How We Test Child Car Seats
We’ve been working for decades to make car seats safer.
A car seat is one of the most important purchases parents make, and CR has long been the go-to place for advice and information on the right seat for your child and your vehicle—from infant seats to boosters.
CR developed its own crash-test protocol to evaluate car seat performance beyond the required federal safety standards.
Join the car seat testing team at CR’s Auto Test Center to learn why our tests go above and beyond.
CR staff shoppers buy every product we use as a test sample from retail stores, helping maintain our objectivity and independence.
Meet the Car Seats Team
Emily A. Thomas, PhD
Manager, Auto Safety
Jen Stockburger
Director of Operations
Michael Bloch
Car Seat Test Project Leader
CR’s evaluations focus on safety in a crash, fit to vehicle, and ease of use.
Our test program is designed so we can make distinctions among car seat models and make clear recommendations for each type of car seat.
Crash Protection
Fit to Vehicle
Ease of Use
Go behind-the-scenes to see the science of how we evaluate child car seats for crash protection.
Look for the CR Recommended mark when shopping in stores or online for easy access to rankings and reviews of products that meet our high standards for safety, performance, value, and reliability.
Learn MoreChoosing a safe car seat is just the start.
CR’s experts have built a library of resources, covering proper car seat use and much more.
Do's and Don'ts of Infant Car Seat Use
What to know about using your new seat inside and outside your vehicle
Photo: John Powers/Consumer Reports
Best Cars for Fitting 3 Child Car Seats Across the Second Row
And the features that make it easier, whichever car you’re considering
Photo: Honda
Deciding When It's Time to Upgrade Your Child's Car Seat
There are plenty of car-seat deals and trade-in events out there, but be careful about making the switch too soon
Photo: Consumer Reports