Rebornne Baby American Baby

Family Car
Keep your family safe and comfortable in the car.

Choose the Right Car for Your Family
Learn the pros and cons of each of the five car categories.

Sedans

What makes for a great car differs from one family to another, depending on your budget, the number of children you have (or want), the amenities that are most important to you, and your personal taste. Luckily, there's an array of options even within the five broad categories of cars that are best for young families. They include sedans, minivans, sport-utility vehicles, station wagons, and crossovers, a new breed for the 21st century that blends the attributes of wagons, vans, and SUVs. Here are the pros and cons of each to help you narrow your decision.

Although they don't get much buzz, sedans can be a great option if you don't have a tremendous need for space. They range greatly in size and price -- from less than $10,000 to what some people would pay for a nice suburban home.

Pros: Sedans have better ride and handling qualities than virtually any sport utility vehicle, and many of the compact and midsize models get excellent gas mileage. Plus, sedans are often more affordable than many SUVs and minivans.

They also give you easy access to the rear seat -- there's little stretching and reaching to get kids in and out of their car seats. And since a sedan's trunk is enclosed, you don't run the risk of unsecured items (like a can of soup or a toy) turning into projectiles in a crash, says Nancy Delaney, coordinator of the child passenger safety program at Children's Hospital of Michigan.

Cons: Sedans are not a good choice if you plan to have three or more children or need lots of storage space.

Good picks: Suggestions for your sedan shopping list, as of October 2002, include the compact Ford Focus (which also comes in hatchback and wagon varieties). Other picks include the Korean-built Hyundai Sonata, a midsize sedan which has a five-year/60,000-mile warranty, one of the best in the business; and the redesigned 2002 Toyota Camry, another midsize model that is one of the most reliable and quietest sedans on the road. One of the most fuel-efficient vehicles available is the 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid, the first mainstream gas/electric sedan; it gets better than 50 miles per gallon.

The bottom line: A sedan may be right for you if you have one or two kids, want a vehicle that's easy to handle and park, and don't want to spend a fortune at the gas pump.

Minivans

There's a good reason why minivans were such a sensation when they first hit the market in 1984. They are practical and easy to get into, and fighting siblings can each have their very own row in which to sulk.

Pros: Their three rows of seating allow minivans to carry up to eight people. If you don't have that many passengers, the third-row seat can be folded or removed for more storage space. At an average of 24 miles per gallon, minivans get better gas mileage than many sport-utility vehicles. And most are loaded with kid-friendly items, ranging from square-shaped cup holders to hold juice boxes to backseat hooks for backpacks. Most minivans have the option of a rear-seat entertainment system, though that adds to the price. Minivans are almost as easy to park and maneuver as a sedan because they're not that much higher off the ground; the big windows on the passenger doors provide lots of visibility.

Cons: Minivans suffer from an image problem. Their boxy lines make them what auto experts often call a "life stage" vehicle as opposed to a "lifestyle" choice, such as a convertible. The storage area behind the third row is small, so if you need that third row for seating, your cargo capacity is limited.

Good picks: Parents shopping in this category should consider the three vehicles widely regarded as the industry leaders in October 2002. They are the Ford Windstar, which has been awarded a five-star safety rating in four different categories from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for three years in a row; the Chrysler/Dodge minivans, for innovative features like the power liftgate and adjustable pedals; and the Honda Odyssey, for its potent 240-horsepower engine. Minivans range in price from about $17,000 to $30,000.

The bottom line: A minivan may be right for you if you have a big family and are more concerned about space than image.

Sport-Utility Vehicles

"The bigger it is, the safer I feel." Many parents agree with this statement, which is why SUVs continue to be so popular. They can provide exceptional seating capacity, fitting up to nine people in many cases, and their sheer mass offers occupants a sense of safety and security.

Pros: Sport-utility vehicles continue to have the hippest image on the market, appealing to a vast public that likes the idea of a big vehicle that gives a commanding seating position over the road. Many SUVs come with a four-wheel-drive option, which means they can handle off-road challenges or snow-covered streets. Some SUVs now come with third-row seating, so they are rivaling minivans for people-hauling capacity. Prices vary according to size and amenities, from about $19,000 to $48,000.

Cons: Most SUVs tend to drive like a truck, not a car, which translates to a rough ride, along with difficulty in handling and parking. Indeed, some SUVs have the spare tire located in the rear cargo area, which makes visibility difficult. They are notoriously gas hogs, getting their fuel economy ratings in the teens. Because of their size, they can be difficult to get in and out of, not to mention a hassle when it comes to installing car seats in the rear. Some parents have told automakers that the SUV's bouncy ride triggers carsickness in sensitive kids.

Good picks: Among the family-friendly considerations, as of October 2002, is the Chevrolet Trailblazer, which has a sturdy frame, a powerful 270-horsepower engine, and a lot of safety features. The Trailblazer EXT model also has a third-row seat and can carry up to seven passengers.

The 2003 Ford Expedition has a couple of unique features. The middle section of the second-row seat can be pulled forward with a lever, allowing a front-seat passenger or a driver in park to easily gain access to a child who needs a bottle or pacifier. It also offers an optional third-row seat that folds flat on the floor and can be activated at the touch of a button.

The bottom line: A sport-utility vehicle may be for you if your priorities are space and style, and you want a vehicle that can take you off-road or through several inches of snow with ease.

Station Wagons

A station wagon is really nothing more than a sedan with an extended roofline and a roomy cargo bay in place of the traditional trunk. It's been a staple of family life since the 1950s, and though its demise has been widely predicted for at least 20 years, the wagon continues to attract a decent number of buyers because of its comfortable ride and ease of use. Some larger wagons, such as the Volvo V70 and the Audi Allroad, even come with a third-row seat to accommodate up to seven passengers. And many models are not as dowdy as the ones our parents drove. In fact, in addition to being so practical, station wagons are a status symbol in the higher-end European cars, such as Audi, Mercedes, BMW, and Volvo.

Pros: Many wagons offer nearly as much cargo space as some SUVs wile providing better handling and fuel economy. The Saturn L-series wagon gets nearly 30 miles per gallon in highway driving; the Ford Taurus wagon gets 26 miles per gallon on the highway.

Good picks: As of October 2002, newer models, such as the 2002 Mazda Protege5 and the Korean-built 2002 Kia Rio Cinco, are a departure from conventional station wagon styling. Instead of a boxy silhouette, they have softer, rounder lines. The Rio Cinco is one of the least expensive wagons in the country, and it comes with an outstanding five-year/60,000-mile warranty.

Subaru offers a wide range of compact and midsize wagons moderately priced and including an appealing standard feature: all-wheel drive. The highly regarded Volkswagen Passat wagon also comes with a choice of front- or four-wheel drive.

The bottom line: A station wagon is a great transitional choice, especially if you are coming out of a sedan because you need more room but don't want to go the SUV or minivan route. It's also a good choice for budget-minded buyers, offering lots of space and fuel economy.

Crossovers

This new category is a blend of a minivan, SUV, and station wagon. The Chrysler Pacifica, which goes on sale in January 2004 and is estimated to cost in the mid-30s, is slightly higher than a station wagon, but sleeker than a minivan, with narrower windows. It features three rows of seats; both the second and third row fold down to convert the vehicle from a people-hauler to a cargo-hauler.

Pros: Crossovers have the four-wheel drive capacity of a sport-utility vehicle without the gas-guzzling tendencies, are more stylish than a minivan, and handle like a car. And most models are affordable, starting at less than $20,000.

Cons: In some cases, it's difficult to tell the difference between a crossover and a station wagon. The features of individual models vary so widely across the category that it's difficult to make generalizations. And, like any new concept, crossovers are untried. Experts say it's too easy to tell whether they will be wildly popular and embraced by the buying public or the automotive version of the Pet Rock.

Good picks: The 2003 Toyota Matrix is a good example of this new breed of vehicle. It has the general silhouette or a station wagon, but with rear windows that are narrow and pinched off. The seat backs and cargo area are made out of washable plastic, which makes for easy cleanup, a desirable option for active families with lots of gear. It can get up to 35 miles per gallon on the highway. Hot on the heels of the Matrix are lots of other affordable crossover offerings, including a sister vehicle, the 2003 Pontiac Vibe, the 2002 Suzuki Aerio SX, and the 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander.

The bottom line: A crossover may be the perfect choice for a family that can't decide between a station wagon, minivan, or SUV -- especially if you believe automakers who describe this new segment as ideal for the "I want to have it all" consumer.

Family Car Checklist
Take a safety-essentials checklist when you go car shopping.

There are some things you absolutely must consider when choosing a new car -- such as it having enough seat belts. But there are other, lesser-known safety elements you might want to consider as well. Take this checklist with you when you go shopping for a vehicle and find out if the car you're considering meets your safety requirements.

____ Are there enough seat belts for everyone?

____ Can the vehicle's lap and shoulder belts accommodate children who have outgrown child seats and need booster seats?

____ Is there enough room--preferably in the backseat--to install a child seat correctly?

____ Can your baby's car seat be installed correctly? It's recommended that you try installing it before you purchase or lease the vehicle.

____ If the vehicle has a bench or bucket seat design, will it interfere with child seat installation? (Check slopes, humps, contours, seat splits, and forward-anchored belts.)

____ Do seat belts have locking features (locking or switchable retractor) for child seats?

____ Is the LATCH system available? (Some vehicle manufacturers can provide retrofit tether and lower anchorage kits.)

____ Are adjustable upper belts available?

____ Are built-in child restraint systems available?

____ Is there a head restraint protection for rear seats?

____ Does it have safety door locks (so children cannot open doors from inside vehicle)?

____ Does the driver have override window controls (so children cannot open the windows themselves)?

Questions to Ask Before Buying a Family Car
Use this Q&A to find out which car is right for your family.

Questions 1-4

Here are some important questions to consider before you begin shopping for your next vehicle:

1. How many children will you be transporting?

Regardless of whether or not your kids are still in car seats, one seat belt is essential for each passenger. Make sure that there are as many seat belts in the backseat as there are kids under the age of 12 in your family. It is estimated that children are 26 percent less likely to be fatally injured if seated in the rear seat of a passenger vehicle.

2. Will you be installing child seats? Where will you place them?

All children are safest when properly restrained in the backseat. NEVER use a rear-facing child seat in the front seat of a vehicle with a front passenger air bag unless the air bag has been turned off. If your child weighs less than 20 pounds (regardless of age), use a rear-facing infant-only or convertible child seat, used rear facing, in the backseat of the vehicle.

If your child weighs more than 20 pounds and is not yet 1 year old, use a rear-facing convertible seat that is made to be used with heavier infants. Children 1 year old and at least 20 pounds may ride facing forward.

3. Do you need a booster seat?

When children reach the weight and height limit of most forward-facing seats (about 40 pounds and 40 inches, or when the middle of the ears are above the top of the safety seat), they should be moved to a belt-positioning booster seat to help the lap and shoulder belt fit better. Most belt-positioning booster seats will accommodate children up to about 80 pounds. When used properly, booster seats can help prevent injury to older children by making adult-sized seat belts fit more effectively. The adult lap and shoulder belt should fit the child snugly, with the lap belt laying flat across the lap/upper thigh area, and the shoulder belt crossing the chest, resting against the middle of the child's shoulder. Without a belt-positioning booster seat, the lap belt can ride up over the child's stomach and cause serious internal injuries in a crash, and the shoulder belt can cross the face, causing the child to slide out from underneath it, causing serious injury to the head, face, and neck.

4. Will the vehicle seat belt system meet the needs of your children?

Correct seat belt use for all vehicle occupants should be the rule in your vehicle. Children who have outgrown child seats and booster seats should be able to fit the adult belt system correctly. The lap belt should fit low over the child's upper thighs when he or she is sitting straight against the vehicle seat back, and the child's knees should bend comfortably over the edge of the vehicle seat. The shoulder belt should stay on the shoulder and be close to the child's chest. Never put the shoulder belt under the arm or behind the child's back. The adult lap and shoulder belt system alone will not fit most children until they are about 4 feet 9 inches tall and weigh about 80 pounds.

A lap-only belt (without a shoulder strap) should be used to restrain a child only if no other seat belt system is available. If you must transport several children in a vehicle that has a lap-only belt in the middle rear seat, and one of the children is in a rear-facing or a convertible or toddler child seat, have the older children use the lap and shoulder belts, and put the child riding in a child seat in the middle. Then secure the child seat with the lap-only belt.

Questions 5-8

5. What is the child safety seat "LATCH" restraint system?

LATCH is an acronym for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children. It is a standardized child safety seat attachment system, independent of the vehicle belt system, that simplifies child safety seat installation. This independent system has two lower anchorages and one upper tether anchorage. The LATCH system is designed to better stabilize the child safety seat and reduce the potential for head injury. All passenger vehicles manufactured after September 1, 2000 (except most convertibles), will be equipped with the top tether anchorage, and most forward-facing child safety seats will have top tether straps that attach to the vehicle tether anchors. The lower anchorage LATCH system requires vehicles to be equipped with anchorage points between a vehicle's seat cushion and seat back. Child seats can attach to the vehicle seat via these lower anchorages instead of being held by the vehicle's seat belts. This lower anchorage system is in most new cars, minivans, and light trucks as of September 1, 2002, and will greatly simplify child seat installation. In addition, as of September 1, 2002, all child safety seats must have two lower attachments that connect to the anchorage points. Although convertibles are exempt from tether anchorage requirements, some manufacturers offer them as a safety enhancement.

6. What does the LATCH system look like?

The LATCH system has one upper (tether) anchorage and two lower anchorages. The upper (tether) anchorage is a ringlike object, permanently attached to the vehicle. Depending on the vehicle, the anchorage may be located on the shelf or back of the seat, on the floor or on the ceiling. Each lower anchorage will be a rigid, round rod located where the vehicle seat cushion meets the seat back. On the child safety seat: Since September 1999, all forward-facing child safety seats were required to meet stricter head protection standards, likely resulting in the addition of a tether strap at the top of the child safety seat. This tether strap attaches to the upper anchorage or ring in the vehicle. Since September 2002, new child safety seats are required to have two lower attachments -- hooks, buckles or snaps -- that connect to the lower anchorages in the vehicle.

7. Which vehicles have the LATCH system?

As of September 1, 2000, all new passenger vehicles (except most convertibles) are equipped with the top tether anchorage. Ask your car dealer which new models are equipped with the LATCH system. Check your vehicle owner's manual to determine if your older vehicle has predrilled points where tether anchorages can be installed.

8. What about side air bags?

Side air bags, which are not required by law, provide additional chest protection to adults in many side crashes; some also provide head protection. Consumers should be aware that children who are seated in close proximity to a side air bag may be at risk of serious or fatal injury if the air bag deploys, especially if the child's head, neck, or chest is close to the air bag at the time of deployment. Since children 12 and under should ride in the backseat, you should not purchase a vehicle with an activated rear side air bag unless the manufacturer has determined that those side air bags pose no significant risk to children. Because there are variations in the design and performance of side air bags, check with the dealer or read the owner's manual for information and warnings about child passengers and side impact air bags.

Safety Perks and Pitfalls in a Family Car
What to look for -- and what to avoid -- when choosing a car.

Find out which cars received the top safety ratings in 2002.

Safety ratings that assess the crash-worthiness of a vehicle -- that is, the vehicle's ability to protect passengers in an impact -- are given by government agencies such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). They are also provided by private organizations, such as the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The IIHS, which is funded by the insurance industry, rates vehicles in several areas, including front crashes, head restraints, and bumpers, and then assesses an overall rating. The NHTSA evaluates vehicles in several areas, notably front and side crashes and rollover resistance. Here are the year 2002 vehicles that each organization gave top ratings for in each category:

Passenger Vans

Top-Rated by IIHS

Ford Windstar

Honda Odyssey

Toyota Sienna

Top-Rated by NHTSA

Ford Windstar
(with side air bags)

Kia Sedona

Mercury Villager

Nissan Quest

Toyota Sienna

Honda Odyssey

Sport-Utility Vehicles

Top-Rated by IIHS

Acura MDX

Ford Explorer

Mercury Mountaineer

Lexus RX300

Toyota Highlander

Hyundai Santa Fe

Subaru Forester

Top-Rated by NHTSA

Honda CR-V

Ford Escape

Lexus RX300

Mazda Tribute

Acura MDX

Sedans and Wagons

Top-Rated by IIHS

Toyota Avalon

Volkswagon Passat

Subaru Legacy

Ford Taurus

Mercury Sable

Top-Rated by NHTSA

Honda Civic
(with side air bags)

Honda Accord
(with side air bags)

Lexus ES300

Top Rated Vehicles for Safety
Find out which cars received the top safety ratings in 2002.

Safety ratings that assess the crash-worthiness of a vehicle -- that is, the vehicle's ability to protect passengers in an impact -- are given by government agencies such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). They are also provided by private organizations, such as the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Passenger Vans

Top-Rated by IIHS

Ford Windstar

Honda Odyssey

Toyota Sienna

Top-Rated by NHTSA

Ford Windstar
(with side air bags)

Kia Sedona

Mercury Villager

Nissan Quest

Toyota Sienna

Honda Odyssey

Sport-Utility Vehicles

Top-Rated by IIHS

Acura MDX

Ford Explorer

Mercury Mountaineer

Lexus RX300

Toyota Highlander

Hyundai Santa Fe

Subaru Forester

Top-Rated by NHTSA

Honda CR-V

Ford Escape

Lexus RX300

Mazda Tribute

Acura MDX

Sedans and Wagons

Top-Rated by IIHS

Toyota Avalon

Volkswagon Passat

Subaru Legacy

Ford Taurus

Mercury Sable

Top-Rated by NHTSA

Honda Civic
(with side air bags)

Honda Accord
(with side air bags)

Lexus ES300

Which Car Seat Is Right for Your Child?
A valuable age-by-age guide to your child's car seat needs.

Infants

As your child grows, you'll need to change the direction that his car seat faces and how he sits in it -- and you may need to buy a new seat. Check out this age-by-age guide to keeping car travel safe for your little one.

Kids must remain rear-facing until they're 1 year old and 20 pounds, preferably longer. Your options are:

Infant-only seat: This can be used until baby weighs 20 to 22 pounds or his head is within 1 inch of top of the seat.

Rear-facing convertible: Most babies use this next, because they still need to ride rear-facing. (It may be used from birth, but infant-only seats fit small babies better.) Choose one certified to face rear until baby weighs at least 30 pounds.

Toddlers

For kids who are at least 1 year old and 20 pounds, though they should ride rear-facing as long as possible, options are:

Forward-facing seat: This can be used until your child weighs 40 to 60 pounds. (Most are convertible and fit to 40 pounds.)

Combination seat: This functions with a harness until the child reaches 40 pounds. Remove the harness and it converts to a belt-positioning booster, which can be used for kids up to 80 pounds with your car's lap/shoulder belt.

Preschoolers

For children who have outgrown seats with a harness, use a belt-positioning booster with lap/shoulder belt in the car. It fits kids up to 80-100 pounds. Most kids need boosters from about age 3 or 4 to at least age 8. Children need head support; use a high-back booster if the car has a low backseat. A backless booster can be used if the car's seat has a headrest.

Once You've Bought

Practice buckling the seat into your car before your baby's first ride.

Make sure the harness straps fit snugly on your baby's body. Use the lowest harness slots for a newborn infant. Keep the straps in the slots at or below your baby's shoulders for the rear-facing position.

Make sure the harness straps fit properly over the shoulders and between the legs -- this is very important. Dress your baby in clothes that keep legs free.

To fill empty spaces and give support, roll up a couple of small blankets and tuck them between your baby's shoulders and head, on both his right and left sides.

If he still slumps down, put a rolled diaper between his legs behind the crotch strap. Don't put thick padding underneath or behind the baby.

Additional Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 800-424-9398, 888-327-4236

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

6 Car Seat Safety Tips
Make sure your child has a safe ride.

As a family, you'll undoubtedly spend a lot of time in the car, traveling from play dates to soccer matches, from the grocery store to Grandma's house and back again. Here are some tips to make sure your child is safe during these many trips:

1. Make sure your child rides in the backseat. The backseat is generally the safest place in a crash. If your vehicle has a passenger air bag, it's essential for children 12 and under to ride in back.

2. Make sure infants ride facing the rear until they're about age 1 and at least 20 to 22 pounds. Infants who weigh 20 pounds before 1 year of age should ride in a restraint approved for higher rear-facing weights. Always read your child restraint owner manual for instructions on properly using the restraint. Children over age 1 and at least 20 pounds may ride facing forward.

3. Check to see that the safety belt holds the seat tightly in place. Put the belt through the correct slot. If your safety seat can be used facing either way, use the correct belt slots for each direction. The safety belt must stay tight when securing the safety seat.

4. Make sure the harness is buckled snugly around your child. Keep the straps over your child's shoulder. The harness should be adjusted so you can slip only one finger underneath the straps at your child's chest. Place the chest clip at armpit level.

5. Have children over 40 pounds use a booster seat. Keep your child in a safety seat with a full harness as long as possible, until he's at least 40 pounds. Then use a belt-positioning booster seat, which helps the adult lap and shoulder belt fit better. A belt-positioning booster seat, used with the adult lap and shoulder belt, is preferred for children weighing 40 to 80 pounds.

6. Check safety belt fit on older children. The child must be tall enough to sit without slouching, with knees bent at the edge of the seat, with feet on the floor. The lap belt must fit low and tight across the upper thighs. The shoulder belt should rest over the shoulder and across the chest. Never put the shoulder belt under the child's arm or behind her back. The adult lap and shoulder belt system alone will not fit most children until they're at least 4 feet 9 inches tall and weigh about 80 pounds.

Protect Your Child from Air Bags
How air bags can harm your kids -- and how to protect them.

Dangers of Air Bags

Most new cars have air bags for front-seat passengers -- and they work very well to protect older children and adults riding in the front seat of a car. But an infant or child riding in the front seat of a car can be seriously injured or killed by an inflating air bag.

The air bag is not a soft pillow. To do its important job, an air bag comes out of the dashboard very fast, faster than the blink of an eye. It could hit anything close to the dashboard with enough force to cause severe injuries or even death. This is especially dangerous for babies and young children. Because the back of a rear-facing child seat sits very close to the dashboard, the seat could be struck with enough force to cause serious, or even fatal injuries to a baby. Even older children (who have outgrown child seats) are at risk from a deploying air bag, if they are not properly restrained with a lap/shoulder belt.

In almost all cases in which an infant has died as the result of an air bag, the baby was riding in a rear-facing safety seat in the front passenger seat. The back of the safety seat was so close to the dashboard that the air bag hit the safety seat with tremendous force. The force broke the back of the safety seat and caused a fatal brain injury. Child safety seats are not designed to protect against this extreme impact.

In almost all cases in which a child over age 1 has died from impact by the air bag, he or she was "out of position" -- either unbuckled, or not wearing the shoulder portion of the safety belt. The child slid or flexed forward during precrash braking, so the head and neck were close to the dashboard at the time the air bag was triggered. Severe head or neck injuries occurred.

How You Can Protect Your Child

You can prevent injuries to your children from air bags by following these safety steps.

Seat children in the back. Children 12 and under should ride buckled up in the rear seat. This is the safest place for children of any age.

Make sure that everyone in the front seat is seated as far back from the air bags as is reasonably possible. The further back the driver and passenger are sitting, the less likely that they will be injured by the impact of the air bag.

Be sure everyone is buckled up with both lap AND shoulder belts on every trip. It's a simple concept, but so important for our safety.

Infants under age 1 must ride facing the rear of the car in the rear seat. Any children riding in a rear-facing child safety seat -- regardless of age -- CANNOT ride in the front seat of a vehicle with a passenger air bag or side air bag. These safety seats are not equipped to handle the force of an air bag upon impact.

Make sure that all young children are properly secured in a child safety seat and older children by a lap/shoulder belt. Your child should be in a child safety seat, booster seat, or safety belt appropriate for her age and size.

Place a child in a car seat or booster seat in the center of the backseat. If your car doesn't have a seatbelt in the middle of the backseat, the side of the backseat behind the passenger's seat is your next best option. If you have no other choice and must place a front-facing car seat in the front, push the seat as far back as it will go.

Know how to properly install your child seat in the vehicle. Read both the owner's manual for the vehicle and the instructions for your child safety seat. Also make sure to check your vehicle owner's manual and the instructions provided with your child safety seat for information on air bags and safety seat use.

Find out if your car offers an air bag cutoff switch. A law passed in 1995 allows car manufacturers to install a manual cutoff switch, which can temporarily disable a passenger-side air bag. If your car is a two-seater or if the car seat will not fit in the backseat and your car has this cutoff switch, disable the air bag while the car seat is in the front seat. Be sure to switch the air bag back on when you remove the car seat.

Find out which cars received the top safety ratings in 2002.

Safety ratings that assess the crash-worthiness of a vehicle -- that is, the vehicle's ability to protect passengers in an impact -- are given by government agencies such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). They are also provided by private organizations, such as the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Passenger Vans
Top-Rated by IIHS

Ford Windstar

Honda Odyssey

Toyota Sienna

Top-Rated by NHTSA

Ford Windstar
(with side air bags)

Kia Sedona

Mercury Villager

Nissan Quest

Toyota Sienna

Honda Odyssey

Sport-Utility Vehicles
Top-Rated by IIHS

Acura MDX

Ford Explorer

Mercury Mountaineer

Lexus RX300

Toyota Highlander

Hyundai Santa Fe

Subaru Forester

Top-Rated by NHTSA

Honda CR-V

Ford Escape

Lexus RX300

Mazda Tribute

Acura MDX

Sedans and Wagons

Top-Rated by IIHS

Toyota Avalon

Volkswagon Passat

Subaru Legacy

Ford Taurus

Mercury Sable

Top-Rated by NHTSA

Honda Civic
(with side air bags)

Honda Accord
(with side air bags)

Lexus ES300

Living on One Income
Can you afford to stay home? Here's advice to help you weigh the option of living on one income.

6 Tips for Living on One Income
Your family can live comfortably with one working parent.
Whether by layoff or by lifestyle choice, more and more families are facing the prospect of life on one income. Just the idea can be daunting, since most of us have been schooled to believe that two incomes are nearly a necessity for life in many American communities. But with proper planning and the right outlook, you can make the transition to a one-income status, says Denise Topolnicki, author of How to Raise a Family on Less Than Two Incomes (Broadway Books, 2001). Living on less than two incomes requires some sacrifice. If you manage your money well, however, you'll never feel deprived of the things that matter most to you and your loved ones, she writes.

Here are six steps you can take to adjust your family to life on one income:

1. Cut your grocery bill. No, don't go on a starvation diet. Instead, cut out convenience foods, such as precooked dinners and packaged snacks. They're priced to provide maximum profit for your grocer. Also, clip coupons. Avoid coupons that encourage you to buy new or packaged items that you might otherwise avoid, but seek out those that save you money on your staples.

2. Consolidate to one credit card with a low interest rate. A wallet full of cards just encourages you to spend. And many cards now offer very low interest rates. But be sure to read the fine print: some low-interest deals are just introductory offers.

3.. Barter with other families. One of the easiest things to barter is babysitting time. Connect with other families trying to cut back and trade babysitting services. You cut your child-care costs and you can still get out of the house once in a while.

4. Pull the plug on cable. Anything worth watching will turn up on video three months later.

5. Don't move. While it may be tempting to pull up stakes and move to a cheaper community, the financial cost and emotional burden of moving often makes this idea more trouble than it's worth. Instead, look for ways to reduce your current housing costs such as refinancing your mortgage or reducing your home-related taxes.

6. Save up cash to make any big purchases. This achieves two goals. One, it forces you to consider, over a lengthy period of time, how badly you really want a new sofa, computer, car stereo, etc. Second, by saving cash for the purchase, you avoid racking up a credit card bill and owing interest.

While all these steps will help, perhaps the most important part of life on less than two incomes is the support of your spouse. You both need to be committed to making the new financial arrangement work. If one spouse is working to contain costs and the other is out buying new CDs, the process is doomed. Whether it's because you want to spend more time with the kids, or because you and your family are getting through a rough patch of economic times, it's key that the family work as a team to make ends meet.

Can You Afford to Stay Home?
Staying home with baby could be your most affordable option.
The Money You'll Save

For many parents, whether to stay home with baby boils down to dollars and cents: They're returning to the workplace because they think they can't afford not to. But read on and find out how living on one income might be easier than you think.

In every neighborhood, across all socioeconomic groups, you'll find families who are living on one income. Here are some examples of the money you'd save if you had only one income.

Make more money and you'll pay more taxes. Make less and keep more in your family's pocket. For example: A two-income family makes $72,000 a year. They've got $20,600 in deductions and expenses, making their tax bill for that year $14,392. That means they actually take home only $57,608. If one parent stops working, reducing the income to $42,000 with the same deductions, their tax bill would be $3,210. They take home $38,790. That means they only really take home $18,818 with the extra parent working.

Child care is not cheap. Depending on where you live and the type of child care you choose (i.e., day-care center, at-home or live-in help) you're talking an expense of $5,000-$15,000 a year -- more than that if you've got more than one child. Combined with the above tax bill, you're going to have to bring in a substantial amount of money to make working worth your while.

When it comes to lunch, chances are that if you're working, you're spending $5-$10 each day getting something to eat. That's $1,300-$2,600 per year. Add up the fancy coffees from Starbucks and tack on another $300-$400.

When you're working at home as a mom, every day is casual day. This means saving money on shoes, panty hose, dry-cleaning, and expensive suits. Estimated savings per year: $3,600-$5,000.

Finding Hidden Treasure

Once you've decided to stay at home with your child, you have to figure out how to make the most of your one income. Here are some tips to help you:

For one month, carry around a notebook and jot down all your daily expenditures (no matter how small). After a month you'll begin to see spending patterns.

Decide which extra expenditures you can scale back or cut out altogether. Can you eat out once or twice a month instead of once or twice a week? Why not do your nails yourself instead of paying for a manicure?

Go through the must-haves in your budget. Now that you're not making business calls, do you still need that expensive cell phone plan? Cutting down the minutes could mean lower monthly payments. Do you need all those channels on your cable? Can you refinance your home? Switch to a lower interest credit card? Drive an older car instead of that new SUV?

Tricks like these help you weed out the expenses that aren't really that important. It may be easier than you think to go without.

Buying for Baby

New parents (especially first-timers) often equate being good parents with having the latest clothes and gadgets. But leave big purchases to the grandparents and spare your bank account. If the fact that you don't have a particular item is killing you, check around with friends and see if you can get it secondhand. If hand-me-downs make you cringe, try borrowing it for a week. If you are driven to buy it yourself after that time, go for it.

Other Savings

As your child grows, you can also save money by making your own baby food. Freeze it in ice cube trays for up to two months. When your child has a craving for strained peas or smashed carrots, pop a cube in the microwave and go to town. Making your own baby food is also a great alternative for children with allergies. You won't be feeding them additives and preservatives and they're much less likely to have adverse reactions.

Real Considerations

If you've been career-minded in the past, there is no question that choosing to stay at home will be an adjustment. Until you become part of a community of parents, there's a bit of culture shock. Obviously, if you're a single parent, your options for staying home may be limited. In addition, if you are a two-income family, you'll want to look at pension benefits, 401(k) and insurance policies, and determine who should be staying home. Dads make great primary caregivers, too!

If you'd like to keep your foot in the working world, talk to your company about working part time or creating a freelance position for you. Or once the dust has settled with the new baby, think about finding something you have a passion for that you can do out of your home.

For some women, taking time out from the workplace after their baby is born is the right choice. If this is your choice, realize that you can achieve your goal with some planning and sacrifice. It may take some time to organize your stay-at-home plan, but you'll get there!

How to Save for College

You can't start planning -- or saving -- too early.

College Costs in 2019

Do you anticipate putting your child through college? Here's the best advice from financial planners on how to finance your child's college education: Start early. Prices are on the rise every year -- learn how to start saving now!

Eighteen years from now, tuition and room and board for a four-year college education will cost close to $85,000 at a public university and just over $200,000 at a private school. And this doesn't include the cost of books, transportation, and other day-to-day expenses.

To meet those costs, you'll need to put about $115 a month (for a public institution) or $284 a month (for a private college) starting from your child's birthdate, in an investment product that will give you an average pretax rate of return of 8 percent.

Stocks, Straight Up

"Stocks are the best way to achieve the kind of returns you'll need to keep up with rising tuition costs," says Allen N. Jones, a senior vice president at Merrill Lynch. Even though stocks can be riskier than other types of investments, the added risk means you may make more money than you would with a safer investment. And since you won't need the money for many years, if the market goes down in any given year, you'll have plenty of time for your investment to bounce back before tuition bills are due. Historically, investing in the stock market has also been the best way to get a high enough rate of return to beat inflation.

Mutual Funds

Mutual funds are a good way to invest in the stock market, because they provide diversification and professional management for much less money than you'd need to set up your own portfolio. To set up an individual portfolio, you typically would have to invest about $50,000, divided among ten or so stocks, to get the same amount of diversification a mutual fund provides. You'd also have to pay a commission of at least $50 each time you bought or sold shares, and an annual fee between $30 and $50.

Many mutual fund companies allow you to open an account for as little as $100. (Most funds charge an annual maintenance or management fee.) You'll need to accumulate between $1,000 and $2,500 in that account, depending on the mutual fund company you choose, before you'll be able to invest in a growth-oriented fund that will generate the high return needed to pay future college tuition. You may want to pick a growth fund that invests mostly in stocks, if your child is still a toddler. If you're investing for an older child, you may be better off with a less-risky balanced fund, which typically has the same minimum dollar requirements as a growth fund but invests in a mix of stocks, bonds, and cash equivalents.

Some funds charge a "load," a fee for investing, usually about 4.5 percent of the share price at the time of purchase. Although it sounds like a no-load fund will be a better use of your money, that's not always the case. Don't rule out a load fund simply because of this extra cost--it may have a better track record than a similar no-load fund you're considering when you compare the rates of return over several years. Pick the fund that has the best track record and best meets your investment objectives.

Final Caveat: Don't Touch Your 401(k)

If you participate in an employer-sponsored 401(k) retirement plan, you may have money in at least one mutual fund already. It's not a good idea to borrow or withdraw money from such an account for college expenses; there are burdensome restrictions, and money taken out of the plan has to be repaid, often at a steep rate of interest.

Money-Saving Travel Tips
Quick and easy ways to cut down your travel costs.

You can't start planning -- or saving -- too early.

Airfare

More often than not, the person sitting next to you on a plane or sleeping in the next hotel room has paid more or less than you did for the same services. Each day, airlines quote more than several hundred fares for flights between the same two cities and hotels charge different rates for the same room. So how do you find the best rates? Here are some tips:

Avoid traveling around the holidays. Most airlines have "blackout days" around popular holidays, when fares are more expensive and passengers cannot use frequent flyer miles. However, flying on the day of the actual holiday (Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day) generally means low airfares and plenty of seats.

Sign up for fare special e-mails. When airlines get into a fare war, the cost of a plane ticket can fall overnight and the discounted fare may be sold out by noon the next day. Get on the mailing list of airlines and other travel Web sites so you can be notified immediately if fares drop.

Look into booking your vacation as a package. You might be able to save by booking your airline tickets along with your hotel room or rental car.

Buy your tickets at least 21 days in advance. There are usually four different timetables for advance purchase: 21-day, 14-day, 7-day, and 3-day. The further in advance you book your flight, the lower the fare you're likely to find.

Keep your airline options open. Use a travel Web site to search for fares instead of the individual airline sites, and choose "none" as a carrier preference.

Consider another airport. Find out about all the airports that are near your destination city. You might be able to fly into a smaller airport or neighboring city at a much lower rate.

Stay over a Saturday night. Airlines quote the highest fares to business travelers, who fly during the week and spend their weekends at home. If you plan to leave for your trip on a Wednesday and return on Saturday, your fare would be considerably higher than if you extended your trip to Sunday morning.

Fly on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. Some airlines offer cheaper fares on specific days of the week. Generally, it's cheapest to fly on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Remember, though, that a Saturday stay is necessary to receive the lowest rate.

Be flexible about the time of day you travel. If possible, let the fares dictate the day and time of your departure. Often the less popular early morning or late evening flights have lower rates.

Pick a flight with plenty of open seats. Seats in a flight are divided into "classes," and each class has its own price. Since the cheapest classes sell first, the fewer seats that are left on a plane, the more expensive they are.

Sign up for a frequent flyer program. If you are a frequent traveler, it may make more sense for you to fly consistently with the same airline and accumulate frequent flyer miles, rather than base your criteria strictly on which carrier has the lowest fare for a particular destination.

Car Rental

Make your reservations as early as possible. Many companies increase rates as their cars become booked. Also, certain classes of cars will sell out, and you may end up paying for a larger or more expensive vehicle than you need.

Shop online. The quickest and easiest way to compare rental car rates: Consult a travel Web site. This way you can see what each company charges for the same type of car and length of rental.

Consider the mileage policy. If you plan on doing a lot of driving in your rental car, make sure that you get unlimited mileage. Car rental companies can charge an exorbitant amount for each mile you go over the limit.

Look into car rental offices away from the airport. Airport fees can raise the price of a rental car up to 10 percent. If the hotel you plan to stay in offers shuttle service, ride the shuttle to your hotel and rent a car there.

Ask about special rates. Many rental car companies have weekly, weekend, or seasonal rates. Find out which discounts they offer and then see if your travel plans can be altered to meet their requirements.

Book the smallest car you need. Often you can upgrade to a larger car at the rental counter at a rate far less than what you would have paid if you reserved that size. However, be aware that an upgrade is not guaranteed, and you may end up stuck with the car you reserved.

Compare daily and weekly rates. If you need to rent a car for four or five days, it may cost less ultimately to book it for a full week.

Ask about all classes and sizes. Sometimes a rental car office may have extra cars in a certain class or size and rent them for even less than the cost of a smaller car.

Use coupons. Car rental coupons can be found in travel magazines or the travel section of the Sunday newspaper. Make sure to mention your coupon when reserving the car.

Hotel

Book in advance. The cheapest hotel rates can go quickly, so book your room at the same time that you make your travel plans.

Compare packages. Choosing the cheapest hotel doesn't necessarily save you the most money. Weigh the hotel rates based upon the meals, entertainment, housekeeping, room amenities, airport shuttle service, and activity packages that the hotel may provide.

Check for special deals through your memberships, associations, or clubs. Sometimes a credit card, a travel agent, or a frequent flyer plan can qualify you for a discounted hotel rate.

Ask your travel agent about booking your room through a consolidator. Consolidators buy large blocks of rooms and often pass large discounts on to the individual consumer.

Consider staying in a business district. Since business travelers aren't around during the weekend, hotels in business districts have plenty of available rooms on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights and usually offer discounted rates.

Ask about a suite. If your family requires more than one bedroom, staying in a suite may be cheaper than reserving separate rooms.

Talk to more than one person. If you plan to stay in a national hotel chain, call its 800-number before contacting the hotel directly. One might quote you a lower rate than the other.

Resolving Money Conflicts
How to deal with the financial strain that new parents face.

Increased Spending

Almost all couples argue about money at some point in their relationship, but the issue becomes particularly thorny during the early stages of parenthood. It helps to understand why financial pressures can strain your relationship at this time, and to learn ways you can set clear goals and approach financial difficulties as a team.

One of the main reasons couples conflict over money after baby is born is that expenses usually increase at a time when one parent or both are cutting back hours or taking parental leave from work.

Babies cost money. In the first two years of their baby's life, parents spend more than $7,000. The two largest child-rearing expenses in the first year are medical and child-care costs; over the course of childhood, housing and food comprise the largest share of expenses. Average costs for setting up the nursery, including major furniture and accessories, is about $400 to $600. Baby clothes and other necessary gear come to about $500 to $600 a year. Personal-care items such as diapers, wipes, and shampoo add up to about $800 the first year; toys and books can add another $800.

Parents usually want to provide their child with the basics, if not the best. This is often a bone of contention between partners: One wants to spend while the other wants to save. If you and your partner don't agree on the amount of spending, it's important to communicate with each other and make compromises. Here are some tactics:

Make a list of what's bothering you regarding your finances, and brainstorm ideas together to resolve the issues. For example, if you insist on baby wearing designer clothing, your spouse may suggest you shop only at end-of-season sales. If your spouse wants to see a movie every week, perhaps you can rent a movie most weeks and go to the movie theater once a month.

Whether or not you'll be returning to work, it's a good idea to sit with your spouse and create a workable family budget. Track your monthly expenses. You'll be surprised how much peace of mind you'll both feel knowing where your money goes and that you do have control over how you spend it! If you still can't seem to agree on anything, meet with a reputable financial advisor and agree to take his advice.

Power Struggles

In addition to the stress of added expenses, issues of power and control often underlie money conflicts. If a woman loses some income by cutting back on her job, she may also lose a big source of confidence; if a man suddenly takes on the role of sole breadwinner, he may become more anxious about his earning power.

Resentments can also grow if one partner wrongly assumes that just because his or her job brings in the income, that job is more important than baby care. And if both partners are heading back to work, the higher earner often feels that their spouse should handle baby detail, like day-care drop-offs and pickups, baby sick days, and trips to the pediatrician.

To minimize conflict, couples need to strategize and agree to take turns being responsible for difficult situations surrounding child care and household responsibilities.

Using sick leave to care for the baby: The best approach is to take turns caring for baby when she's sick. This way, neither partner uses up his or her sick days rapidly.

Dealing with emergencies: Create a plan on how to handle emergencies. If there is a health-related emergency, determine how you'll each respond. Split the responsibility for handling billing, insurance, automobile, household repair, and banking situations in a fair manner.

Doing the household chores: The more you can get into a routine for who does what and when, the better. Spend some time working out a plan, and put it on paper so there are no misunderstandings. Post it where you both can see it!

Setting Goals

Whether or not you're in conflict about money and work, take time now to talk calmly about your financial goals and how they relate to each of your careers. Do you need to save for a bigger house or a new car? If one of you has cut back on work, can you make further spending cuts to meet savings goals? Set priorities together regarding which goals are important to meet first. Should you buy a new dining room set or put the money into college savings?

It's important to talk with each other about why you're working and what you each get out of it. Often it's not just income but identity that we gain from work. You need to feel valued and respected in what you do, whether in the boardroom or changing a diaper. And mutual support and cooperation is key to the success of creating a financial plan that works. Talking about such issues now will help you understand one another's expectations for your own and your child's futures.

Savvy Strategies for Parents on a Budget
Learn simple tactics for preventing monetary meltdown.

Practice Living on One Income

Let's face it, taking care of a baby can be pretty expensive. Diapers, clothes, toys, child care -- it can all add up pretty quickly. Even if both you and your spouse plan to work, you'll need a budget and some new strategies for getting the stuff you need. Here are some tips to help you live within your means.

If one of you plans to stay home with the baby, rehearse living life with one paycheck. Before baby arrives, try banking the salary of the parent who'll stay home, advises Martha Bullen, coauthor with Darcie Sanders of Staying Home: From Full-Time Professional to Full-Time Parent (Little, Brown; 1998). This strategy will help you build up a financial cushion and will give you a sense of what it's like to live on less.

Organize Your Expenses

Start by categorizing expenses into two different categories: fixed and variable. Fixed expenses include fees you must pay each month that are difficult to reduce, such as mortgage payments. Variable expenses include things that you could cut back on, like meals and entertainment. Track them in a notebook, spreadsheet, or home financial organizer software.

For a true picture of how much you really spend in each of these categories, log your monthly expenditures in a notebook. Be sure to include even small purchases like bottles of water, gum, and magazines. You'll be surprised how it all adds up.

Watch Small Expenditures

Just one cup of coffee a day at your local espresso house may be costing you $30 to $50 a month. Even a morning bagel can set you back $20 a month or more. Here are some other money-saving tactics:

Read your newspaper online: A daily newspaper can cost $20 a month -- more if you get home delivery. You can read it online instead for free.

Use the library: Instead of dropping $50 on baby books or novels at the bookstore, check out your local library. Most libraries also now let you check out CDs, computer software, and videos -- all for free!

Say "yes" to hand-me-downs: The maternity world practically revolves around the passing on of clothes--whether they're baby clothes or maternity clothes. Not only are friends and relatives good sources, but online pregnancy circles sometimes have "swap meets." You can also "inherit" toys, playpens, strollers, baby swings, etc. Ask around and see what materializes.

Should Dad Stay Home?
Are you ready for Dad to be Mr. Mom?

Stay-at-home dads are still the minority. But check out the playground and increasingly there, among the moms and the nannies, are the pioneers in this new generation of involved fathers. When a family faces the question of whether a parent should quit working and stay home with the kids, it's not always a given that they're only talking about mom.

Is your family ready for Dad to be Mr. Mom? Consider these questions.

1. Whose income is greater? If there's an obvious salary difference, that may help make the decision easier. When the dollar figures are close, you may also want to consider benefits and long-term job prospects.

2. Are both parents being realistic? Does Dad know what it's like to be home all day with the kids? Is Mom prepared for the burden that comes with being the family's breadwinner? Be sure you've both had as much firsthand experience as possible before making a commitment.

3. Can Dad count on emotional support? It's a big change. Are there other Dads to bond with? Can he count on support from friends and family to make this transition? Lack of support isn't a reason not to go for it, but Dad should be prepared for either eventuality.

4. Is Dad considering a career change? Sometimes, the idea of staying home with the kids sounds like a good way to break from the corporate rat race and start up a new project from home. While that's not a wholly bad idea, Dad needs to be honest about it if this is his hope. That way, both parents can make the necessary arrangements to be sure that child care and household chores are covered.

Consider doing some networking before you make the decision. In addition to other dads you may know in your community, the Internet has become a virtual meeting place for many fathers seeking support and advice for their child-care choices.

Children can benefit greatly from the undivided attention of a parent, whether it's Mom or Dad. Make the decision that works best for your family and that gives you the best sense of satisfaction.

Insurance, Wills, and More
Your guide to managing your family's financial security, from insurance advice to college planning, and more.

Understanding Your Insurance Rights
Make sure you and your baby are covered.

Health Insurance

Health insurance and life insurance are valuable security blankets for your child. Here are some tips on how to find the right plans for your newly expanded family.

If both you and your husband plan to continue working after the baby arrives, compare your health-insurance policies to see which provides better coverage. (Be sure to look for well-baby coverage, since not all policies include it.)

Talk to a benefits specialist at your company. Combining your family's coverage under one plan can be complicated. You may want to keep both policies until the baby arrives, so you'll have additional coverage in the event that the birth is difficult or your baby needs special care. Check both plans' "coordination of benefits" clause, since many insurance companies no longer allow duplicate coverage. Even though each spouse has a separate insurance policy, one policy will not necessarily pick up where the other left off.

Remember to notify your insurance company in writing about the birth. Most insurers cover a baby's medical expenses for only the first 30 days of life unless they receive this notification.

Life Insurance

Determine how much money the family would need if the wage-earning spouse (or either of you, if you both work) were to die.

Set up enough insurance for each of you to account for your contribution to the family's long-term finances. Consider costs such as paying off your mortgage, child care, college, and annual living expenses.

Compare term life insurance (which usually provides coverage for either 10 or 20 years) to whole life insurance (which remains in effect your whole life, as long as you pay regular premiums). Term insurance is less expensive than whole, and insures you or your spouse only during the years your children are financially dependent on you.

How to Save for College
You can't start planning -- or saving -- too early.

Setting Fair Allowances
How much pocket money should you give your kids?
Despite what your kids may tell you, there's no "minimum wage" requirement for their allowances. So how can you determine what's a fair sum? Here are some tips from Dr. Tightwad's Money-Smart Kids (Kiplinger Books, 1997) on how to pinpoint an agreeable amount:

Sit down with your kids and decide what expenses their allowance will have to cover. Besides school lunches, do you expect your child to pick up the cost of snack foods and games at the video arcade? Specify if you or your child is responsible for clothing and school supplies.

Give enough so that your children can squander it, but not so much that you'll be upset when they do.

Ask other parents what they're giving.

Here are some other general guidelines in deciding when and how to give your child an allowance:

Don't start giving an allowance until your children are old enough to manage it.

View an allowance as a lesson for your child in managing money.

Keep the system simple so that you can stay on top of it.

Here are the average weekly allowances nationwide, courtesy of kidsmoney.org:

Ages 3 to 5: about $3

Ages 6 to 8: about $4

Ages 9 to 11: about $7

Ages 12 to 13: about $10

Ages 14 and 15: about $15

Ages 16 and 17: about $24

Saving for College with a 529 Plan: Frequently Asked Questions
Why and how to start saving for college with a 529 plan.

What Is It?

What is a 529 plan?

It's an investment plan operated by a state and designed to help families save for future college costs. As long as the plan satisfies a few basic requirements, the federal tax law provides special tax benefits to you, the plan participant (Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code).

It's up to each state to decide whether it will offer a 529 plan (or possibly more than one), and what it will look like. Every state now has at least one 529 plan available. 529 plans are usually categorized as either prepaid or savings, although some have elements of both.

Why should I invest in a 529 plan when I can't be sure that my child will attend a public university in my state?

There's a misconception that 529 plans are only geared to families that send their children to a state school. That's just not true. There are two general types of 529 plans: prepaid programs and savings programs. The states offering prepaid tuition contracts covering in-state tuition will allow you to transfer the value of your contract to private and out-of-state schools (although you may not get full value depending on the particular state). If you decide to use a 529 savings program, the full value of your account can be used at any accredited college or university in the country (along with some foreign institutions).