Car seat guide: which one should I choose for my child?

Sina Harms

26.8.2016

Translation: machine translated

Parents who want to buy a car seat often despair when faced with an impressive choice of models that differ in price and quality. But which seat offers the best protection? Not every seat is suitable for every child and every car. The interaction between child, seat and car is crucial. Below, you'll find the most important information about buying a car seat.

These criteria should be considered when buying a car seat

• The right size of seat for your child
• The attachment of the car seat
• The direction in which the car seat should be installed

1. The right size of seat for your child

The most important selection criterion for a car seat is that its size is perfectly suited to your child's height and weight. The weight groups defined by ECE (Economic Commission for Europe) rule No. 44 is a good selection criterion:

Group 0/ 0+: from birth to 18 months and 13kg

Baby shells are fitted with their backs to the road and must be placed in the rear when the passenger airbag is activated. As the baby's fragile neck is perfectly supported in the shells, it is advisable to use them until the top of the skull reaches the top of the seat or the child weighs 13kg.

View all Group 0/ 0+ car seats

Group I: from 9 months to 3.5 years and 9-18 kg

In this group, seats with harness attachment systems are very popular. Children are secured to the chest with straps and still retain a certain amount of freedom of movement. There are also seats with an impact shield located on the child's stomach. These are very practical if the seat is to be installed in the direction of travel. The straps are well positioned when they pass about 2 cm over the shoulders towards the back. Take care to adjust the height of the belt as the child grows.

See all Group I car seats

Group II / III: from 4-12 years and 15-36 kg

To offer the child the best protection even when they are older, it is compulsory to put them in a seat until they are 12 years old or until they reach 150cm. Seats in this group offer the best protection with a booster seat and backrest. Side foams should also be present to maximise safety in the event of a side impact. If your child is under the age of 12 and under 150cm, but weighs over 36kg, it is advisable to use a booster seat.

See all Group II / III car seats

See all booster seats

2. Attaching the car seat

Isofix attachment

An Isofix car seat attaches easily, securely and in few steps to the vehicle. However, the vehicle must be equipped with the system.

Advantages:

• The risk of not securing the seat properly is low.
• The system provides a solid and stable attachment between the car seat and the vehicle body.
• Quick and easy assembly.
• An extra foot or support increases stability and shortens forward movement so your child is always secure.
• Docking stations for child carriers or booster seats can be permanently attached using Isofix anchor points.

Disadvantages:

• Not all vehicles have the Isofix system.
• Isofix seats that alternatively cannot be secured with a seatbelt limit flexibility.
• Car seats with the Isofix system are, due to their design, generally always more expensive than those fixed using the seat belt.

See all car seats with Isofix

Fastening with the seatbelt

If you choose a car seat secured using the seat belt, make sure that the correct fitting is clearly recognisable. This way, you reduce the risk of incorrect installation. Most car seats show the belt routing. Common mistakes are a belt that is not tight enough or a belt that is twisted. If you choose a seatbelt attachment, you have two options:

1. The use of a universal seat fitted with the three-point seatbelt.
2. A baby shell that has a belt path. This is fitted with the three-point belt and can remain in the car when the shell is taken along.

Advantages:

• Safe when fastened correctly.
• Flexible - not all vehicles are equipped with Isofix so you can easily change the car seat.

Disadvantages:

• Lots of mistakes can be made during installation.
• The installation of the belt is much longer compared to that with the Isofix system.

See all car seats with seatbelt attachment

3. The direction in which the car seat is fitted in the car

Depending on the ECE group, the car seat must be installed with its back to the road. Baby shells must always be fitted this way.

• Group 0/0+ seats must always be installed with their backs to the road.
• Group I seats can be fitted facing or facing the road.
• Group II seats can be fitted facing or facing the road. With Isofix, only forward-facing installation is possible.
• Group III seats can only be fitted facing the road.

Road-facing car seat

It is advisable to transport children with their backs to the road for as long as possible. Compared with forward-facing systems, they offer advantages up to a minimum age of 18 months. With their backs to the road, the head and spine are better supported in the event of a frontal impact. Warning: if the front airbag is activated, the car seat must be in the back seat.

See all rear-facing car seats

Road-facing car seat

From Group I upwards, car seats can be fitted facing the road. As fitting the seat with its back to the road offers benefits up to the age of 18 months, we advise fitting the seat facing the road as late as possible.

See all road-facing car seats

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Sina Harms

Brand Management Galaxus

sina.harms@digitecgalaxus.ch

Seaside child. Close to nature. Dog lover.

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