A consumer magazine recently raised questions about the safety of infant car seats.
Consumer Reports did its own rigorous testing of 12 brands of car seats and found that 10 of them failed to provide adequate protection.
The government uses a 30 mile per hour frontal crash test for infant car seats, but Consumer Reports took it one step further.
It increased the speed to 35 miles per hour, and even conducted some side impact crash tests at 38 m.p.h. Several seats came off their bases or twisted in place.
Federal standards don't call for side impact crash tests at this time.
Here is the complete list of infant seats and their rating from Consumer Reports:
Not Acceptable:
-Evenflo Discovery
-Eddie Bauer Comfort
Fair or Poor:
-Chicco KeyFit
-Peg Perego Primo Viaggio SIP
-Compass I410
-Evenflo Embrace
-Britax Companion
-Graco SafeSeat
-Safety 1st Designer
-Combi Centre ST
Very Good
-Baby Trend Flex-Loc Adjustable Back
-Graco SnugRide with EPS
The makers of these car seats say they stand by their products and question the testing methods used by Consumer Reports.
The government has NOT issued a recall on any of the seats tested by Consumer Reports.
But if the study has you worried about your baby's safety, there are a few things to consider before you should even think about getting rid of your car seat.
Today's car seats are safe and effective if used correctly. Every seat that's sold in the U.S. is tested and meets federal safety standards.
Jan Hummel with Safe Kids Adams County and a certified car seat technician was surprised by the results of the Consumer Reports study. But she stresses to parents not to lose confidence in your child's car seat.
Hummel says children are best protected in a seat that's properly installed.
No matter what brand of car seat you have, Safe Kids Worldwide recommends the same safety procedures.
Make sure the car seat is less than six years old and has never been in a crash.
The infant seat should recline at a 45 degree angle.
You should secure it tightly in the back seat of your car and make sure the harness straps are adjusted correctly for your baby.
Most importantly, read the manufacturer's instructions and follow them carefully and you'll give your baby the safest ride possible with current technology.
Hummel says the bottom line is that these seats are tested to keep kids as safe as possible.
And remember, any seat is better than no seat at all.
Safe Kids Adams County and the Quincy Fire Department hold monthly car seat checkups. The next one is Friday, Jan. 19 from 3to 6 p.m. at Quincy's Central Fire Station.
You can also call the Adams County Health Department or Quincy Central fire station at any time if you want your seat checked immediately.
For more information about car seat safety, check safekids.org and the national transportation highway administration websites.