How to choose a car seat for a child
Manufacturers of modern cars pay increased attention to safety. But all the measures they take are effective only for the driver and adult passengers, while the child in the cabin remains vulnerable, and it is impossible to provide him with adequate protection using standard vehicle equipment.
What can and should be done to ensure that traveling with younger family members is comfortable and safe, say specialists from the Daughters-Sons online store.
The mandatory use of special car seats in Russia was introduced relatively recently, on January 1, 2007, but not all drivers and parents perceived this measure as a vital necessity.
Changes have been made to the traffic rules obliging drivers to use child restraints (the official name in the traffic rules and GOST) to transport children under the age of 12 years. Failure to comply with this requirement will result in a fine being imposed on the driver.
At the same time, GOST 41.44-2005 was put into effect, establishing the rules for certification of such devices in Russia.
View full text of GOST 41.44-2005 >>
All child car seats must be certified, as indicated by the data tag located on the car seat itself:
- code of the standard to which the chair corresponds (ECE R44/03 or ECE R44/04)
- category (universal, semiuniversal, specific)
- load weight (allowable child weight)
- icon E with the code number of the country that conducted the tests (1 - Germany, 2 - Italy, 3 - France, 4 - Holland, etc.)
- certification identification number
- serial number of the product, since every 5,000th child car seat is tested
What about the built-in security system? Standard seat belts that fasten a passenger to a seat are designed for a person weighing more than 36 kg and a height of 150 cm; For others, such devices are ineffective. Moreover, in the event of an accident, they can even harm a small passenger.
Let's turn to statistics.
- In Germany in 2010, there were more than 10,000 accidents in which minors were in the affected vehicles, and only 32 of them died. Such a high safety record was made possible thanks to the universal use by German drivers of special certified devices for transporting children.
- Traveling in a child car seat reduces the risk of death in an accident by 70% and injury by 60%.
- In Russia, according to Health magazine, over the past five years, thanks to the use of restraint devices, child mortality in accidents has decreased by 30%, and the number of injured has decreased by 17%.
The presented statistical data convinces that the acquisition of a special device for transporting children is not a tribute to fashion, but a necessary contribution to road safety, and the legislative consolidation of this requirement was dictated by expediency.
According to clause 2.1 of GOST, which outlines the range of child restraint systems, these include “a set of elements consisting of straps or flexible elements with buckles, adjusting devices, fastening parts and, in some cases, an additional device (for example, a cradle, a removable child seat , additional seat and/or impact shield)".
From the above excerpt it becomes clear that instead of the reliable child car seats that have long been customary in civilized countries, the Russian legislator allows the use of alternative options for securing a small passenger in a standard car seat.
Their only goal is to ensure the safety of the child while traveling in the car, but do they all successfully cope with this task?
Alternative devices are available on the market in a wide range. And given that the traffic rules do not impose any requirements on such devices, anything can be called special systems. For example, commercially available special ties, fasteners and belt adapters that “correctly” fasten the child.
Their advantages compared to a full-fledged car seat include low price and compactness. In addition, as the manufacturers of such devices indicate, they comply with the mentioned GOST, which means that the driver will not face a fine for using them.
At the same time, the most important thing is hushed up: these devices not only do not guarantee the safety of the child in an emergency, but can even harm him.
The magazine for car enthusiasts "Autoreview" conducted a comparative crash test of various restraint devices (No. 8 (400) 2008). Correspondent Yuri Vetrov reports: “It is better to fasten the child with a regular standard seat belt, if there is no high-quality child car seat, than to use such devices.”
According to the results of the study, none of the alternative devices could protect the baby as much as the cheapest chair. In addition, analogues that are successfully sold in Russia are not used in Europe and are not sold under threat of a large fine.
The starting point when choosing a child restraint system is the child's weight: it determines the car seat group. The age and height of the baby do not play a special role; it is only important that the child’s head does not rise above the upper edge of the back of the chair. Please refer to the certification standard label for indications of weight limits for children for whom a particular device is suitable.
Group nameChild's weightApproximate age of the childInstallation methodAccording to current European and Russian standards, existing car seats are divided into five main and three additional groups (they are also called universal, since each of them combines the parameters of products from the basic groups). We list five basic groups of child car seats and their main characteristics.
Table 1. Basic groups of car seats with their main characteristics
| Group 0 | Less than 10 kg | From birth to 9 months | Perpendicular to the direction of travel |
| Group 0+ | Less than 13 kg | From birth to 18 months | Rear facing |
| Group 1 | From 9 to 18 kg | From 1 year to 4 years | Facing forward |
| Group 2 | From 15 to 25 kg | From 3 to 7 years | Facing forward |
| Group 3 | From 25 to 36 kg | From 6 to 12 years | Facing forward |
For children less than 10 kg, approximately from birth to 9 months.
Group 0 – infant carriers that are secured in a side position on the back seat of the car. Suitable for newborns and can be used up to nine months of age, or until the baby reaches 10 kg.
Car seats can be a removable upper part of the stroller - they are quickly and easily attached to the wheelbase, installed and removed from the car.
During the trip, the child is in a completely horizontal position - this not only adds comfort to the trip, but also makes it more protected: experts believe that even when traveling short distances, the child should lie down.
“Infants weighing up to 9 kg cannot be transported in a sitting position; Cradles and car seats are considered suitable restraint devices for them. The best option would be car seats of group 0+.
Group 0 chairs provide the best safety for a newborn. This is where you will place your baby after the maternity hospital. The service life of this model is short: the child will outgrow this chair very quickly. A more durable and reliable alternative would be a car seat or a removable upper part of the stroller.”
Specialist of the online store “Daughters and Sons”
Ekaterina Goloveshkina
For children less than 13 kg, approximately from birth to 18 months.
Group 0+ - car seats installed with the back facing the direction of travel; Suitable for children up to 18 months of age and weighing up to 13 kg. This installation of a car seat is due to the specifics of children's anatomy, when the baby's neck is not yet strong enough: during an impact on the front of the car, an increased load is placed on it.
For children from 9 to 18 kg, approximately from one year to 4 years.
Group 1 – seats that are located in the direction of travel of the car; Suitable for children aged one to four and weighing up to 18 kg.
To secure the child in the devices of this group, their own belts are used, and the ISOFIX or LATCH systems are used to attach the chair to the car seat.
Many car seats in this group provide the ability to change the angle of inclination from a sitting position to a sleeping position.
For children from 15 to 25 kg, approximately from 3 to 7 years.
Group 2 – combines car seats for babies weighing from 15 to 25 kg and aged 3 to 6 years. In them, young passengers are fastened with standard seat belts, three-point belts of a child car seat or safety tables. The chair's back and headrest are adjustable.
For children from 25 to 36 kg, approximately from 6 to 12 years.
Group 3 is no longer a chair, but a so-called booster; It is a pillow-stand without a back on which the child sits. Such a pillow allows you to “increase” the child’s height in order to properly fasten the passenger with a car shoulder belt.
Age restrictions - from 5 to 12 years, weight - from 22 to 36 kg. The booster allows you to sit the child higher so that the standard seat belts are properly fastened (the belts should not pass near the face or close to the neck).
Suitable for children over approximately 5 years of age.
Let's consider universal groups of car seats: as practice shows, they are in greatest demand. This is an economical option that allows you to significantly delay the moment when an older child will have to purchase a new car seat.
From 0 to 18 kg, approximately from 6 months to 3.5 years.
Group 0+/1 – products of this group are well suited for small children, from 6 months to 4 years with a weight of no more than 18 kg. The seat can be installed both against the direction of travel of the car (for children under the age of one to one and a half years), and along the direction.
Until the child is one year old, pediatricians strongly recommend installing a child car seat with its back facing the direction of travel. DetiAvto writes about this in detail.
From 9 to 36 kg, approximately from 1 year to 12 years.
Group 1/2/3 – these chairs are intended for children from one to 12 years old weighing from 9 to 36 kg. Installed in the direction of travel. As the passenger grows, such devices are transformed (the liner is removed), providing the greatest comfort and protection.
For example, when the weight reaches 15 kg, the internal seat belts need to be unfastened and the standard analogs must be used. In the future, such devices turn into boosters.
Chairs in this group are the most popular, but they are absolutely not suitable for newborns and infants up to one year old: the backrest of such a device is practically absent, and the baby will have to sleep sitting up during the trip, in an uncomfortable position.
The adjustable headrest and reinforced side protection made of energy-absorbing material reliably protect the child from side impacts and provide excellent support during sharp turns.
Group 1/2/3 car seats are the most popular, but they are absolutely not suitable for newborns and infants up to one year old!
From 15 to 36 kg, approximately from 3.5 to 12 years.
Group 2/3 - these devices are intended for children from 3.5 to 12 years (height is important - up to 150 cm) with a weight in the range of 15-36 kg. They are chairs with backs; sometimes with a headrest. The child is secured in them with a standard seat belt.
“In order to save money, many families opt for the chairs of the most popular group 1/2/3. And this is justified if such a model is purchased for a child who already knows how to sit, and whose weight has reached 9-10 kg.
Most likely, you will no longer need to buy another device: a device from this group will most likely last until the day the child turns 12 years old. The advantages of this option are savings: you only have to spend money on purchasing a chair once.
But: the versatility of such a car seat also has a downside: compared to models of basic seats, the device of group 1/2/3 protects less effectively during an accident.
If financial capabilities allow, specialists from the Daughters-Sons online store recommend sequentially purchasing several car seats that, at each stage, provide maximum protection for the baby in case of an accident. These are models from groups 0+, 1 and 3.”
Specialist of the online store “Daughters and Sons”
Lidiya Popova
The restraint device must be installed quickly and easily into the vehicle; This is especially important for car seats of groups 0 and 0+, since with an active lifestyle of parents, the seat will be removed from the car several times a day.
Options for attaching a car seat in a car:
- Using standard seat belts is the most common method in which the belts are threaded through special guides, thereby securing the child restraint system. Additionally, it is worth purchasing belt pads. We recommend that you read the review of the car seat secured with standard belts Capella Comfort S-807.
- Using ISOFIX mount. Please note: it only makes sense to purchase a car seat with such an installation system if the car is equipped with it. The child seat has special metal guides built into it that are attached to brackets at the bottom of the rear seat of the car. Sometimes an anchor strap is also used at the top of the chair: this is not necessary, but such a simple measure increases the stability of the restraint device in the event of an accident. Additionally, the chair rests on the floor with an adjustable support. This type of fastening is considered the most reliable - read more in the review of a car seat with the Capella Isofix SPS fastening system.
- In the USA, the LATCH fastening system is widespread. It is similar to ISOFIX, but instead of metal guides it uses belts with locks.
Today, manufacturers are actively producing cars with a built-in isofix system. However, if you decide to purchase a car seat with such a mount, before purchasing it, be sure to make sure that your car has this mount.
When choosing a car seat, pay special attention to the comfort of being in it. The baby will have to travel considerable distances in the restraint, and it is important that the child does not feel the slightest discomfort. It is also worth taking care of your convenience: you may want to pay attention to the presence of a carrying handle at the top of the car seat.
It is convenient if the device is equipped with an adjustable backrest. Many children like to sleep while moving, and if the child falls asleep, he can be transferred to a reclining position with one movement. It is important that the chair has an adjustable headrest and reinforced side protection made of energy-absorbing material - they reliably protect the baby from a side impact and hold him well during sharp turns.
Manufacturers equip seats with various safety systems. The five-point belt is recognized as the most reliable, ensuring uniform distribution of the load on the body in the event of an accident. The automatic belt tensioning system is convenient.
Two- and three-point belts, as well as safety tables, are widely used - the latter are designed to protect the head, neck and internal organs from injury in the event of an accident.
The impact force is absorbed by the shock-absorbing material of the safety table; In terms of protection, this system resembles airbags.
The method of manufacturing a child car seat is also important. Its body must be solidly filled and made of energy-absorbing, impact-resistant plastic.
The case is responsible for these two points. There are several requirements for it: it must be made of dense, non-marking, hypoallergenic, soft, breathable fabric that ensures good air circulation. The cover should be easily removable for washing. If these conditions are met, your child will be comfortable in the chair.
Today the most popular, and therefore proven and reliable manufacturers of restraint devices are:
What characteristics are your priority when choosing a car seat for a child?
- Low cost – 17%
- Availability of ISOFIX fastening – 15%
- Well-known company – 15%
- Comfort for the child – 8%
- Fastening the car seat with a standard belt – 6%
Source: http://blog.dochkisinochki.ru/articles/kak-vybrat-avtokreslo-dlya-rebenka/
How to choose the right car seat for a newborn and a child car seat for a child over 1 year old?
The issue of transporting the younger generation from one to 12 years of age is becoming increasingly relevant. It is clear that carrying a child (especially at 11-12 years old) in your arms is inconvenient, and in an unforeseen situation even dangerous.
So, in the event of a car collision as a result of an incident, people are subject to forces equivalent to an increase in the person’s weight by tens of times.
In a situation where the child’s weight exceeds 60 kg, it is unlikely that the parent will be able to hold him - with such prospects, the hope for a successful outcome disappears.
Using a car seat for a child, especially a newborn, ensures reliable transportation.
Using a car seat is not a fashion trend, but a necessity that will help save your baby’s life and health in the event of an accident.
There are a huge number of infant carriers for newborns, car seats for children of different ages and other restraint devices on the product market. Interested parents have to make their choice from a variety of offers that differ in price, degree of protection, functionality, comfort and other qualities and parameters.
European safety standard
In the question of how to choose a car seat for a child, ECE R44/03, the European safety standard, can help.
The classification of car seats for children is based on the correspondence of their features to the age and weight of the baby; it would not be amiss to focus on the methods of securing the seat in the car and the options for securing the passenger in it.
Below is this information in table form. Looking at the table and knowing the weight of your child, it is easy to determine which group of car seats you need.
| Group | Weight, kg) | Age (years) | Description |
| 0-10 | 0-0,5 | A child in such a seat can be secured both in a horizontal position, with a belt across the stomach, and at three points when the car seat is folded. | |
| 0+ | 0-13 | 0-1,5 | This option allows you to transport a child reclining; such a device can be located either in the direction of travel or with its back to the windshield. |
| 1 | 9-18 | 1-4 | In this group of seats, the passenger is secured at 5 points. |
| 2 | 15-25 | 3-7 | The chairs have two features:
|
| 3 | 22-36 | 7-12 | The design of the seats assumes the presence of a limiter for the top strap of a standard car belt and the ability to detach the back of the seat, provided that it has become too small for the child. |
When figuring out how to buy a good car seat for children and how to choose one, you should go through the following steps:
- determine the group from the table;
- read the annotation for the selected models;
- weigh the pros and cons of the model;
- get acquainted with the reviews of those who have already tried them;
- study the technical characteristics of the product;
- touch them live.
The more you learn about the product you are interested in, the easier it will be to decide what you will choose, whether it will be a car seat, a classic child car seat or something else.
You also need to remember that, in addition to safety, the child needs peace and comfort - this will save you from nervousness behind the wheel while driving.
To the above, we should add information about the existence of transformers - universal restraint devices that can be suitable for ages from 1 to 12 years.
A universal seat is the most economical, because it will allow a child to ride safely in a car up to 12 years of age.
Restraints for the little ones
Group 0
Group “0” includes car seats for infants. Newborns lie in them, secured with a wide belt, and the device looks like the cradle of a baby stroller. It is secured to the back seat of the car with two belts.
The car seat is designed to weigh up to 10 kg, so it can only serve a child up to 6 months. Additional fastening straps, head protection and horizontal positioning of the baby make it safe to transport.
If you recently had a baby, then a similar car seat would be your best choice.
INTERESTING: at what age in Russia can you transport a child in a car seat?
Group 0+
Devices of category “0+” are carrying seats with a handle. A comfortable chair can be used until the age of one and a half years. It is attached against the direction of movement of the car, since the child’s position is semi-sitting, and any “nod” as a result of sudden braking of the car can damage the baby’s fragile spine.
The following devices, according to the expert assessment of ADAC club specialists, are considered the best among seats designed for a child up to 18 months weighing up to 13 kg:
- CYBEX Aton 2. The advantage of this device is the almost complete impossibility of tipping it over, and the removable upholstery can be considered an additional convenience of the model. It is easy to wash, which is very good from a hygienic point of view. The weight of the structure is 3.6 kg.
- PEG-PEREGO Primo Viaggio TrifixK. The model has an adjustable backrest angle and side head protection. The chair can be installed in three ways; this design weighs 5 kg.
Category 0+ is a carrier with a handle that can be used for approximately one and a half years from the moment the baby is born
When installing a child car seat in this manner, make sure that it does not fall into the deployment zone of the airbag, since its deployment could result in a blow to the child's head and serious injury.
As a rule, chairs in this group can be easily and quickly removed, and for some models, cradle chairs can be installed on a stroller.
A quick transition from moving in a stroller to moving in a car and, conversely, seriously reduces the burden on parents when mobile movements are necessary. In addition, a car seat at home will replace a rocking chair.
READ ALSO: how to install a car seat in a car: instructions
Since a newborn cannot sit, it is very important that the backrest of the cradle should be tilted between 30 and 45 degrees - in a flatter position, protection from side impacts decreases. Products of the first two groups must be equipped with a special insert for newborns. For your newborn child, you can choose a car seat from the first two groups.
Retaining devices 1, 2, 3 groups
Group 1
Group 1 child car seats are used for confidently sitting babies. The seat is located in the direction of travel - usually in the rear car seat.
The plastic shell, mounted on a power frame, can be tilted, providing 2 positions for waking and sleeping. If you want to choose a car seat for a child who is about 3 years old, then the models in this group are for you, but it is better to focus on weight.
Safety is ensured, among other things, by internal five-point harnesses or a holding table.
The CAM ViaggiosicuroIsofix S157 car seat model occupies a leading position among this group of restraint devices.
Consumers remain very satisfied with the simple mechanism for adjusting the belt to suit the baby’s height, its softness, enhanced protection in the head and hips, and five positions. The easily removable upholstery allows you to quickly put it in order. The weight of the structure is quite significant - 10.3 kg.
Group 2
Child car seats belonging to group 2 are installed in the rear car seat in the direction of travel. They are aimed at the age range from 3 to 7 years and weight 15-25 kg, when children are actively gaining height - hence the possibility of switching from internal seat belts to car ones.
With a removable backrest, when it is possible to leave only the seat, car seats can be used for children in the age group from 7 to 12 years. According to test data, the following models are recommended for use:
- Jane Monte Carlo R1;
- Maxi-Cosi Fero Fix.
Both car seats in this category are suitable for children up to 36 kg. The first has a high-quality frame made of reinforced plastic, as well as a lever under the chair, which allows for adjustment of the height of the armrest; the sides are also adjustable. The upholstery of the product has “breathable” properties, it is soft and pleasant to the body.
The second model is all-constructive; it is equipped with a special bracket in the headrest area, which makes the fastening of the car seat as reliable as possible. It is adjustable in width and height, the headrest has 8 positions. The fabric of the covers is easily removable, the material is hypoallergenic and environmentally friendly.
Group 3
As a rule, manufacturers combine the models they produce into one group 2-3. These car seats do not have an internal fastening or holding table, and the child and the seat are secured with standard seat belts. True, they pass through special guides in order to be correctly positioned on the user’s body.
For the most adults, a child car seat can be selected from both group 3 and the combined group 2-3. Group 3 consists of boosters and stand seats. When using such devices, children are secured with car seat belts and nothing else. Typically, boosters are used when children are over 120 cm tall and weigh more than 22 kg. We recommend not using foam boosters.
INTERESTING: which is better to choose: a booster seat or a car seat? A booster seat should be made of high-quality materials, then it will become a successful option for car protection for children
Nuances for choosing car seats
For the convenience of transporting infants, car seats are equipped with orthopedic inserts - they are not only comfortable, but also useful, since they allow the child to be in a natural position that does not interfere with the correct formation of the spine. Many models of chairs are designed so that the child rides in them half-sitting, with an optimal backrest tilt of 45 degrees. In this position, the load is distributed over each vertebra and the spinal column is not compressed.
Prudent manufacturers equip car seats with special fastenings that allow them to be installed in both the rear and front seats in accordance with international requirements.
When installing the seat in the front seat, the airbag must be disabled.
Five-point harnesses are considered reliable internal seat belts - they provide reliable protection and fully secure the baby in the seat.
Modern children's models contain devices to protect the child's head, visors from direct exposure to solar radiation, and delicately soft inserts on the belts. These special tabs prevent the belts from rubbing the baby's skin during shaking and vibrations that occur while the car is moving.
Advanced versions of the car seat have a mechanism for adjusting the backrest tilt - a positive change for long-term driving. Children of different ages enjoy sleeping during a long journey. When we select the position of the backrest of the device, the adjustment process should be effortless.
Modern manufacturers try to ensure maximum comfort for the baby - for this purpose the surface is lined with soft, pleasant material, and there are special pads on the belts.
The removable and washable cover is another “plus” of a good chair. The materials of the cover must be environmentally friendly, high quality, and without strong odors.
Quick and easy attachment of a car seat speaks volumes about the level of the brand. The marking of the restraint device must contain the ECE R44/03 sign - the European safety standard.
The best of car seats
In the struggle for leadership, companies producing child seats strive to bring their products to perfection through constant modernization and the introduction of modern technological developments. Among the best offers in the trade sector, we can highlight the products of the Dutch brand Maxi-Cosi, especially when it comes to light and comfortable car seats for infants.
One of the best in the 0+ group is the Cabriofix chair with the following functionality:
- installation facing the direction of travel;
- three-point seat belts;
- increased internal volume for installing an orthopedic insert;
- side protection in the form of a folded carrying handle;
- canopy for shading from the sun's rays;
- easily removable, washable cover.
A second example is the Peg-Perego brand universal systems. Specific modular car seats from this manufacturer can also be used as a stroller for walking.
They can be secured inside the car using standard seat belts or using the Isofix system.
The child can be in the car in one of three positions: facing, sideways or with his back in the direction of travel.
The devices are provided with side impact protection and five-point harnesses to support the body. The back of the car seat is adjustable in width and height, the headrest is adjusted to the position of the head.
Depending on the model, there may be an anatomical cushion or a handle for carrying the chair outside the car.
The cover is made of hygroscopic materials that can “breathe”; it can be removed and washed in a washing machine.
Source: https://VseProRebenka.ru/uhod/pokupki/kak-vybrat-avtokreslo.html
How to choose the right car seat for a child? Review of the best, characteristics, video
The birth of a child completely changes the parents’ usual way of life. With the birth of a baby, there are so many things that need to be done or adapted for the new person.
Young parents are trying in every possible way to secure their home: they install locks on drawers, put soft corners on furniture, plugs on sockets and electrical appliances. Meanwhile, very often we forget that not only the baby’s home should be safe, but also the vehicle in which he will be transported.
Any parent who uses a car to get around should carefully understand the question of how to choose the right car seat.
According to statistics, approximately a thousand children die in road accidents every year, and 25 thousand receive various injuries.
Most of these injuries and worse outcomes can be avoided by using a child car seat.
The situation became so serious that from 01.01.
In 2007, the traffic rules legislated for the transportation of children from birth to 12 years of age in a special seat.
What are the main parameters when choosing a car seat?
In order to choose the right car seat for a child, it is worth considering a lot of parameters. A good child seat should:
- meet the European Safety Standard , as evidenced by the marking ECE R44/03 or ECE R44/04 and (E2). The presence of this icon on the chair’s marking indicates compliance with European standards and means that the chair has passed a course of European tests;
- correspond to the age and size group of the baby. Moreover, when answering the question of how to choose a car seat for a newborn, the determining factor will be not the age, but the metric parameters of the child. Before buying a chair, you should measure them, and not take the product “by eye” or “to grow with”;
- have strong attachments to the car. Do not neglect trying on the seat in the car before purchasing, if possible;
- be equipped with side protection parts;
- be comfortable for the baby. The child’s comfort does not play a key, but very important role here. It is understood that the more comfortable your baby is in the seat, the calmer he will travel in it, without interfering with the driver’s control of the car. Therefore, before purchasing, you need to invite the baby to sit in the new chair and make sure that it does not cause negative emotions in the child;
- have several positions (adjustment for sleep and wakefulness).
What to look for when choosing a car seat?
The question of how to choose a suitable child car seat from 0 and above plagues all parents. First of all, there are a few important points to consider.
- Seat belts. For children under 3 years old, this should be an internal Y-shaped or five-point harness. They are the ones who can protect the child from damage to the abdominal cavity and spine if something happens.
You also need to consider the lining material next to the fastener.
In the event of an impact, this is where high loads will fall, so the lining needs to be quite wide and elastic so as not to damage the child’s crotch area (which is especially important for males).
- Reliability of the design. Particular attention should be paid to the buckles that secure the child’s position in the chair. It is necessary to make sure that the baby cannot unfasten them on his own while moving.
- Lightweight and maneuverable design. If it is planned that the mechanism will be moved from a car to a house or to another vehicle, preference when purchasing should be given to lightweight structures. Otherwise, the mother will have to carry the inconvenient device on her own, because, as a rule, it is the mother who carries the child in the car while the father is at work.
- Seat covers. The optimal choice for a car seat cover is synthetic. This material does not shrink when washed, is abrasion resistant and is very easy to care for, which is so important with small children.
- Side protection. To provide protection for the baby in a side collision, you need to buy a device with a high headrest and protruding side walls.
- The novelty of the chair. When choosing a car seat for a car, it is strictly forbidden to buy a used one, since you do not have information about whether it was involved in traffic accidents. Even minor damage can compromise the integrity of the structure.
These points should be decisive in the question of how to choose the right car seat for a newborn baby.
Child car seat: which is better?
To decide which car seat to choose for transporting a child from 0 years old, you need to understand the existing variety of options. All of them are produced taking into account parameters such as height, weight and age of the baby.
When a child meets age characteristics, problems with choice, as a rule, do not occur. The situation is more complicated when the baby goes beyond any of the criteria.
All child seats are divided into two categories - main groups and additional (secondary). The use of the latter is recommended when it is not possible to purchase a high-quality chair from the main group.
According to the law, transportation of children in special seats is required from 0 to 12 years.
This means that as the baby grows older, he will have to change on average 4 car seats, which can be very costly financially.
This is another good argument for purchasing a chair from an additional group.
Car seats of group “0”
Such seats are also called infant carriers due to their external similarity to baby cradles. The car seat is designed for transporting children from birth to 6-9 months. The determining parameters are height and weight.
The weight of a baby using such a cradle should not exceed 10 kg and a height of 75 cm. It is advisable to look for the next chair once the child reaches a height of 70 cm and a weight of 9 kg.
The advantages of this category include:
- soft, comfortable strap that securely encircles the baby;
- supporting structure that protects the baby's head;
- connecting the cradle to the car using 2 standard seat belts.
The disadvantages of this type include:
- horizontal position throughout the entire train;
- The baby’s lateral orientation is not very reliable.
Crash tests indicate that the first type of car seat is not the safest, so they should be used extremely rarely, ideally to get home from the maternity ward.
Armchairs of group “0+”
This group is the most widespread. Group 0+ chairs are suitable for children from birth to one and a half years old, whose weight does not exceed 13 kg, and whose height is the same as in the previous category, no more than 75 cm. But, unlike group 0, can be used up to 75 cm .
Car seats of type 0+ are installed in a rear-facing car in order to protect the child’s neck from injuries that may occur during a frontal collision or sudden braking of the wheels.
As a rule, chairs of this type are lightweight and equipped with comfortable handles, which is why they received their second name – “carrying chair”.
In this chair, the baby travels while reclining, which is optimal for children in their first year of life.
Car seats group “1”
After a year, it’s time to choose the next seat for your child. As a rule, it becomes a chair of the 1st group.
It is suitable for children from 1 to 4 years old, weighing from 9 to 18 kg. The height limit for this category is just under a meter (98 cm).
Type 1 seats are attached to the car in two ways - with standard seat belts or the ISOFIX system.
Models in this category are in many ways similar to chairs 0+, but there are a number of differences:
- the presence of adjustable backrest position;
- securing the child with a five-point internal belt (starting from the next category), children are fastened with standard car seat belts;
- installation of a car seat in the direction of travel.
Group “2” chairs
The first group of “adult” seats, allowing the child to fasten with standard seat belts. Suitable for children aged 3 to 6 years, weighing from 15 to 25 kg or height up to 120 cm.
Car seats of this type allow you to adjust not only the position of the backrest, but also the armrest. Seats in this category help the baby sit correctly in the car with the back and head in full contact with the child seat.
The only thing parents should keep an eye on is the position of the seat belt. It is unacceptable for the strap to pass through the neck area (in the event of an accident, this can lead to disastrous results).
The car seat must be raised so that the strap passes through the child's chest.
Group 3 car seats (boosters)
These car seats are a pillow that lifts the child to the desired height for securing with straps. They can be purchased separately or obtained from chairs of the previous category by removing the backrest.
Suitable for children from 6 to 12 years old, weighing from 22 to 36 kg, height up to 150 cm.
Secondary (additional) car seats
Such car seats are transformers that allow you to use the chair for a longer period of time (from 12 months to 7 years, from 3 to 12 years, and so on).
If your child does not want to sit in a car seat
There are often cases when a child does not want to sit in a car seat. Therefore, parents should take care in advance to ensure that the baby has something to do on the road. It is worth taking books and toys with you that will help distract your baby.
You can hang a mobile with toys if the age of the child and the design of the chair allow this. It is useful to have several sets of toys and change them periodically.
Children very often forget that they have already played with them before and are happy to get carried away with the “new” entertainment. By the way, this rule works great at home.
It is extremely important to be consistent when transporting your child in a car seat. In other words, you should not give in and neglect your car seat, even if you only need to travel a short distance.
Firstly, it is not safe, since an accident can happen at any time. And secondly, it breaks the “ritual” of the baby’s trip and confuses him.
After such indulgences, it will be difficult for him to understand why yesterday it was possible to ride without a car seat, but today it is no longer possible. The parent must set a clear rule - traveling in a car is only possible in a car seat.
It would also be a good idea to grab a light snack and a bottle of juice/water on the way. But it is worth warning that a snack can be given to a child only if an adult accompanying him is traveling nearby, in order to eliminate the risk that the child may choke. If there is no accompanying person, it is better to limit yourself to drinking.
Among other things, it is useful to have in the glove compartment a collection of children's songs or other music that you and your baby like. This will help keep your baby occupied and brighten up your journey!
Source: http://adella.ru/goods/for-children/detskie-avtokresla.html
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