Choosing a child car seat

The statistics on the use of child seats looks depressing: even after fines and clarifications, the percentage of parents carrying children in a car without the use of special restraints does not decrease. If you randomly interview young mothers, it turns out that most of them believe that the best way to protect the child from impact is to hold him tighter.




Experts say: the perfect child car seat does not exist. However, it is quite possible to choose the most suitable for a child of a specific age transported in a car of a certain brand or model. There are many classifications of these products, but first of all it is appropriate to mention the division of car seats depending on the age category and weight.

For babies (group "0")

The products are similar to the sleeping module of a baby stroller. Some manufacturers specifically make such blocks already adapted for cars. You need to position the cradle perpendicular to the movement of the machine in two places. Fastening is carried out with a pair of standard belts. Ensuring a high level of security for such devices is very problematic. If we add here a short period of use, the price, it becomes clear why such modules are not very popular. It is more expedient to purchase a car seat "for growth".

For children under the age of one year and weighing no more than 13 kg (group "0+")

These products resemble a basket: they are compact and weigh little. The child is fastened by means of special straps located inside the device. There is a handle for carrying the baby in the basket. In the car, it must be placed so that the back of the baby is in the direction of the car. This is due to the disproportionately large head of the child: with sudden braking, high loads on the spine are obtained. If the device is installed on the front seat, it is necessary to disable (if any) the airbag.

Age up to 4 years with a weight of 9 to 18 kg (group "1")

Car seats in this category can be bought when the child is one year old. Fixation is carried out with the help of three- or five-point small straps included in the kit. On sale there are devices equipped with a small table upholstered in soft material: it not only serves as additional protection, but is also used by the baby for games. The main difference between this model and the previous ones is the backrest angle adjustment, which allows you to alternate rest and wakefulness modes.

Age 3-7 years old with a weight of 15 to 25 kg (group "2")

Products in this category already resemble real chairs, only smaller in size. There may be no internal belts: then the fastening is carried out by standard automobile ones. The chair is installed in the course of the car. In its pure form, it is rarely found on sale, because most dads and moms prefer to buy universal products that fit several age and weight categories.

For children 6-12 years old weighing 22-36 kg (group "3")

In its pure form, this category of goods is in little demand. Combination type child car seats are usually found, theoretically suitable for a child aged 9 months to 12 years. Such products can be transformed. For example, the internal belts are removed, the sidewalls are moved apart, the headrest is adjusted in height.





Choosing a car seat in accordance with the age and weight of the child, it is also necessary to take into account the methods of fastening.

Use of stock belts

This method of fixing is suitable for all passenger cars. The first attempt to secure the chair usually seems difficult. This is due to the need to thread the belt into a whole system of slots, guides, available in the child car seat. If it is more expensive, there will be explanatory arrows and drawings on the case. Do not forget: mixing up and incorrectly threading the belt is fraught with injury to the child in an accident.

ISO-Fix (for groups "0+" and "1")

This is a standardized system for securing a child restraint through a pair of locks inserted into special brackets already in the car. This method of attachment avoids errors when installing the car seat. In this case, it is possible to use additional, stabilization security measures:

• ? the use of a height-adjustable stop in the floor to prevent rotation of the product in the event of a frontal collision
  
• ? Top Tether - "anchor" latch in the form of a belt hooked to a special bracket located behind the back of a car sofa
  

Using the internal straps

They are needed when attaching child car seats of categories "0" to "1". There can be 5 or 3 fixation points. The first option distributes the emerging loads more evenly and provides the greatest security. To make the baby feel more comfortable, some manufacturers attach soft pads to the belts.



There are models where a soft table or a similar design is equipped. It is hard on the inside, and lined with a soft thick fabric on the outside. Fastened with a standard belt. "Bumper" does not have easily accessible locks that the baby can unfasten on a trip. When the child grows up, the seat must be replaced with an age-appropriate one or, if you have a universal model, remove the internal belts.

Additional elements of safety and comfort

In "advanced" seats, shock-absorbing materials are used: fillers, pillows, inserts, etc. Until 2018, child car seats did not pass crash tests for side impact. Today, this procedure has become mandatory. When it comes to the combination of safety and comfort, it is recommended to choose car seats that, in addition to protection against side impacts:

• ? adjustment of the backrest, headrest (if any), height and width of the seat
  
• ? setting up the ventilation system
  
• ? easy-to-remove covers protecting from pollution
  

Marking

When a chair is of high quality, it means that it has been certified, crash tested and officially guarantees a certain level of safety. This can be seen on the product label. Its designations are international and understandable to everyone:

• ? at the very top is usually the name of the model, manufacturer
  
• ? hereinafter - the designation ECE K44 / 04, confirming the passing of the crash test
  
• ? type of restraint (for example, universal)
  
• ? weight for which it is designed (or range)
  
• ? country code number (Russian Federation - 13, Germany - 1, France - 2, etc.)
  
• ? certificate number
  

Such a marking indicates that the child car seat complies with the requirements of the Eurostandard in the latest, fourth edition.



And in conclusion - about the applicability of products to car brands. Universal models fit any car. In this case, the vehicle must comply with the European regulations ECE R14-16. Semi-universal seats can be installed on cars, the list of which is in the product passport. Well, special designs are suitable for certain car models.