How many times have you noticed irresponsible parents on the roads who keep their babies in the front seat to the right of the driver? Or how many times have you seen toddlers frolic in the back seat because their parents didn’t teach them to fasten their seat belts? Undoubtedly, more than once. We want to do our part to improve the chances of children surviving in the event of an accident and in the spirit of that we offer you a guide to child car seats.
More than once we have noticed children pressing their faces against the windshield, as the mother or father considers themselves the best drivers in the world, and if so, then nothing can happen to their child. We have also seen children frolic freely in the back seat when they are not supposed to: not only did they not fasten their seat belts, but also distract the driver’s attention, which is fraught with an accident. But no one would wish for such a tragedy to happen.
Children should be taught to sit quietly in a car and follow a few rules that could one day save their lives. So, below is a guide for parents who drive with toddlers. The focus is on child car seats.
How to select the right child car seat?
Child car seats are selected depending on the weight and height of the child. As a general rule, infants are transported in rear-facing seats only.
The British organization Ro SPA recommends that parents use such chairs until the child’s weight reaches at least 9 kg, and when he can already stand on his own legs for at least 30 minutes. Only after that, parents can carry the child in the seat facing in the direction of travel.
There are three types of car seats on the market: car seats that are fixed against the direction of the car (for children weighing up to 13 kg or 12-15 months), car seats installed facing forward (for children weighing 9 to 18 kg or up to four years of age). And a booster seat (for children weighing between 15 and 36 kg or between the ages of five and 12).
Many cars made in the last 20 years have boosters in the back seat, so if you have a kid and are looking for a car, you can save money and buy one.
Belt or ISOFIX?
There are two main types of child seat attachment in a car: the ISOFIX system or regular car seat belts. Seats that use the ISOFIX (International Standards Organization FIX) fastening system are more reliable than those with standard belts, as they are fixed more firmly and do not allow the chair to move after it is installed.
ISOFIX seats can only be used in a car equipped with these fixation points, finding such a car is easy, since all new cars, as well as most used cars, are equipped with ISOFIX.
Where is the child car seat installed in the car?
Child car seats can be installed in both the rear and front seats. However, experts recommend installing child seats only in the rear seat, as this is more secure for babies.
In addition, if a rearward-facing child car seat is installed on the right front seat, the passenger airbag on the right must be deactivated.
In most cars, the airbag can be deactivated using the ignition key. If the airbag cannot be deactivated, the child seat must be installed in the rear seat.
Other recommendations
- Never change the child seat or seat belt so that they match.
- When installing a child car seat in the right front seat, make sure the car seat is as far back as possible. This keeps the child seat further away from the dashboard, reducing the risk of injury in the event of a frontal collision.
- If you usually take the car seat out of the car, make sure you reinstall it correctly each time. If you do not remove the car seat, then periodically check whether it is well fixed.
- Avoid buying used car seats. It is not known what condition they are in and whether they got into an accident.
- Cheap car seats can certainly save money, but it is likely that they are covered with cheap material that will make the child sweat and feel uncomfortable. It seems like a small thing, but a baby who is uncomfortable sitting will make it loud to understand, which can distract you from driving.
- If you are on a budget but are also responsible enough to understand that you cannot compromise on the safety then we recommend looking into convertible seats. These can be adjusted to any height or size, they are especially useful for heavyset or tall babies. This way you can get the best convertible car seat for tall babies, without getting your wallet totally empty.