New Child Restraint System Mandatory; Toys 'R' Us, Babies 'R' Us and Babiesrus.com Offer Important LATCH Information

PARAMUS, N.J., Sept. 6 -- According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over 80 percent of child safety seats are installed incorrectly. Beginning September 1, in order to help simplify child safety seat installation and enhance child safety, all new child safety seats and vehicles will be equipped with a standardized child restraint system known as LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children).

To support this important program, all Toys "R" Us and Babies "R" Us stores nationwide will feature LATCH information, LATCH aisle displays and signage. More than 2 million free brochures with important details about LATCH will be distributed to parents and caregivers through our stores. In addition, all Babies "R" Us stores will have a vehicle seat display where Associates can demonstrate the new LATCH installation system.

Babiesrus.com (http://www.babiesrus.com) will feature LATCH information on its website. Every car seat featured will provide more information on LATCH with just one click. Babiesrus.com also offers extensive free downloadable information from the online website, as well as frequently asked questions to help consumers make informed decision about LATCH products.

"Through our stores, we have the opportunity to reach thousands of people every day as they shop and make decisions on the right car seats for their families," said Sue Montecallo, Vice President of Corporate Juvenile Marketing for Toys "R" Us and Babies "R" Us. "We believe that it's important to give expectant and new parents as much information as possible to make selecting a child safety seat easier."

"With more and more consumers shopping online, Babiesrus.com is an important resource for parents," added Greg Ahearn, Vice President of Babiesrus.com. "Consumers can access and download free information about LATCH and other safety tips from our resource center. Plus, Babiesrus.com offers unbeatable convenience and benefits for new and expectant parents -- all right from the comfort of their own homes."

Whether a car seat is LATCH-equipped or not, parents need to understand the products they are buying. LATCH seats can be used in both LATCH and non-LATCH ready vehicles. LATCH's easy-to-install features will help countless parents properly secure their children's safety seat.

With or without LATCH, proper car seat installation is vital to keep children safe. For a free inspection check your local Babies "R" Us store for a planned check up event during September, call 1-866-SEAT-CHECK or visit http://www.seatcheck.org. Toys "R" Us and Babies "R" Us are supporting partners of the Daimler Chrysler Seat Check LATCH public awareness program.

Toys "R" Us, one of the world's leading retailers of toys, children's apparel and baby products, currently sells merchandise through 1,573 stores worldwide: 688 toy stores in the United States; 520 international toy stores, including franchise stores; 148 Kids "R" Us children's clothing stores, 174 Babies "R" Us stores and 43 Imaginarium stores, and through its Internet sites at http://www.toysrus.com, http://www.babiesrus.com and http://www.imaginarium.com.