What is a child safety rating?

Parents love the idea of a child safety rating because such a rating makes it easier to assure their child’s safety by selecting the safest and best products.

Overall there is no comprehensive child safety rating that applies to all children’s products. Instead, there are a number of organization who issue ratings and it is up to the public to find this information, either in publications or online to find the child safety information they need to keep their child safe at home and while traveling.

Three organizations that issue “child safety” ratings are the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, (NHTSA) which is an agency of the U. S. Government; the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission another agency of the U.S. Government and Consumer Reports, an American magazine published monthly by Consumers Union, publishes reviews and comparisons of consumer products and services based on reporting and results from its in-house testing laboratory. Consumers Reports has approximately 4 million subscribers, and an annual testing budget of approximately $21 million U.S. The equivalent to Consumer Reports in the UK is called Which? Magazine.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA, often pronounced "nit-suh") is an agency of the Executive Branch of the U.S. Governement, part of the Department of Transportation. NHTSA describes its mission as “Save lives, prevent injuries, reduce vehicle-related crashes.”As such, NHTSA functions as both an information source and an investigatory body. Its responsibilities fall into three main areas. Research, Information and Education and funding other research.

In addition to its research efforts, NHTSA serves as a clearinghouse for safety-related information to the public. Since its funding is paid for by tax dollars, the agency has an obligation to serve the common good.

NHTSA funds internal studies on child safety seats, teen driver programs, new safety technologies and a host of other programs that monitor and seek to improve American safety on the road, both for children and adults; the ultimate goal being to reduce injuries and fatalities.

NHTSA commissions safety studies and gives grants to states and cities to conduct their own safety research. Under the purview of its mission statement, the agency has the authority to fund related projects.

Also, a number of universities, such as the University of Iowa, receive grants from NHTSA and DOT to finance various projects.
In addition to this, NHTSA gives money to such organizations as the AAA Foundation of Traffic Safety and other non-academic research facilities for ongoing safety research for child safety and adult safety as well...

NHTSA Child Safety Ratings

NHTSA's Ease of Use Ratings program strives to prompt child restraint system (CRS) manufacturers to improve their products and make them easier for consumers to use.

The purpose of the ratings program is to educate parents and caregivers about child safety seat features and to assist them in finding the appropriate child safety for their needs.
The majority of models rated for the first time during this testing season were awarded “A” ratings. This demonstrates that manufacturers are being particularly mindful of Ease of Use criteria as they are introducing new systems as well as continuing to improve upon previous designs.

Among the 2006 findings:

There were 99 different CRS selected from fourteen different manufacturers. Including the multiple modes from convertible and combination seats, there were 160 total ratings. This is a slight increase from 2005, where 92 CRS were selected with a total of 144 ratings.
In order for a seat to qualify as an overall “A”, it must receive an “A” rating in every possible mode. Out of the 99 CRS rated in 2006, 85 received an “A” for all of their modes, 9 received a “B” for all of their modes, and 5 had mixed scores of “A” and “B” among their different modes. The percentage of overall “A” ratings awarded increased almost 5% from 2005.
As in 2005, there were no child restraints that received an overall “C” rating. There were still several “C” scores within the categories, but the percentage of “C” scores was nearly the same as in 2005.
Three seats that were rated in previous years improved their overall scores from a “B” to an “A”. These seats were the Triple Play Sit ‘N Stroll (formerly manufactured by Safeline), Evenflo Big Kid (HB), and Evenflo Discovery.
A number of redesigned seats that were re-rated maintained their “A” ratings. In most cases, improvements were seen within categories that they had formerly been assigned “B” or “C” ratings in. These seats were the Cosco Alpha Omega 5pt, Evenflo Big Kid (No Back), Evenflo Embrace, Evenflo Discovery, Graco Comfort Sport, and Safety 1st Surveyor.

It can be very difficult to find the best child safety seat by reading a long list of products. That’s why NHTSA also provides this helpful advice:

Remember, the best child safety seat is the one that fits your child properly, is easy to use, and fits in your vehicle correctly. The best way to ensure a proper fit in your vehicle is to try installing the child seat before purchasing.

Be certain you've installed your child safety or booster seat correctly by having it checked at a child safety seat inspection station or by a certified child passenger safety technician. To find one near you, visit http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/CPS/CPSFitting or www.seatcheck.org. You can also call 1-888-DASH-2-DOT or 1-866-SEATCHECK.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $700 billion annually. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard or can injure children. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years

In the area of child safety, the CPSC publishes booklets on the topic of child safety and promotes the use of safety products such as helmets for biking and scooter riding.

Consumers Union

Consumers Union (CU), an expert, independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to work for a fair, just, and safe marketplace for all consumers and to empower consumers to protect themselves. To achieve this mission, we test, inform, and protect. To maintain our independence and impartiality, CU accepts no outside advertising, no free test samples, and has no agenda other than the interests of consumers. CU supports itself through the sale of our information products and services, individual contributions, and a few noncommercial grants.

How CU Tests for Safety

Consumer Union’s National Testing and Research Center, in Yonkers, N.Y., is the largest nonprofit educational and consumer product testing center in the world. They buy all the products that are used as test samples. Therefore their tests are always unbiased.
More than 100 testing experts work in seven major technical departments at CU--appliances, auto test, baby & child, electronics, foods, health & family, and recreation & home improvement, while more than 25 research experts work in three departments--product acquisition, product information, and statistics & quality management. In addition, we have more than 150 anonymous shoppers throughout the country.

Consumers Reports Magazine

Consumer Reports magazine alone has about 4 million subscribers. CU reaches millions more consumers through its website: ConsumerReports.org, their CR Money Adviser newsletter: their health newsletter and health Web site www.Consumerreportsonhealth.org, radio programs, and television programs.

How CU Protects Consumers

Consumer Union research and testing uncovered dangers that led to the Flammable Fabrics Act, the Child Protection and Toy Safety Act, and many product recalls, government standards, and regulations
Consumers Union operates three Advocacy offices--in Washington, D.C., Austin, Texas, and San Francisco--that work on consumers' behalf on such issues as health care, food safety, financial services, and product safety. They testify before Federal and state legislative and regulatory bodies, petition government agencies, and file lawsuits on behalf of consumers. The Consumer Policy Institute, at CU's Yonkers, N.Y., headquarters, conducts research and education projects on issues of importance to consumers such as biotechnology, food safety and labeling, recycling, and sustainable consumption. For more information, see visit consumersunion.org.

Summary

There is sufficient information available on any and all child safety products. Whether you want to know if a product, like a car sear or “child restraint system” can protect your child; or whether you want to see what toy has been fabricated with unacceptable levels of lead paint, this information is available. But it is up to you to find the right information and use it to assure the safety of your child. Visit the websites or consult the publications mentioned in this article; ask friends or associates who have children the same age as your children and finally employ common sense. At the end of the day, you must become the “child safety rating” expert for your child.