In the vehicles of the basic equipment, there are no devices for full protection of the child. Numerous crush tests show that standard belts do not keep kids in accidents and even sharp jerks at the beginning of the movement or during braking.
Why do I need a baby car seat?
The described accessories (karsit) are designed specifically to ensure comfort and complete safety of the child in the car . Their design provides a reliable fixation of the baby without compromising its usability. Transportation of children in a car seat is necessary for the following reasons:
- Protection of crumbs during traffic accidents. Experiments using children's mannequins confirm that without the device being considered during the accident the child will receive either very severe or fatal injuries.
- Prevention of dangerous games. If there are no adults in the rear seats, the children remain completely unattended and can engage in undesirable things.
- Safety of the driver and other passengers. Being at the wheel of a car without a car seat, a rare person will not turn around or look in the mirror to monitor the rear-facing child. Such distractions make it difficult to concentrate on the road and often lead to accidents.
Types of children's car seats
Presented accessories in the set of rules of motion are called retention devices. These include not only the classic car seat for children, but also the following devices:
- frameless seating;
- car ;
- booster .
Frameless baby car seat
This object looks like a seat cover with a thin layer of soft filler and straps. Frameless car seat has gained popularity due to its low cost and compactness. It takes up little space in the transport, you can install several pieces. The device is fixed to the stationary seat of the machine with the help of special belts.
Considered child car seats are significantly inferior in terms of safety to standard options with a solid foundation. They do not have head protection and sidewall bows, the child sits too low and the regular belt passes near his face. This type of accessories is permissible only if there is not enough money for a quality holding device with a frame.
Baby car seat with sleeping position
A convenient horizontal position is provided only by a special cradle for babies, which is fixed on the seat of the machine. Any baby car seat for sleep reclines slightly, by 7-9 cm. The child in it is half-sitting, but not lying. In the described children's devices, babies are not too comfortable to sleep at first, but eventually they get used to and can take a nap on the road.
Car seat booster
The described variant of children's accessories does not even refer to restraining devices. Simplified booster is a thick lining under the ass. It is necessary to increase the level on which the baby sits. This will protect the child with a regular belt in the correct position. Specialists recommend buying such devices only for grown-up children weighing from 13-15 kg. It is better to buy a car seat with an isofix (hard fixation system) so that the pillow does not move when driving.
Groups of children's car seats
The safety equipment considered is classified according to the physical characteristics of the child. Children's car seats by age and weight are divided into groups, designated by numbers from 0 to 3. Each type corresponds to its own indicators of the recommended body weight and height of the baby. Children's car seats of different groups assume the features of the installation. Some are fixed against the direction of movement, while others are on its way.
Child car seat of group 0
This type of restraint is designed for the most vulnerable and small travelers. Car seat for newborns there are 2 types - cradle and carrying. The first version of children's accessories did not pass any crush-test, the device during the accident turns over and breaks into pieces. The second type is considered a safer device. It has a curved shape, in which the infant is placed in the most physiological and comfortable position for him.
Baby car seat-carrying is equipped with a special soft roller in the base, correctly holding the head of a newborn baby. They are equipped with an additional protective system along the edges and sides, 3-or 5-point belts. Such children's devices are installed opposite the direction of movement and reliably fix the baby in the kartite, ensuring its safety and absolute comfort.
Car Seat Group 1
This type of accessories is characterized by a classic shape: a plastic box with a power frame and a soft seat-tab with straps. This car seat is intended for children from one year to 3.5-4 years weighing 8.5-18 kg (depends on the complexion of the baby). The device is mounted so that the child is sitting with the face forward, coinciding with the movement of the machine. Some karsites can be transformed - increase in width and height, recline back for sleep or perform cradle functions.
Children's car seat - group 2
Described devices are designed for preschool children (4-7 years). In appearance, they are identical to the first group of restraints, but have a wider back. It is advisable to buy such a car seat for children from 15 kg and above (up to 25 kg). Its back can be adjusted in height, the parameters and position of the side parts, armrests and footrest are additionally changed.
Children's car seats of the presented group often have a spring correcting system and anatomical shape of the seat. This is necessary for fixing the baby in the right position, without increased stress on the spine and neck. The child will be most comfortable in this karsite, and if the child's accessory is equipped with a tilting mechanism, the little one will even be able to sleep on the road.
Car Seat 3 Group
The type of safety equipment considered is a booster or a thick cushion with a solid foundation on the seat. Weight, which without damage to the structure is able to withstand such a child car seat - up to 36 kg. It is designed for schoolchildren up to 148-150 cm tall, if the child is taller, he can use regular belts in the car without problems. They should pass between the neck and collarbone, and from below to fix the pelvis below the abdomen.
The car seat for children from 9 to 36 kg serves as a transition stage between removable karsit and built-in seat. Boosters are recommended to be purchased only if the kid understands how to behave properly in the car, does not fidget and does not try to get rid of the straps. They teach the child to always buckle up, sitting down on any (including the back) seat in the car, and take care of their own safety.
It is desirable that children's car seats from 15 to 36 kg were orthopedic. The correct form of the booster guarantees the child not only absolute convenience, but also prevents the occurrence of pathologies of the spine. Modern types of these pads on the seat are equipped with comfortable armrests with soft and flexible padding and removable covers that are easy to wash.
Safety of children's car seats
The degree of child protection depends on the quality of the restraining device and its compliance with international standards. The best car seats for children are marked with the ECE R44 / 03 character set or ECE R44 / 04. They must be officially certified in the country where they are purchased. You can assess the level of safety by looking at the crush tests of children's karsites. At the end of the experiment, specialists are presented with a 5-point scale for the devices.
How to choose a car seat for a child?
Before going to the store or ordering a child restraint on the relevant site, it is important to know the criteria for selecting the product. The first thing that characterizes the necessary car seat is the age of the child and the weight of his body. These parameters will help determine the group of karsites, their shape and way of installation (in the direction of driving or against it). Then it is necessary to apply recommendations how to choose high-quality children's car seats:
- Verify the availability of security standards and internal certificates.
- Examine the fixing mechanism. Most of the karsites are fixed by car belts, but the Isofix system is preferable - built-in metal locks with locks that connect to the brackets in the vehicle seat. American and Canadian analogs of this mechanism are LATCH, Canfix, UAS and UCSSS.
- Check the strength of the seat belts, buckles and fastenings. The child should not be able to unbutton something or get out of karsite.
- Evaluate the convenience of the accessory. You can ask the baby himself, whether he feels comfortable in his personal seat.
- Find out what the device is made from. All materials used must be hypoallergenic and non-toxic, well-cleaned and not irritate the skin of the crumbs.
- Consider the frame. Cheap plastic and dyed styrofoam crack even with careless handling, and during an accident will break into pieces. It is important that the base of the karsite is firm and resistant to mechanical damage.
- To take an interest in orthopedic characteristics. The child should be in an anatomically correct posture. This will help relieve the strain from the neck, shoulders and spine, provide the baby with comfortable trips and the health of the musculoskeletal system.
- Find videos with crush-tests. The best way to evaluate a retention device is to see how it works under extreme conditions. Simulations of accidents will eloquently show how safe the chosen karsite is.
Rating of children's car seats
Help in the selection of the ideal accessory can study user feedback and expert opinions. To find out which car seat to choose for a child, it is advisable to get acquainted with their rating. Leaders in group 0 are:
- Recaro Young Profi Plus Isofix;
- BabySafe Plus;
- Peg Perego Primo Viaggio;
- Bobobline EasyBob Maxi SPP;
- Chicco Synthesis X-Plus and AutoFix Plus;
- Bébé Confort Elios Safe Side and Creatis;
- Maxi-Cosi Cabrio;
- Britax Rock-a-Tot Plus.
Group Rating 1:
- Bébé Confort Iseos Safe Side Isofix;
- Römer Duo Plus, King, Lord, Priori;
- HTS BeSafe iZi Comfort;
- Maxi-Cosi PrioriFix, Tobi, XP.
The best karsites of group 2:
- Römer Kid, VIP, KidFix;
- Concord Lift Evo, Lift Protect;
- Maxi-Cosi Rodi.
Booster Rating:
- Fisher-Price Safe Voyage;
- Rekaro Yong Style;
- Combi Kobuk.