A child safety seat may include a base configured to be operably coupled to a vehicle seat, a seat shell configured to receive and secure a child therein, and a multi-functional energy absorber. The seat shell may be operably coupled to the base such that the seat shell is alternately movable between a plurality of positions relative to the base responsive to operation of a seat positioner assembly, and lockable in the plurality of positions relative to the base responsive to operation of a locking assembly. The multi-functional energy absorber may be disposed between the base and the seat shell. The multi-functional energy absorber may be an integral portion of both the seat positioner assembly and the locking assembly.