Just about everyone has a car, or access to one. It's easily the most used form of transportation nowadays, as there are billions of cars around the world. Logically, we would need to transport our kids in our own motorcar to school, kindergarten, to the store or to visit acquaintances. Seat belts are physically unsafe for children, so we need to rely on car seats to make certain our kids are correctly protected.
The car seat safety rating is given out by the NHTSA (National Health and Traffic Safety Association). The motorcar seat safety rating is called the Child Safety Seat Ease of Use Rating by the NHTSA, and it's without doubt the best guideline to work from when looking to purchase a child seat. Each seat is tested by five different criteria: assembly, rating of instructions, testing of labels, installing features and securing the child. A total score is set from those criteria, and that's the official NHTSA safety rating.
Car Seat
The first thing to look at is whether or not the seat has been recalled for manufacturing defects or didn't live up to its rating. Just like automobiles, some car seats have unintended problems after their manufacture that only become apparent once it's in the mass market. A good safety rating means very little if there's a problem with its construction. Search the internet for any references of recalls on a seat that you are interested in before buying it. Even the NHTSA rating is secondary when compared to recalls.
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Britax Marathon 70 Convertible Car Seat, Onyx Feature
- The Britax Marathon 70 convertible car seat is designed for children rear facing from 5 to 40 pounds and forward facing up to 70 pounds
- Safecell technology features safecells designed to compress in a crash, significantly lowering the center of gravity and counteracting the forward rotation of the child seat which normally propels child toward the front seat
- Integrated Steel Bars strengthen the connection to the vehicle and reduce forward flexing of the child seat during a crash
- Side Impact Protection comprised of deep side walls lined with energy-absorbing EPP foam distributes crash forces, shields from vehicle intrusion and contains the head, neck and body
- Quick-adjust harness repositions the harness shoulder height without disassembling the harness straps
Britax Marathon 70 Convertible Car Seat, Onyx Overview
The BRITAX MARATHON 70 Convertible Car Seat achieves optimum head safety through the combination of BRITAX SafeCell Technology, integrated steel bars, and a Versa-Tether, which work together to minimize head excursion and reduce the risk of head injury during a frontal impact. It also features easy installation, Side Impact Protection, and innovative details for your child's comfort and safety. The seat fits children in the rear-facing position weighing from 5 to 40 pounds, and children in the forward-facing position starting at one year old and 20 pounds, up to 70 pounds.
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 Available in (from left to right): Onyx, Crimson, Waverly, Cowmooflage, Blueprint, and Allison. |
 Safety features include SafeCell Technology and True Side Impact Protection. View larger. |
 Comfort features include dual recline positions and high-density comfort foam. (Shown here in Allison.) View larger. |
The BRITAX MARATHON 70 features technologies that work to minimize injury to your child during a crash from any direction, including both frontal and side impact crashes - the most frequent types of crashes. These technologies work together with other features on the car seat to minimize injury to your child during a crash by:
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Designed with SafeCell Technology, the MARATHON 70 features SafeCells, which are engineered structures located in the base of the seat designed to compress in the event of a crash. This compression significantly lowers the center of gravity and counteracts the forward rotation of the car seat, delivering unprecedented performance in a crash.
The MARATHON 70 also features integrated steel bars, which strengthen the connection to the vehicle seat and reduce the forward flexing of the car seat. In addition, the energy-absorbing Versa-Tether anchors the top of the car seat and minimizes forward rotation of the car seat to reduce the crash forces that can reach your child if an accident occurs. These three features work together as a system to provide revolutionary head safety protection for your child.
Side Impact Protection for Added Security
To keep your child safe in the event of a side-impact collision, the MARATHON 70 includes Side Impact Protection. Side Impact Protection is a system composed of a rigid seat shell with deep side walls and energy-absorbing EPP (Expanded Polypropylene) foam lining the seat shell. These combined features work together to protect your child's head and chest from incoming crash forces by distributing the forces over a larger surface area, helping shield your child from vehicle intrusion and contain your child's head and body in the seat.
Premium Fit and Comfort Features
Whether children are watching the world go by or snuggling in for a nap, they'll enjoy that the MARATHON 70 reclines in both the forward and rear positions. And thanks to additional features, which include high-density comfort foam and a plush cover set with a matching belly pad, they'll always ride in style and comfort. A 70-pound weight capacity, two buckle positions, and a tangle-free five-point harness with ten harness-height settings provide a snug, custom fit for your growing child. Plus, an optional Infant Positioning Insert (sold separately) allows you to properly and snugly fit smaller infants into the car seat.
Ease-of-Use for Safety and Convenience
Packed with perks for parents, the MARATHON 70 makes it easy to secure your child in the proper position without guesswork. Premium lower LATCH connectors make for a quick, simple, and tight installation, while the push-button allows you to easily uninstall the connectors. Easy-to-access built-in lock-offs allow you to install the car seat with ease using your vehicle's lap and shoulder belt. The quick-adjust harness system and buckle allow you to reposition the harness height without disassembling the harness straps.
Additionally, an anti-slip contoured base grips and protects the vehicle seat, ensuring a tight installation in all types of vehicles. Convenient holders keep harness straps out of the way when you're placing your child in the seat, and the plush cover set with matching pads removes easily for cleaning without requiring you to disassemble or uninstall the car seat.
The BRITAX MARATHON 70 Convertible Car Seat is backed by a one-year limited warranty.
What's in the Box
One BRITAX MARATHON 70 Convertible Car Seat and manual.
Available In Stock. |
The other thing to consider is other user's reactions to and reviews with car seats. A seat with a great NHTSA car seat safety rating was a great idea, but what if it wasn't beneficial for your exact needs? If it isn't really easy to move in between cars, and you have a couple cars, then it isn't appropriate to your exact needs. Search for as many reviews or experiences as possible, to find out if that particular seat is suited to you.
Ease of use and weight are two very important aspects of a automobile seat to consider. Even if it has a perfect car seat safety rating, if you can't pick it up and move it, then what use is it to you? If you are a stay at home mom, how can you manage a 20 pound plus auto seat? You could look at getting a smaller, lighter one so you can easily use it. If you want to use a car seat as a carrier too, like some people do, weight becomes greatly important.
The last thing to consider is the cost. Choosing a seat with a high car seat safety rating is imperative because you are investing in your kid's safety. Never pay for low or untested quality. Your child's life is irreplaceable.
Investing in a seat with a good rating is vital to the safety of your children in this modern age where more and more automobiles are on the road. In the unlikely event of an accident, you want to be positive your child will come with little more than a scratch or some bruising.
Car Seat Safety Rating - Buying the Safest Car Seats Online