Child seats have been compulsory in most countries since the 1990s - and that's a good thing. After all, children must be protected ergonomically due to their smaller body size in order to minimize the risk of injury in the event of an accident. The simple rule is: all children under 1.50 m must be secured in a child seat while driving in the car.
While most of us know how important it is to have a child seat in the car, we know absolutely next to nothing, when it comes to the specifics. We only start thinking about these things when we have a newborn in the house.
Having a newborn in the house is already hectic enough, you don’t want to spend the little free time and energy that you have scouring the internet learning about child seats, do you? Well we don’t think so. That is why we have created this mini guide to help you learn about the specifics of a child seat.
Which child seat for which child?
Babies up to 13 kg: baby carriers
Babies are best cared for in the infant carrier in their first year of life. Only when a baby is taller than 75 cm or heavier than 13 kg is it time for a child seat in the next category. A sure sign that a baby has outgrown the infant carrier when its head protrudes over the top edge.
Small children from 9 to 18 kg: Reboarder child seat
Up to a height of 105 cm, reboarder child seats, in which the children sit or lie backwards in the direction of travel, are the safest transport option. According to various studies, rear-facing children are five times safer in the car than in forward-facing child seats: Both the risk of injury and the risk of permanent damage after an accident are reduced by 90%.
Children from 15 to 36 kg: Forward-facing child seats
If the reboarder has become too small, it's time to switch to a child seat from the next group. These are forward-facing and suitable for children up to a height of 150 cm. If this seat has also become too small, children can ride in the car without a seat - of course always with the 3-point belt buckled on the back seat.
4 tips: What you should pay attention to when using a child seat
1. Select a seat that suits the child
The child seat is suitable for the size and weight of your baby or child, shows no signs of damage and complies with current regulations. Never compromise on the quality, after all safety of your child is of the utmost importance.
As for the size, not every child is of the same height and weight. We suggest getting the best convertible child seat for tall babies. Children grow quickly and a convertible child seat will save you money in the long term.
2. Check the seat belt
The child seat belts are often not tight enough. Therefore, after buckling up, check the fit of all belts and adjust them if necessary.
3. Disable passenger airbag
If you mount the baby seat on the front passenger seat, the front airbag must be deactivated, as this can cause serious injuries in the event of an accident!
4. Place the infant carrier against the direction of travel
Infant carriers are designed for rear-facing installation. With a baby seat mounted in the direction of travel, a frontal crash can lead to a broken neck, since babies' heads are relatively heavy compared to their bodies.
