Are toddler car seat covers safe? Here’s how the NIKO was crash tested.

If you’ve been told to be careful about anything that touches a car seat, that’s good advice. We agree with it, and we think you should expect evidence from any company that sells a car seat product. The NIKO is a washable cover for forward-facing toddler car seats. This page shows you our evidence: where the NIKO was tested, how, on which seat, and every number the lab measured.

Why car seat safety advocates are cautious

Car seat technicians often warn parents about products that don’t come in the box with the seat. Their concern is real. A thick layer between your child and the harness can create slack, change how the straps sit, or affect how the seat performs in a crash. There’s also no federal safety standard for car seat accessories, so a “crash tested” label on its own doesn’t tell you much.

That’s why we don’t ask you to take our word for it. We had NIKO tested by an independent lab using the federal crash test procedure for car seats, and we share the results and the lab’s report below.

The NIKO is also thin by design. A cotton NIKO is about the thickness of a T-shirt, and a minky NIKO is about the thickness of a baby blanket.

The test

On August 9, 2018, Calspan Corporation ran a frontal crash sled test of NIKO at its Transportation Test Operations lab in Buffalo, New York. Calspan tests car seats and vehicle components for manufacturers. It provided test services only and had no role in designing or making the NIKO.

LabCalspan Corporation, Buffalo, NY
ReportNo. 4529-18-01, dated August 13, 2018
ProcedureFMVSS 213 frontal impact, the federal crash test for child car seats
Crash speed30 mph (48 km/h), peak 23.7 g
Car seatGraco 4Ever (model 1943811, made January 2018)
InstallationForward-facing, LATCH lower anchors plus top tether
Test dummyHybrid III 3-year-old child dummy
NIKO setupMinky NIKO (star print) installed, the thicker of the two NIKO fabrics. The Graco 4Ever's own harness covers (the padded strap sleeves that come with the seat) were left on.
Lab's note after the test"No post-test issues"

The results

Every measurement was within the FMVSS 213 limits that car seats themselves must meet.

What it measuresWhy it mattersFederal limitResult with the NIKO
Head injury (HIC36)Risk of head injury from the force of the crash1,000312
Chest accelerationForce on the chest60 g45.6 g
Head excursionHow far forward the head travels720 mm (28.3 in)595 mm (23.4 in)
Knee excursionHow far forward the knees travel915 mm (36.0 in)702 mm (27.6 in)

The head excursion result matters most for a cover like the NIKO. If a cover added slack to the harness, the child's head would travel farther forward. In this test it stayed 125 mm (about 5 inches) inside the limit.

View the Calspan test report (PDF excerpt)

The cover page, test summary, results and lab photos from Calspan report 4529-18-01 (7 of 16 pages).

Federal limits: 49 CFR 571.213, sections S5.1.2 and S5.1.3.

What this test shows, and what it doesn't

  • It shows

    In a 30 mph frontal crash, a forward-facing Graco 4Ever covered with a NIKO kept a 3-year-old test dummy within every federal injury and excursion limit.

  • It doesn't show

    Results for every forward-facing car seat, or for side-impact crashes. This was one test, on one seat.

  • It isn't a certification

    Calspan describes tests like this as indicator tests. No government agency certifies car seat accessories, and Calspan doesn't endorse products.

First, check your car seat's manual

The NIKO is for forward-facing car seats only. Never use it on a rear-facing or infant car seat. Beyond that, your car seat manual is the final word. Some manufacturers allow covers and accessories and some don’t. If your manual says not to use products that weren’t made by the seat’s manufacturer, follow your manual.

Not sure? Call your car seat manufacturer, or ask a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST). You can find one near you through Safe Kids Worldwide.

Fit check after you install your NIKO

  1. Pull the harness straps forward through the NIKO’s harness openings, then close the snaps behind each strap. Check that the straps lie flat, with no twists, and that the cover isn’t bunched behind them.
  2. Buckle your child into the seat and tighten the harness as your manual directs.
  3. Do the pinch test: at the collarbone, you shouldn’t be able to pinch any slack in the strap.
  4. Make sure the chest clip sits at armpit level.

Frequently asked questions

Are toddler car seat covers safe?

It depends on the cover and your toddler's car seat. Look for a cover with published crash test results from a named lab, and check that your car seat manual allows it. The NIKO was sled tested by Calspan to the FMVSS 213 frontal crash procedure, and all results were within federal limits.

Was the NIKO crash tested?

Yes. Calspan Corporation tested the NIKO on August 9, 2018 (report 4529-18-01). The test used a forward-facing Graco 4Ever, a 3-year-old crash test dummy, a 30 mph frontal crash pulse and a minky NIKO, the thicker of our two fabrics.

Does the NIKO affect how the harness fits?

The NIKO is thin: cotton NIKOs are about the thickness of a T-shirt, and minky NIKOs are about the thickness of a baby blanket. Note that the NIKO goes behind your child, and the harness straps come forward through long openings in the cover. Snaps then close each opening behind the strap. In the crash test, the dummy's head stayed about 5 inches inside the federal forward-travel limit, which is where extra harness slack would show up. Always do the pinch test after installing.

Will the NIKO work with my car seat?

The NIKO is for forward-facing car seats only. Don't use it on a rear-facing or infant car seat. For forward-facing seats, check your manual's policy on covers. If it doesn't allow them, follow the manual.

Is the NIKO approved by NHTSA?

No accessory is. NHTSA sets crash standards for car seats but does not test or approve any car seat accessories. That's why we share our test results.

Can I see the test report?

Yes. View the Calspan report excerpt (PDF): the cover page, test setup, results summary and lab photos.

We're all grown up!

NIKO Car Seat Covers have come a long way:

  • Lightweight cottons for summer
  • Cozy plush for winter
  • Waterproof bottom panels to protect against mess
  • Compatible with cup holders
  • Pockets for small toys and snacks
Check out the NIKO