Parents who have owned a car surely care a lot about child safety seats. Because children are always active and tend to move freely in the car, causing distractions for the driver, that’s why car seats were invented.
Early models were basic but weren’t very safe. Over the years, advancements in materials and engineering have resulted in seats that hold children securely and absorb impact during accidents.
Join us as we discover the development of car seats over the years.
1920s-1930s
The earliest children’s car seats were quite basic. Some were made of metal with faux leather straps, while others resembled burlap sacks with cut-out holes for legs, hanging off the headrest. These seats were more about keeping children still rather than ensuring their safety.
In the 1930s, the Bunny Bear Company created one of the first child car seats. Initially, this seat wasn’t focused on safety but was meant to elevate kids so they could see out of the car windows. Over time, it was updated to include toys, a steering wheel, and other distractions to keep children entertained.
1940s-1950s
Booster seats were introduced to help kids see out of car windows, making games like “I Spy” more fun. However, these seats were not very safe.
Later, child car seats evolved with designs featuring metal frames and canvas. These seats, which hooked over the car seat with metal fasteners, were an improvement over the Bunny Bear Booster, offering a bit more comfort.
In the 1950s, the Toidey Company launched the first advertisement for “Ridin’Hi AUTOSEAT with TRAFFIC SAFETY BELT”. This ad claimed the seat provided a comfortable and safe ride for infants, thanks to wedge anchors that secured it to the car seat.
However, it’s doubtful the seat met any safety standards or underwent regulated testing. Despite their primary purpose of containing children, these seats also often served as makeshift high chairs at home.
1960s
In 1968, the Ford Motor Company came out with the “Tot-Guard.” This was a plastic-molded chair with a cushion designed to protect a child’s face during a crash. The chair featured a plastic tunnel shaped to fit a seated child, with a hole for their legs and a pillow strapped to the front.
“Seat belts may be all right for adults, but try keeping a squirming five-year-old child buckled up for a long automobile ride. It cannot be done, short of resorting to chloroform. Last week the Ford Motor Co. showed off its answer: a 5-lb. padded plastic body shield called the ‘Tot Guard.’ The child sits on a molded seat; then a loosely fitting, one-piece leg-and-body ‘cast’ is placed over him. The seat belt loops around in front to secure the entire apparatus, allowing the child to move around inside his cast but also to stay in one place.” – Time Magazine, October 13, 1967.
By 1969, safety improvements were still evolving. Sears advertised a “Steel Travel Platform” that year. This device was essentially a steel plate covered with a vinyl foam pad, providing a surface for infants and toddlers to lay, sleep, or play on in the car’s backseat.
1970s-1980s
In 1971, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) set the first standard for car seats. This required all car seats to be installed with safety belts and feature a 3-point harness to secure the child, but it didn’t include crash testing.
By 1985, federal laws mandated that children under certain ages must ride in a car safety seat. The Astroseat VI Car Seat, likely made by the International Manufacturing Co., featured a pull-down harness and protective upholstery to comfortably cradle the child.
1990s
In the 1990s, the ISOfix anchors, now called the LATCH system (Lower Anchors & Tether for Children), were introduced. This system features a top tether point and lower anchor points for increased stability.
2000s-Current
The 2000s marked significant advancements in child passenger safety products and technology, from infant car seats, to convertible seats, to boosters.
It wasn’t until the 2003 vehicle models that the federal government mandated the LATCH system in all vehicles. Older models could be retrofitted to accommodate LATCH-compliant child safety seats.
In 2019, WAYB introduced the Pico Car Seat, designed to simplify family travel. WAYB was created with the goal of making travel with kids easier.
Today, car seats globally adhere to strict testing and quality standards. Third-party organizations like CREP, ADAC, and Stiftung Warentest provide additional safety assurances, ensuring these seats offer the highest level of protection.