Many parents think about whether to buy a children's car seat. The reason for doubt lies in the high cost of the equipment itself, and even that travel in a car with a child does not happen so often. In fact, is it worth it to spend money on a car seat for children if they will only use it several times a month?
Crash tests of child car seats
A crash test is a safety test for a child car seat . It is carried out in a special laboratory, where a variety of emergency situations on the roads are modeled, the degree of damage to the car, the damage caused to the driver and passengers is assessed. Of course, no one conducts crash tests in humans, they are replaced by special mannequins equipped with many sensors. According to the testimony of devices it is possible to judge the condition of a person who had a car accident.
According to the results of the crash tests, a child who is in the car seat at the time of the accident has three times more chances to not be injured than a child sitting next to an adult or in his arms. At the time of the collision, children who were near one of the parents can be literally crushed by its weight.
If the baby was sitting on the lap of an adult, then the outcome will be different. True, no less scary. The child will forcefully hit the back of the front seat or fly out through the windshield, breaking it with his body. An accident on the road can happen at any time. Even if the driver, realizing that the child is in the cabin, drives the car with extreme caution, then where is the guarantee that others will adhere to the same neat ride? Unfortunately, no one is safe from meeting with reckless or drunk drivers.
The main groups of children's car seats
All car seats for children are divided into groups that take into account the weight of the child and his age. The seat should not be acquired “for growth”, because in this case it will not be able to fulfill its main function of protecting a small passenger.
Group name | Baby weight | Age | Chair installation method |
0 | Up to 9 kg | 1 to 6 months | Against the course of motion |
one | 9 to 18 kg | 9 months to 4 years | In the direction of travel |
2 | 15 to 25 kg | 3 to 7 years old | In the direction of travel |
3 | 22 to 36 kg | 6 to 12 years old | In the direction of travel |
Combined groups of car seats for children
In addition, there is another classification in which the parameters of several groups are combined. The rating of car seats indicates that the model with combined parameters is in great demand due to the ability to use it much longer.
Group name | Baby weight | Age | Chair installation method |
0 + / 1 | Up to 18 kg | From birth to 4 years | In the direction of travel |
1+ | 9 to 18 kg | From 1 to 4 years | In the direction of travel |
2/3 | 15 to 36 kg | 3 to 12 years old | In the direction of travel |
1/2/3 | 9 to 36 kg | From 1 to 12 years | In the direction of travel |
Having decided to purchase a chair from a combined group, you should study all the advantages and disadvantages of the selected model. Because even with all the necessary safety standards, the manufacturer is always forced to give up something.
Universal car seat for children from 1 year to 12 years
In order to save money, most parents seek to purchase a multifunctional car seat. Children 9–36 kg will feel quite comfortable in it. Such chairs belong to the group 1/2/3. They are very practical because they are intended for use by children of three age groups: from 1 year to 12 years. Car seat tests also show that this variant is safe enough.
These models have a reinforced frame and a plastic base. The back is removable. The seat belts and the position of the head restraint can be adjusted according to the height of the child. The car seat for children of this type is equipped with a soft liner. For older children, they transform into a booster, with the help of which the child rises to the level of safety belts, fastened in the car.
Frameless car seat
Recently, you can often hear an offer to buy a frameless car seat instead of a full-fledged children's model. According to the assurances of manufacturers and sellers of such seats, they are absolutely safe and able to reliably protect the child from injury in the event of an accident. However, experts on this subject have a slightly different opinion.
The frameless car seat has absolutely no protection for the body. There is no support for the child’s head here. In the event of an emergency, the baby is very likely to receive a serious spinal injury or concussion.
Driving in a car is tiring enough for young children. For this reason, in full seats, it is possible to put them in a horizontal position to give the little passenger the opportunity to sleep. In a frameless car seat, the child will not be able to rest, which can be a difficult test not only for the baby, but also for those around him.
Installing a frameless chair is not so easy, according to manufacturers. In addition, the holding straps are secured behind the back of the car seat, which in a collision can easily tip over and crush the child. Thus, of all the declared advantages of such seats, only a low price remains true.
Car Seat Rating
- Maxi-Cosi CabrioFix. Country of origin - Holland. Designed for children from birth to 15 months. Provides maximum protection.
- Cybex Aton Basic. Country of origin - Germany. Age limits are the same as in the previous model. It has reinforced side protection, a comfortable headrest and the ability to fix the back in different positions.
- Dino 4baby. Country of origin - Poland. Despite the fact that the rating of car seats assigned this model only third place, in terms of popularity, it is ahead of the previous two. Dino 4baby is a multifunctional car seat designed for children from 1.5 to 12 years old. It meets all safety standards, very comfortable and durable. If the rating of car seats took into account the demand for the product from customers, then, according to most users, the Dino 4baby model would take first place.