Evenflo is a major car-seat brand founded in 1920 and headquartered in the United States. One would want to believe that a company founded over 100 years ago should have some of the best products out there.
Unfortunately, how long a company has been in existence does not guarantee its products’ trustworthiness and safety. As a parent, your number one goal when buying your baby’s products is SAFETY.
Is the Evenflo car seat safe? We shall go through Evenflo’s infant car seats, convertible seats, and booster seats to know how safe they are. We shall also look at the controversy surrounding the company’s Big Kid Booster seat.
Related: Are Evenflo car seats any good? (Quick facts)
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Are Evenflo Car Seats Safe?
Evenflo is a famous car seat brand committed to providing safe and tested products. Car seats produced by Evenflo meet and exceed government safety standards, and the company is always on the lookout for new technologies to reduce crash forces during an impact.
While it is true that Evenflo recalled some of its car seats in the past, recalling a product doesn’t mean the company involved in the process is not good. A product recall could be a result of product modification, repair, or to improve performance.
The Evolve Booster Seat was recalled on September 16, 2016, and the Transitions 3-in-1 car seat was recalled on February 26, 2016. You can find the recalled models on Evenflo’s website.
Some of the biggest brands in the world have recalled some of their products because they care so much for their customers.
Whether you are buying a car seat or any other baby product, just ensure you register the product with the company in case they need to pass on any information in the future.
Find out if Evenflo car seats are FAA-approved.
Evenflo’s Car Seat Safety Measures To Keep Your Child Safe
The design of a car seat, the accessories/materials used, and the installation process are the three major things that determine how safe a car seat is. Below are some technologies employed by Evenflo for safe car seats.
- SureLATCH Installation – This technology ensures that installation is done in seconds and your little one is secure.
- SureSafe Installation – Push-on connectors and LATCH guides for a safe installation
- Evenflo Temperature Testing – For product integrity, all current Evenflo car seats are tested at both low and high temperatures.
- Rollover Testing – Evenflo car seats are tested beyond industry standards to ensure that injuries are drastically minimized in rollover events
- Side Impact Tested – Evenflo car seats are tested for structural integrity at energy levels about 2 times the federal crash test standard
- FMVSS 302 – Evenflo car seats meet the requirements set out by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for Flammability of Interior Materials
- FMVSS 213 – Evenflo car seat meets the requirements laid down by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for Child Restraint Systems
- Expanded Zone of Protection – Three layers of superior protection reduces side impact crash forces by about 50%
- FAA Approved – When used with the internal 5-point harness, Evenflo infant car seats meet FAA requirements for airplane use.
Now that we have looked at some safety measures put in place by Evenflo, let’s go through the different types of Evenflo’s car seats – infant car seats, convertible car seats, and booster seats.
Recommended: Are Evenflo car seat bases universal? (Read this!)
Are Evenflo Infant Car Seat Safe?
Evenflo infant car seats are safe and comfortable for babies. There are about 5 Evenflo infant car seats – SecureMax, LiteMax DLX, LiteMax 35, LiteMax Sport, and NutureMax infant car seats.
The car seat base is easy to install, and the padding and newborn insert make your baby feel comfortable during a ride. You can easily adjust the harness and height position without having to take anything apart.
Overall, Evenflo infant car seats are safe as long as you follow the instruction manual. The car seats have some safety features that help reduce injuries in case of an accident.
So far, the Evenflo LiteMax seems to be the favorite of all Evenflo infant car seats. It is sleek and extremely lightweight for parents to carry. The LiteMax car seat has a rating of 4.8 out of 5 from almost 3,000 reviews on Amazon.
Are Evenflo Convertible Car Seats Safe?
Although Evenflo has almost a dozen convertible car seats, the Evenflo EveryFit 4-in-1 car seat is one of the safest on the market. Considering the fact that the EveryFit convertible seat goes for less than $200, it is a great buy.
Most Evenflo convertible car seats are made in the USA, and they come with advanced side impact protection that minimizes crash forces by up to 30%. Also, you can adjust an Evenflo convertible seat to multiple positions.
Your child can ride on an Evenflo convertible seat from birth up to about 8 to 10 years old. So far, there haven’t been any safety reports on Evenflo convertible car seats and they are one of the cheapest on the market.
If you are on a budget and are looking for a durable and safe convertible car seat, the Evenflo Tribute Convertible car seat is a good choice for you. It costs about $79 and thousands of other parents are pleased with the car seat.
If you want an innovative convertible car seat that has the ability to rotate, the Evenflo Revolve 360 is a safe and exciting car seat to go for.
The Evenflo Revolve 360 car seat features no thread harness, harness covers, steel reinforced, side impact protection, and bubble level indicator. However, it is not lightweight and doesn’t have an anti-rebound bar.
Read about: Evenflo car seats and stroller compatibility
Are Evenflo Booster Seat Safe?
Years ago, there were reports of Evenflo being involved in false marketing of the “Big Kid” Booster seat. According to the report, Evenflo claimed a child weighing 30 lbs can start using the booster seat. However, it was discovered that the Big Kid Booster seat is only suitable for kids weighing 40 lbs.
Just like Evenflo, other car seat brands such as Graco have been accused in the past of using false marketing strategies for their booster seats.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (APP), children should use rear-facing car seats for as long as possible before switching to forward-facing. You should only switch to forward-facing when your child reaches the maximum weight and height limits.
A child should ride in a forward-facing car seat through at least 4 years of age. Once children exceed the weight and height limit of the forward-facing seat, they can switch to a booster seat.
To be on the safe side, whether you are using the Evenflo booster seat or any other brand of a booster seat, you should wait until your child weighs at least 40 lbs before using the seat.
Evenflo booster seats are safe if you check and follow the maximum height and weight recommendations. There is no universal weight or height limit for all car seats. You must check the specific car seat you have to be sure of the specifications.
Conclusion
When buying a car seat, you should always follow APP guidelines for the safety of your child. Also, stick to the manufacturer’s instruction manual and you should be fine with your car seat.
