Guide
Fits like a glove: the big child car seat guide
by Raphael Knecht
A child seat test winner is useless if the child is secured incorrectly
10.11.2018
Translation: machine translated
Safety in traffic - even for the little ones. Out of 20 child car seats tested, 13 models are "highly recommended", two are just "recommended" and five seats fail. But a good product is useless if the child is strapped in incorrectly.
When a child dummy is placed on a child car seat and thrown against a wall, it's that time again. The latest child seats are put through their paces by the Touring Club Switzerland TCS. They are assessed based on the criteria of safety, operation and ergonomics as well as pollutant content.
According to the TCS test results, 13 of the 20 seats tested are "highly recommended". Two models were classified as "recommended" and five failed the test. These five child seats were found to have too high a level of harmful substances, which had a corresponding effect on the overall assessment. You can find the detailed TCS test and all tested models here.
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Wrong securing doubles the risk of injury
The test results will give you an insight into which model is safest for your child. But what good is the best child car seat if the child ends up being secured incorrectly? Statistically speaking, every second child in the car is not secured correctly. Every 14th child is not strapped in at all. This can lead to fatal consequences in an emergency.
In cooperation with the Dynamic Test Centre, TCS has carried out an accident simulation in this regard. They caused a correctly secured and an incorrectly secured child dummy to crash into the wall at 50 km/h. It was shown that the head load in the event of a collision is twice as high if the child is not correctly strapped in. Reason enough for me to give you some valuable tips that you should definitely bear in mind when transporting your child in the car. True to the motto "Safety first".
Tips for correct securing
- Check the seat for functionality, ease of use and comfort for your little one before buying
- Secure your child until they are 12 years old or 150 cm tall (whichever comes first)
- Use a child seat even on short journeys.
- Do not use an old child seat (recognisable by the orange label on the child seat).
- Authorised child seats contain the test number ECE R44.03, R44.04 or R129.
- Choose the correct child seat size based on the weight and height of the child
- Always install the infant car seat rearward facing.
- Deactivate the front airbag when the infant car seat is installed on the front passenger seat.
- Only change the child seat when the child's head protrudes beyond the shell or seat.
- Babies and toddlers are best kept in a rear-facing child seat until they are at least 15 months old.
- Connect the child seat firmly to the car, not just the child to the seat.
- Make sure the belt is tight (there should be room for a maximum of one finger, then it is tight enough).
- Make sure that the straps are not twisted and are level with the shoulders.
- Adjust the straps and back support regularly to the child's size.
- Take off jackets before buckling up.
- Buckle the child in as soon as you put them in the seat so that you don't forget them in a hurry.
More safety thanks to child seat technologies
ISOFIX
ISOFIX is the safest, easiest and quickest way to install a child seat correctly. The seat is securely connected to the car with a rigid connection. Either the top tether or a support foot provides additional security. For this system, the car must be equipped with ISOFIX and, if necessary, Top Tether. Otherwise, you must use the seat belt.
All ISOFIX models
Top Tether
Top Tether is an additional anchorage of the child seat to the car for even more safety. The seat is secured with an additional tether above the child seat or behind the rear seat (depending on the car).
Catch body
Some forward-facing child seat models have an impact shield. The child is not secured with a 5-point harness, but directly with the impact shield. In the event of a collision, the entire upper body is thrown forwards and the impact shield catches it. With the 5-point belt, the body is held in place and the head alone is thrown forwards. The entire force thus acts on the child's neck area and can lead to serious injuries.
All models with impact shield
i-Size
With an i-Size child car seat, the child has improved protection in the event of a side and frontal impact as well as more protection for the head and neck area. Up to the age of 15 months, an i-Size child car seat must be installed rear-facing in the car. The i-Size models are usually equipped with ISOFIX systems to prevent incorrect installation. The child seat is selected according to the child's height (cm) and no longer according to weight (kg).
All i-Size models
Safe child car seats
These "highly recommended" models are available via Galaxus [[productlist:6608839,9212347,8014491,10025260]]
Further safety information
Child car seats 2018 - Good child seats protect lives
Children in the car
Child safety abroad
Do you have any other useful tips or advice for other parents? Then use the comment box below. If you don't want to miss any exciting tips, tricks and topics about babies and toddlers, you can follow me as an author with just one click. <p
Header image: Before each departure, check that the child is correctly secured to the seat and that the seat is correctly secured to the car.
I’m the cook, cleaner, police officer, nurse, entertainer, motivator, author, storyteller, coach, organiser, chauffeur, lawyer and judge. To put it simply, I’m a mum to a daughter and not just a (Content) Manager at the office but also at home.
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