Stephanie Fluman
Car Seat Safety
Consumer Behavior
Fall 2016
Outline
I. Introduction
A. A brief overview regarding car seat safety
B. Introduces the three topics discussed within the paper
II. Car seat requirements based on age or height/weight?
A. Discusses car seat requirements and whether or not it is safer to
base these requirements o of age or height/weight.
B. Advantages vs. disadvantages
III. Are rear-facing car seats safer?
A. A common belief is that rear-facing car seats are safer for all
ages. This section discusses this belief.
B. Advantages vs. disadvantages
IV. Infant carriers vs. convertible car seats for infants
A. This section discusses infant safety and whether or not infant
carriers are safer than convertible car seats
B. Advantages vs. disadvantages
V. Conclusion
A. Summarizes my &ndings
Quesonnaire
How much does brand maer when purchasing a car seat?
Are there specific materials found in car seats that are safer than others?
Is age or height/weight more indica&ve of when a child should or should not be using a
car seat?
Are rear-facing car seats safer than front-facing?
oDoes height/weight play a factor in this?
oAre there specific brands that are beer for rear-facing and front-facing?
Does the brand of car seat determine the level of safety?
oAre some brands of car seats superior to others?
Introduction
When it comes to the safety of a child, no matter the age, car seats are one of the most
important decision parents will make. While each state and the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration have both laws and recommendations on the car seat that is right for every child.
The problem with these laws and recommendations is that no child and no car seat model are the
same. Some parents find that choosing the right car seat is a difficult decision and that finding
advice can lead to differing opinions.
In the United States, the individual states and territories determine car seat restrictions
and guidelines. Currently, all states and territories require that child safety seats be used for
infants and most children within specific age and size criteria. 48 out of 50 states, the District of
Columbia, and Puerto Rico all require booster seats for children who have reached the criteria for
child safety seats but are still too small to be properly restrained by an adult safety belt alone.
The two states who do not currently have a restriction of this type in place are Florida and South
