Are travel vests safe?

I am very interested in getting my 2 yr old into a travel vest for long trips instead of the bulky car seat she has now. Do you have any information on the safety of the Cosco Portable Car Seat (Travel Vest). I know that it is approved, but would like to know how it stands up to a regular car seat.

I would recommend keeping your 2 year old in a car seat rather then using the travel vest for several reasons.

The hard plastic shell of a car seat provide additional protection in the event of a crash, in particular a side impact crash.

A car seat boosts your child up and allows that child to see out the windows. It is a pretty boring ride when all you have to look at is the back of the front seat!!

A car seat provide support for a sleeping child where a travel vest sits very upright and does not provide any additionl support for a sleeping child.

In general your child will be much more comfortable and safer in a car seat with an internal harness until they reach 40 lbs and then in a booster seat with a lap shoulder belt from 40 to around 80lbs


Travel vests are great for people that have to ride in cabs and on public transportation on a regular basis and they are also good for Grandparents that don't have the room (or desire) to store a bulky car seat.


Karen
CPS Tech

Thanks Karen-

Actually, the original author also posted in the Carseat forum at the same time and I had intended to delete this post but forgot:-) With your excellent reply, I'm happy to leave it for other lurkers!

Thanks again!