Maxi-Cosi Mico AP Review: Child Passenger Safety Week

Will is snug in the Maxi-Cosi Mico AP

This week marks Child Passenger Safety Week (Sept. 15-21), and I wanted to shine the L.A. Story spotlight on children's car seats and booster seats.

In California, where we live, kids are required to be in a restraint or booster seat through age 8, according to the Governors Highway Safety Assn. (That said, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that kids ride in booster seats until age 12 or 57" tall.) While the age varies depending on the state where you live, it's important that your child's seat is right for his/her age.

We had the opportunity to check out the Maxi-Cosi Mico AP infant car seat (SRP: $199.99), which hit shelves in July.

While CC moved up to a booster seat last year, Baby Will is still (although just barely size-wise) rocking the infant version.

The Mico AP, which has 14 color options, is not only incredibly light -- much lighter than Will's previous car seat -- but it also offers formidable-looking Air Protect Side Impact Technology, which protects the child's head area in case of an accident.

The seat is well-padded in areas surrounding the head, body and leg areas.

I was impressed with how protected Will looked and felt in the Mico AP. In fact, it was such a different feeling, pulling him out of what seemed like a protective shell every time I got him out of the car seat. He is completely snug and comfy in his new seat, and while he's able to look around and move, his head and body stay comfortably in place.

The seat also comes with a padded 5-point harness, an adjustable base, a soft head insert for extra support, and a detachable sun visor, which protects baby's face while he's in a rear (window)-facing position.

Will is actually about to outgrow this seat. The Mico AP is designed for children 5-22 lbs, with a height of 29" max. Baby Will is about 20 pounds and 27".

For now, though, Will is a snug little bug -- and that gives me a little more peace of mind.

Check out the below infographic from Maxi-Cosi about the next step, Booster Seat Safety.