Questions about side impact protection...

[typeamom]

I am looking at a few different carseat models, and one of them has the side impact protection and the others don't. Is it really safer? If it is so desirable, than why doesn't every carseat have it - it doesn't seem like it would be neccessarily more expensive to do it? Is it a relatively new feature - have some models not caught on yet? Or is it left as an optional feature because some parents/kids don't like the obstruction of the side impact protection?

Also, the salesperson told me you really should have it if the carseat isn't going to be installed in the middle position of the backseat - I don't follow the logic here. Isn't the side impact supposed to help absorb the brunt of the force from being hit on the side of the vehicle - isn't that function the same no matter what seat you are in? Please explain if you have any further information on this matter. We have a Honda Element where there are only 2 seats in the back, so the carseat HAS to go on one side. So if what the salesperson said is true, we will definately get the side impact protection if neccessary.

(We are deciding between a Britax marathon and boulevard and aren't necessarily that concerned about the price at this point).

thanks

	Britax car seats Britax International has been producing reliable child safety products for over 30 years. Not only does Britax have decades of experience creating car seats and other children's safety equipment, Britax has a long standing reputation as an industry leader and innovator. Britax International is headquartered in the United Kingdom, but Britax car seats are designed and manufactured at facilities in Germany, Austria, and the United States. In the summer of 2002, Britax strengthened their commitment to creating the safest car seats with the opening of a brand new, state-of-the-art crash testing facility in North Carolina. Britax car seats have a reputation around the world for being some of the safest, most reliable, and best designed child safety seats ever made. Ready to buy a Britax seat? Please support our sponsor!

	Britax Marathon - Click for more info Increasing the time a child can safely stay in their convertible car seat is a big issue and Britax engineers have come through in a big way with the introduction of the Britax Marathon with LATCH. A LATCH Compatible Convertible Child Seat, the Britax Marathon can be used rear facing 5 to 33 pounds and forward facing from 20 to 65 pounds. Compare the numbers and you will see it is hard to find a seat with these weight limits that is safe and functional. Ready to buy a Britax Marathon? Please support our sponsor!

	Britax Boulevard - Click for more info It is all about the wings with the Britax Boulevard convertible car seat - head and torso safety wings help keep your child from harm in a side-impact crash. And this matters - side-impact crashes are the leading cause of death for 6 - 14 year-old children. Of course, the safety wings are only one of the many safety features that the Britax Boulevard offers: built-in lock-offs, 5-point harness with front adjuster, tangle-free webbing, a push button release LATCH system with Versa-Tether®, and a sculpted base, ensuring an easy installation with a secure fit. Ready to buy a Britax Boulevard? Please support our sponsor!

[Papooses]

Originally Posted by typeamom

Is it really safer?

Yes, crash testing does show that side impact protection features (very deep side "wings" filled with energy absorbing EPS/EPP foam) does reduce risk of injury ... however, every correctly used 5-point harness carseat is very safe (especially rear-facing).

If it is so desirable, than why doesn't every carseat have it - it doesn't seem like it would be neccessarily more expensive to do it? Is it a relatively new feature - have some models not caught on yet? Or is it left as an optional feature because some parents/kids don't like the obstruction of the side impact protection?

The U.S. simply does not have any side impact safety standards for carseats yet (perhaps since the majority of crashes are frontal). Britax, Recaro, Compass & a few other companies who also conform to European standards do perform side impact testing on their own, but U.S.-based companies like Graco, Evenflo & Dorel Juvenile (parent company of Cosco, Safety 1st & Eddie Bauer) do not to my knowledge. European carseats are not necessarily better than American carseats, though: using foreign carseats that do not meet U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards is illegal & could also be dangerous due to compatability issues betwen vehicle/carseat designs.

IME, the only kids who have "issues" with the head wings are only sometimes those either diagnosed with sensory disorders or who have parents that talk down the wings (kids with parents who play up the comfort of the wings for resting, etc. generally like them a lot)

Isn't the side impact supposed to help absorb the brunt of the force from being hit on the side of the vehicle - isn't that function the same no matter what seat you are in?

The center is the farthest point from impact, so ideally we want the child there (assuming there's only 1 child: it becomes another safety discussion altogether when more children are involved). During side impact crashes the other vehicle may enter the seating area by about 1 foot or more -- however, the safest place to install the carseat is any backseat location that provides the most secure correct installation (less than 1" movement at the LATCH or seatbelt path as per both carseat + vehicle manuals). When the carseat must be installed outboard, then side impact protection does become more important, but not so much if the vehicle has rear side curtain airbags

	Britax car seats Britax International has been producing reliable child safety products for over 30 years. Not only does Britax have decades of experience creating car seats and other children's safety equipment, Britax has a long standing reputation as an industry leader and innovator. Britax International is headquartered in the United Kingdom, but Britax car seats are designed and manufactured at facilities in Germany, Austria, and the United States. In the summer of 2002, Britax strengthened their commitment to creating the safest car seats with the opening of a brand new, state-of-the-art crash testing facility in North Carolina. Britax car seats have a reputation around the world for being some of the safest, most reliable, and best designed child safety seats ever made. Ready to buy a Britax seat? Please support our sponsor!

	Graco car seats Graco is one of the world's best known and most trusted juvenile products companies. They started the entire juvenile products industry with an invention called the Graco Swyngomatic. Since then they have invented products that have changed the way that parents travel with their children such as the travel system, which has made it so parents can lock an infant car seat into a stroller easily, without waking their sleeping baby. Their Graco SnugRide Infant Car Seat is pretty much synonymous with the term “infant car seat” because of its safety and design features coupled with its affordability. Today Graco continues designing and developing top-quality products that inspire parents and keeps children safe. Check out the new Infant Safe Seat Step 1 and Toddler Safe Seat Step 2 for proof of Graco’s continued commitment to child safety. Ready to buy a Graco car seat? Please support our sponsor!

	RECARO With over 100 years of company history and long standing experience in vehicle seat construction RECARO knows how to make long journeys a pleasure for the whole family. Materials, design and technical highlights ensure a pleasant journey for adults and children alike. RECARO uses its strength as the premier mobile seat manufacturer to engineer an innovative line of products for your children. No other manufacturer can apply experience from production vehicles, commercial vehicles, and race cars to design toward the comfort and safety of children. For more info, visit RecaroChildSeat.com

	the First Years formerly Compass - Click for more info Compass was founded by a group of fathers who had spent years in the corporate world developing child care products. Disillusioned with the slew of problems that come with working for a giant conglomerate, this group set out the make their own mark on the child care industry in 2003. Compass' first innovative booster seat, the B500, started shipping in January of 2004. This was the first foldable belt-positioning booster on the market, and its design was so praised by the industry that Compass received a Juvenile Products Manufacturing Association (JPMA) Innovation Award 5 months after its release. The great minds at Compass have now taken the next step with their success by releasing some fantastic infant car seats and compatible strollers, all of which are designed with the same innovative simplicity that make Compass Boosters such a sought after product. No longer just "The Booster People", Compass is making a serious run at the competition by offering the I-410 and I-420 Infant Car Seats , as well as the Magnesium S330 Stroller and Magnesium T730 Travel System.

	LATCH LATCH stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren. It is a system mandated by the Federal government in an effort to standardize and simplify the installation of child restraints without using the vehicle's seat belt system. New vehicles and child safety seats manufactured on and after September 1, 2002 will be equipped with the LATCH system. Cars, minivans, and light trucks will be required to have anchor points between the vehicle's seat cushion and the seat back in at least two rear seating positions, and a top tether anchor (with the exception of convertibles). Child safety seats will have a lower set of attachments that fasten to the vehicle anchors. Most forward-facing child safety seats will also have a top strap (tether) that attaches to the top anchor in the vehicle.

[lovinwaves]

Adding to Tiffany here...

Some carseats have deeper sides. For instance the Graco SS2, and Recaro Como have VERY deep sides. The Como is at 8inches where the Britax Marathon is 4inches.

To me EPS is something to be looking for when purchasing a seat

	Britax car seats Britax International has been producing reliable child safety products for over 30 years. Not only does Britax have decades of experience creating car seats and other children's safety equipment, Britax has a long standing reputation as an industry leader and innovator. Britax International is headquartered in the United Kingdom, but Britax car seats are designed and manufactured at facilities in Germany, Austria, and the United States. In the summer of 2002, Britax strengthened their commitment to creating the safest car seats with the opening of a brand new, state-of-the-art crash testing facility in North Carolina. Britax car seats have a reputation around the world for being some of the safest, most reliable, and best designed child safety seats ever made. Ready to buy a Britax seat? Please support our sponsor!

	Britax Marathon - Click for more info Increasing the time a child can safely stay in their convertible car seat is a big issue and Britax engineers have come through in a big way with the introduction of the Britax Marathon with LATCH. A LATCH Compatible Convertible Child Seat, the Britax Marathon can be used rear facing 5 to 33 pounds and forward facing from 20 to 65 pounds. Compare the numbers and you will see it is hard to find a seat with these weight limits that is safe and functional. Ready to buy a Britax Marathon? Please support our sponsor!

	Graco car seats Graco is one of the world's best known and most trusted juvenile products companies. They started the entire juvenile products industry with an invention called the Graco Swyngomatic. Since then they have invented products that have changed the way that parents travel with their children such as the travel system, which has made it so parents can lock an infant car seat into a stroller easily, without waking their sleeping baby. Their Graco SnugRide Infant Car Seat is pretty much synonymous with the term “infant car seat” because of its safety and design features coupled with its affordability. Today Graco continues designing and developing top-quality products that inspire parents and keeps children safe. Check out the new Infant Safe Seat Step 1 and Toddler Safe Seat Step 2 for proof of Graco’s continued commitment to child safety. Ready to buy a Graco car seat? Please support our sponsor!

	RECARO With over 100 years of company history and long standing experience in vehicle seat construction RECARO knows how to make long journeys a pleasure for the whole family. Materials, design and technical highlights ensure a pleasant journey for adults and children alike. RECARO uses its strength as the premier mobile seat manufacturer to engineer an innovative line of products for your children. No other manufacturer can apply experience from production vehicles, commercial vehicles, and race cars to design toward the comfort and safety of children. For more info, visit RecaroChildSeat.com

	RECARO Como - Click for more info The RECARO Como convertible car seat is an excellent choice for parents who want a high quality, long lasting car seat for their growing child. Thanks to its 5-70 lbs weight capacity, forward or rear-facing convertibility, and adjustable harness and headrest, the RECARO Como may be the only carseat you will ever need. The Como convertible child seat is a safe and comfortable seat that features RECARO Side Impact Protection (SIP), plush microfiber fabrics, and a thick adjustable headrest. Ready to buy a Recaro Como? Please support our sponsor!

[Papooses]

Nice to see you here, Melissa!

Originally Posted by lovinwaves

To me EPS is something to be looking for when purchasing a seat

Definitely -- I can't find the URL anymore, but I do remember reading some research showing that head injuries were not nearly as severe in seats with EPS/EPP foam.... Which is why I personally would prefer almost any seat over the Scenera unless the Scenera is all a person can truly afford: if that's the case, then families should certainly not worry themselves silly (proper use is still the most important thing regardless of any added features)

[typeamom]

Just clarifying - are you referring to having EPS foam in general throughout the seat, or specifally getting additional EPS protection by buying a carseat with the side "wings"?

And with the car position issue - our car doesn't give us the option of using the middle seat, so would a carseat with side impact protection be the wiser way to go?

thanks again, I appreciate your feedback...

[Papooses]

EPS is the specific name of the type of energy absorbing foam: EPP is another kind of energy absorbing foam Britax coined the phrase "True Impact Protection" (TSIP) with their Wizard & Bodyguard seats, which have since been replaced by the Boulevard & Parkway -- they claim the Monarch performs even better than the Parkway.... Recaro has long been known for their side impact protection, too, because they have very deep side wings that are lined with EPS foam; Recaro typically also uses a stronger grade plastic in a relatively unique double hollow design.

Deep side wings alone would help prevent the child's head from impacting the vehicle window, etc. but the plastic carseat shell/frame would not absorb as much of the crash force unless it also has EPS or EPP foam. The foam is what you find in bicycle helmets & it is the foam that helped reduce head injury in comparisons of real crashes. However, we don't have comprehensive enough crash testing criteria to know just how much safer any particular seat may be: they are all subject to the same Federal standards to sell in the U.S. but, as I mentioned, some few companies do perform their own side impact crash testing in addition to the frontal crash test requirements.

If the carseat cannot be installed in the center & does not have rear side curtain airbags, then I personally would want a seat with more dedicated side impact protection.... However, if Informed For Life shows that your vehicle has good side impact crash testing then I would not worry excessively -- if you cannot afford one of the seats with advertized "TSIP" etc. then any correctly used 5 point harness will be very safe In fact, I feel confident enough providing income qualifying families with the Cosco Scenera (1 of very few seats that still don't have any EPS/EPP foam at all) because it's all my program can afford to supply & I know that the families are fully educated on proper use -- all the added features imaginable cannot compensate for proper use.... Just make sure to follow both carseat + vehicle manuals & also have your install/use checked by a local tech.

	Britax car seats Britax International has been producing reliable child safety products for over 30 years. Not only does Britax have decades of experience creating car seats and other children's safety equipment, Britax has a long standing reputation as an industry leader and innovator. Britax International is headquartered in the United Kingdom, but Britax car seats are designed and manufactured at facilities in Germany, Austria, and the United States. In the summer of 2002, Britax strengthened their commitment to creating the safest car seats with the opening of a brand new, state-of-the-art crash testing facility in North Carolina. Britax car seats have a reputation around the world for being some of the safest, most reliable, and best designed child safety seats ever made. Ready to buy a Britax seat? Please support our sponsor!

	Britax Boulevard - Click for more info It is all about the wings with the Britax Boulevard convertible car seat - head and torso safety wings help keep your child from harm in a side-impact crash. And this matters - side-impact crashes are the leading cause of death for 6 - 14 year-old children. Of course, the safety wings are only one of the many safety features that the Britax Boulevard offers: built-in lock-offs, 5-point harness with front adjuster, tangle-free webbing, a push button release LATCH system with Versa-Tether®, and a sculpted base, ensuring an easy installation with a secure fit. Ready to buy a Britax Boulevard? Please support our sponsor!

	Britax Parkway - Click for more info The new Parkway Booster from Britax builds on their company's reputation as the maker of some of the safest seats on the market today. It's one of the only boosters to offer True Side Impact Protection - the EPS foam-padded headrest and side "wings" aren't just great for naps, they're engineered to provide vital protection to your child in the event of a side-impact crash. (Side-impact crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages 6-14, making this an issue of major importance for booster seats.) Ready to buy a Britax Parkway? Please support our sponsor!

	Britax Monarch - Click for more info The Britax Monarch is another fine addition to the Britax family of car seats and boosters. UK based Britax is widely renowned for creating some of the highest quality convertible, infant, and booster car seats in the world – and the German designed Monarch is one of the latest and greatest additions. Both the Monarch and the Britax Parkway offer True Side Impact Protection, utilizing thick EPS foam lined side wings around the head and torso area. These provide not only side impact protection, but also the deep headrest makes a comfortable spot for your child to rest their head once they nod off. The deep side wings cocoon the passenger in an impact reducing shell. The back of the Monarch is removable and the belt threading positions are color-coded to reduce the potential for improper use.

	RECARO With over 100 years of company history and long standing experience in vehicle seat construction RECARO knows how to make long journeys a pleasure for the whole family. Materials, design and technical highlights ensure a pleasant journey for adults and children alike. RECARO uses its strength as the premier mobile seat manufacturer to engineer an innovative line of products for your children. No other manufacturer can apply experience from production vehicles, commercial vehicles, and race cars to design toward the comfort and safety of children. For more info, visit RecaroChildSeat.com