Child seat in a car installation guide

Even today with so many safety rules around many parents do not see the need for car seats, preferring to transport babies in cradles from strollers or on their knees. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), child car seats can even save babies’ lives in the event of an accident. For example, child mortality falls by 71 percent when using special chairs, and the likelihood of injury and injury falls by more than 90 percent. These numbers are really impressive.

The need to install car seats is recognized at the legislative level in all advanced countries of the world. Don’t think you can hold even a small baby in your arms during an emergency stop. It has been scientifically proven that the speed at which a car moves significantly increases the weight of everyone in it. Even when observing the speed limit, the weight of the crumbs will be felt 30 times more.

Car seat classification

A child seat is designed by keeping in mind the height and weight of children. Special car seats have been developed for the little ones from the first days of life. They can be used up to a weight of 10 kg, this category is denoted by the number 0. They are absolutely anatomical, used to transport a toddler in a supine position, very often they are used as a portable stretcher. Such a chair, as a rule, is placed on the back seat, rearward facing, fastened with a seat belt, and placed the child in it with additional equipment. There is also a special subgroup in this category, +0, the main difference of which is that such a cradle can be placed both in the direction of travel and in the opposite direction.

Group 1 is intended for children weighing between 9 and 18 kilograms. It is customary to place such a chair in the direction of travel, special five-point belts are installed in it, and it itself is fastened with the car’s standard seat belt. Group 2 focuses on the weight range from 15 to 25 kilograms and Category 3 – from 22 to 36 kilograms. Children with a large weight up to 12 years old use special. There are also convertible models that can be adjusted in width, height, angle of inclination to fit a child of any age or height. So compared to a few years back it is much easier to find the best convertible car seat for tall babies.

Types of child seat attachments for cars

Today in the car you can find car seats with two main types of car seat attachment: standard seat belts or a system Isofix.

Normal belts

In the first case, as the name suggests, the seat is secured with a three-point seat belt.

Pros: Such chairs have a lower cost compared to Isofix.

Cons: Lower attachment security compared to Isofix. This can be impaired in the event of an accident.

Isofix

This is the standard for car attachments introduced in the 1990s. The chair has rigid frame 2 attachments at the base of the skids that mate with the hinges between the backrests and seats in the car. 

Pros: A rigid frame makes the body and car seat monolithic, if an additional strap is installed on top, the seat will not wobble at all when braking. It is considered to be the most secure mounting option. Also, assembling Isofix guarantees that the chair is always installed correctly.

Cons: Due to the high weight of such chairs, due to metal skids, the chair costs more and the metal frame of the chair can cause damage to the upholstery.

Where should the chair be placed?

Before attaching child seats to the car, you should determine the safest places for them. Therefore, the most preferred is the back seat of the car in the middle. Installation is also allowed at the back on the sides, but this is already a less advantageous and safer position. When the airbag is off and this is a requirement, the seat can be placed in the front seat, on the driver’s side.

Buy the right seat

A child seat for a car should be chosen correctly, a large number of models offered in children’s stores do not meet international norms and standards. In order to determine the quality of such products at home and abroad, special crash tests are carried out that simulate various emergency situations in road traffic. Thanks to such events, a list of the safest and most inferior models of chairs for general use is available. Also read more posts on trendynodes.