What to consider before buying a baby car seats

What is a car seat?

A car seat is a highchair designed to protect your child in the event of an accident or other car accident. The little child's body has not developed enough to cope with what a crash would mean. Therefore, it is important to have as secure a car seat as possible as it is about the most valuable you have in the car. If you are looking for a forward-facing car seator rear-facing car seat, this article may be of use to you, but we will mainly talk about rear-facing car seats (rear-facing car seat) as hopefully these will be used for the longest time by the child. Then there are also car seats that can be used both forward and backward, which we will also mention. Therefore, read on to find out more about the alternatives out there and simply which car seat is the best in testing. (car seat best in test) We will also briefly mention what to consider when buying a car seat.

What materials does a car seat consist of?

Most often, they are the materials that you encounter on a hard plastic that does not break at first. Of course, it also has fabric for the child to ride comfortably in the car. Regardless of the type of car seat you are looking for, it is good that you look up what tests it has passed. It is important that it is approved in either ECE R44 or UN R129 (i-Size). As it goes through the ECE R44 test, it crashes both from the front as well as from the rear. During the newer test UN R129 (i-Size) it is also tested in side impact, which requires more of your baby car seat. When you want the child to be protected as well as possible, you obviously want it to have the best car seat on the market. You can find that chair if, for example, you find out which car seat is best for testing.

Common sizes of car seats

Of course, there are different sizes of car seats depending on which age group it is adapted for. Some examples of car seat sizes are listed below. For example, we have a rear-facing car seat from BeSafe, the iZi Plus model has the dimensions: L56 x W45 D65 cm. Another example of a slightly larger forward-facing car seat that can also be mounted and used backwards comes from Britax Römer, the model Two Way has the dimensions: H72 x W47 x D50 cm. If you want a slightly smaller car seat from Britax there is also Multi Tech II with dimensions H62-72 x B45 x D48, also this can be used both forward and back. Read more about these car seats and why they are good choices in the next sub-heading.

What design choices are there for car seats?

There are many different designs on car seats, if you want a classy black or something more fun like pink, red or blue. Below we will mention various models available on the market that have undergone at least one car seat test. ( car seat test ) We will mention safe options in different price ranges, ranging from premium options to more budget-friendly options.

What to consider from a safety standpoint for car seats

Parents who love their children want their children to be as safe as possible, not least when sitting in the car. For this, lots of money is not necessarily needed. There are also cheap car seats that are safe. What is important is to know, for example, what type of car seat is needed for what age ( car seat age ) and what you need to consider when choosing a car seat that is safe and practical. We are now going to look at 6 things to keep in mind.

Choose a car seat that is tested and approved

There are two different regulations that they can be tested and approved in. The car seat you buy should be approved in one of these. ECE R44 tests for back and front impact. UN R129 (i-Size) has been tested as before but also in side impact. UN R129 sets higher requirements than ECE R44.

Choose a chair that is adapted to the size and age of the child

There are three groups of car seats: Baby seat, car seat and seat belt. Which chair the child should have depends on the height and age. We will take a closer look at the three groups so that you can decide which chair to buy.

car seat age

Baby protection - Short and good for newborns up to about 9 months of age. You last change to the second chair when you notice that the top of your child's head is in line with the highest point on the baby's cover. The best thing, however, is to change as soon as the child can stabilize the neck and can easily sit up without any support.

Car seat - A larger rear-facing car seat. When following UN R129 regulations, the child should go backwards until it is at least 15 months old according to law. But the best thing is if you can wait to turn the child's car seat up to 4 years (car seat 4 years). Simply the longer the child can go backwards the better when it is the safest. When should you last change? When you notice that the children's ears are in line with the highest point of the car seat.

Belt Seat - This is the last car seat that will be used. Your child is now facing forward. Many times, this chair is used the longest. You should be at least 135 cm long by law before being allowed to sit in the car without a car seat. Many times it is about 10 years of age.

Safe and easy installation

First, check if your car has ISOfix brackets or not. ISOfix is ​​made for the car seat. It is designed to give parents a safe, fast and stable assembly. ISOfix means that the car seat indicates if the seat is properly mounted. This allows you to feel confident that your child is sitting safely in the car.

Choose a car seat that works for the child during the entire useful life
The children grow fast, you can feel it very quickly as a new parent. Therefore, it is important to be sure that the car seat will work for the entire time it is used safely and comfortably. The chair should grow with the child to make it so. For example, it may have an adjustable legroom, adjustable seat angle, height adjustable and an adjustable side impact protection.

An important side impact protection

25% of accidents that occur are side crashes. Therefore, it is important that the chair is also safe for these types of crashes. An extra head and head protection in addition to the usual side impact protection.

A good legroom for longer use

The reason most parents turn to their children is because of lack of leg room. If the car seat has more legroom then it is used for a longer period of time. If the car seat has an adjustable legroom then this is the best. This means that the chair does not take up much space when the children are smaller, but when they grow, you can give them more space.

Why do you need a car seat?

If you have small children who are going to drive a car at some time, you should have a highchair for a car ( highchair car ). Whether it is really young children or something bigger that needs a seat belt with their age. (seat belt age) Parents want to be sure that their children are protected in the car as they cannot handle a crash in the way adults do. Therefore, it is good that if you are to buy a seat belt, for example, that it is tested. (seat belt test)

How do you choose the right car seat?

Since the car seat is an important purchase, it is also important to know exactly what it is you are looking for. As previously mentioned, one should buy a car seat that is adapted to the child's weight and height. It is not always a good idea to buy a used car seat as it may have been an accident although it is not visible. It can also be risky to rent a chair for the same reason. Therefore, it is better to buy a chair that knows is safe. Whether you are looking for a seat cushion for a larger child or a car seat for a child of 15 kg (car seat 15 kg), you should ensure that the car seat or seat cushion is tested and safe. (seat belt test)

How does one take his car seat?

For example, if you bought a forward-facing car seat that is best in test (forward-facing car seat best in test) or any other car seat in which you invested money, you will surely want to take care of it so that it lasts as long as possible. Some chairs are equipped with a removable upholstery that can be washed by hand. Some even can be washed in the washing machine. Should the upholstery of your car seat not be removable, it is usually good to use a damp cloth to wipe away any stains. The best thing to do is to follow the maintenance instructions in the manual that are usually included.