on “View Detail” in the “Ease-of-Use Ratings” column next to the car seat brand, model and mode (position).
Each mode has its own rating. Here’s how they rate it:
A child restraint is assessed under each mode (rear-facing, forward-facing, and booster) of proper use and is awarded both an individual category rating and an overall rating.
For each mode, child restraints are individually assessed on the following four categories:
- Evaluation of Labels: Examines the content and clarity of the labeling attached to the child restraint.
- Evaluation of Instructions: Examines the content and clarity of the instruction manual for the restraint.
- Securing the Child: Examines the ease of using features that pertain to securing a child correctly in the restraint.
- Vehicle Installation Features: Examines the ease of using features that pertain to installing the child restraint in a vehicle.
For more information on this, go to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website.