How to choose a car seat for a child from a year?

Contents:

The best manufacturers of car seats - which company to choose

For the production of such important products it is necessary to have a special license, and all goods must pass crash tests and be marked.

If the buyer absolutely does not have time to study the features of these products and you need to quickly buy a car seat, then you can choose one of the models of famous manufacturers.

The best companies are well proven in this business:

• Britax Romer;
• Cybex;
• Baby Care.

Of course, knowing only the company of the manufacturer in this case is not enough, and it will be necessary to understand the differences in weight and age of the product for the baby. To do this, it is worth reading the rating of the best children's car seats, which detail the age and weight categories, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of such products.

The device and the principle of the car seat

Despite the standard soft car seats the child is hard to hold on tightly. Small stature and limbs do not allow to fully rest on the accessible parts of the salon( floor, arms, back of the front seat), and the standard seat belts are too tight and do not fulfill their function.

To ensure a comfortable position of the baby and to protect him from bumps or falls during the jolts of the car and designed car seats.

They consist of a rigid frame that retains a certain position and shape. It is made of hard plastic or wooden elements. Some models may have a separate base and a seat belt.

The landing site is distinguished by lateral edges with soft overlays and an additional deep headrest. This maximally mitigates the consequences of side impacts on the body or jerks when the steering wheel is turned sharply.

A special set of straps is responsible for keeping the child in front loads, which fixes the baby from the chest at five points:

• each shoulder;
• belt from right to left;
• perineum.

This system has its own tension adjustment and does not allow the child to fly out when the cars collide. At the same buckle, which binds a set of belts together, should be quite difficult for the baby, so that he could not unfasten it independently. Often this is achieved by laying down a certain resistance under the button, which can be overcome only by an adult.

The seat itself is fixed in the cabin in different ways. For some models, the backrest and base are tightened with a standard passenger belt. Others have a removable part on the latches, where only the platform is pulled by the belt, and the chair is pushed over onto its own latches.

The third type is the patent technology Isofix, which implies the presence in the car provided brackets and retracts in the device chair. The product is put into place by hooking the hooks into the loops, which is accompanied by a characteristic click. Additionally, the floor or roof stop is mounted for a more rigid fixation.

Types of car seats

Despite the common purpose, car seats have significant differences in age and weight of the passenger being carried. If you choose the wrong product, then it can not only be useless in terms of security, but also expose an even greater risk to the baby during transportation. Here are the main varieties of such products.

Car Seats 0+

Represents a small "cradle" with a slight bend in the middle. Designed for infants and can be operated from birth and until the baby reaches a weight of 13 kg.

The locking system has three points and is equipped with belts with a very large layer of soft lining, so as not to damage the delicate skin of the child in open areas. A large headrest completely covers the back of the head and holds it securely. This is a very important element due to weak cervical vertebrae in infants and large head weight.

The design features of this group of armchairs are distinguished by the presence of a portable handle, which allows you to get the child out of the car and back without removing it from the seat.

The base has curved slats and when placed on the floor, it becomes possible to rock the baby like in a rocking chair. It can be separately mounted on the chassis and strolled on foot. Often such models are supplied with a hood.

Advantages:

• differ in light weight;
• is often equipped with an Isofix mount;
• have a pretty look;
• you can swing a child or go for a drive on wheels;
• tight head restraint for babies;
• very soft inner straps.

Disadvantages:

• most of the cases are synthetic, which irritates the open areas of the baby's body.

Autoarmchairs 1

This group is designed for children from 9 to 18 kg. This often coincides with the age of 9 months and up to four years. If in the first months of life there is no acute need to travel with the child, then you can purchase this option for a long time.

Such models differ already with five points of fixation of internal belts, since the small passenger is already more mobile and is able to get out of the chair. The headrest is much freer than the previous group because the child can already keep the head on its own and wants to look around.

In addition, these seats are equipped with a seat angle adjustment, because on the road the baby can then sleep, then stay awake, which is more convenient to do in different positions of the body. As the child grows the height of the headrest can become unsuitable, for which the manufacturers have made this part mobile with the ability to lift it as the passenger grows. Advantages:

• long-term operation of the device( up to 4 years);
• tilt adjustment;
• height adjustment of the head restraint;
• five-point fixation;
• removable covers;
• weight of the construction is about 6 kg.

Disadvantages:

• not all models have Isofix;
• for some products a low estimate of crash tests;
• high cost.

Car seat 2/3

This product is designed for children from four to 11 years. This is comparable to the weight of 15 to 36 kg. Since individuality plays an important role here, in many cases the product will be used for more than seven years.

In shape, these adaptations are in the form of supports to give the correct position to the body of the child, which rests already on the regular back of the car seat, or in the form of full armchairs with armrests.

Advantages:

• have Isofix mounts;
• adjustable headrests;
• in some models there are cupholders;
• comfortable anatomical cushions;
• width adjustment;
• beautiful view;
• gives the correct position.

Disadvantages:

• no lying positions;
• models with backs are expensive;
• heavy for carrying.

Additional differences

In addition to the popular seat categories, there are contiguous and less popular types 0 + / 1 or 1 and 2 together, and 3, which allow intermediate values ​​for age and weight. This allows either to increase the time of use of some product or to start using it earlier than the models from the main group.

All the seats differ in the position of the passenger during the trip: face down the road and vice versa. For very young children( up to a year), it is best to have products with a blue designation, which means fixing against the stroke.

In case of setting in the front seat, it is necessary to disconnect the airbag so that it does not damage the seat when it is triggered.

car seat selection parameters There are many factors to consider when selecting a practical and reliable car seat. Design and color will only play a secondary role. The main criteria are described below.

The choice of the

group. First of all, the age of the baby and its features, such as weight and height, will influence the choice of the car seat. Ideally, you need to take your child with you to the store and try on the product. He should not be cramped or short in it.

It's good to get a design with a clear margin in size, otherwise it will lead to the need to replace the chair for more in the near future.

If you buy goods on the Internet, then without fitting you can focus on the classification of groups.

Category 0+ will suit most babies from birth to a year or little more. This is comparable to the mass where the design limit is designed for 13 kg of the user.

When a baby weighs 9 kg and constantly needs to take it on a trip, it's worth purchasing an item of category 1. Such products will last up to four years or 18 kg.

The last group is 2/3, which is suitable for children from 15 to 36 kg. In this case, the product will be used until the child grows up to 11-12 years.

It is worthwhile to be careful with universal models of car seats that have combined intermediate indicators 1 and 2 or 1, 2 and 3. They can be too large for one-year-old children, which will lead to passenger chattering on the trip. In the other case, lateral protection will restrict more senior users aged 8-10 years.

By type of fastening

As all car seats are installed in the car, you need to pay attention to the compatibility of the dimensions and the type of attachment to a specific car brand.

A better type of fixation is the Isofix system, which supplies the lower part of the chair with grips with special grooves. The car should have the staples under the standard seats, which are attached directly to the body. By inserting these elements the child's place is fixed hard, fast and correctly.

For those who want to protect all passengers on a trip, when choosing a product, it is necessary to pay attention to the presence of Isofix in the design of the chair. If it is indicated in the characteristics, then in the product passport there will be a complete list of brands of cars to which the product will fit.

More information can be found at the dealership dealer. In the case of incompatibility of the fixation nodes with the structural features of the vehicle, the seat is to be secured with regular seat belts, and there is no reason to overpay for the unused advantage.

Safety of the car seat

The main task of the car seat is to protect the small passenger in an emergency situation. To do this, a variety of crash tests are performed with imitation of frontal and side impacts and an assessment of the survival of each person in the cabin.

Evaluation of results has a scale of 1 to 5 and is indicated in the product passport. For high security, it is necessary to buy models that have won 4 or 5 stars.

Many factors affect the child's safety in the car seat, one of which is the material and shape of the head restraint frame and side plates.

As the design features are hidden from the eyes of the buyer, you need to make sure that there is a marking on the product ECE R44.03.What will mean the suitability of the product for maintaining lateral impacts, passing all the tests and matching the buckles of the seat belts to the proper level of force at the time of opening.

On adjustment possibilities

These options are associated with the correct location of the child and the provision of comfort on long trips.

Children are growing rapidly and their position in the seat will change. Still, even during short trips, they often fall asleep, for which it is necessary to ensure a reclining position. In moments of wakefulness, they do not like to lie on the contrary and want to look out the window.

For maximum convenience and correct fixation, you should look for models with the following functions:

1. Internal strap adjustment. Allows you to set the height of the line of the fixing elements so that they do not pass through the neck or below the shoulder - this will allow the straps to work properly when colliding and will not harm the child.

2. Headrest adjustment. Too high position makes sitting in the seat uncomfortable, and low landing does not provide protection when plowing another vehicle.

3. Adjusting the backrest inclination. This will allow you to rest more vertically and sit evenly during waking hours.

Here it is worth paying attention to the design of the belt buckle. It should be quite complicated, so that the kid could not unfasten it on his own, but at the same time simple for use by parents.

If the car seat is bought for a single long trip, you can purchase a simple design without all kinds of adjustment, corresponding to the current parameters of the child. But if the need to use the car device will be long, then these options are very useful.

On how to install the

Car seats for children can be fastened to the front passenger or rear seat, but there is a difference in the way of setting: the front part in the direction of motion or against it.

For babies, the position opposite to the car's travel is safer. During any impact( from the side or back) before the child's torso, there will be no free space for the flight in case of unfastening the belts( which the kids can do unconsciously, developing the motor skills of the fingers).

For a category from birth to the year it is better to buy an autoarmchair with the position against the travel. For older children, the fixation of the chair facing the front is suitable.

For the practical care of

Babies often crumble cookies and scatter other food on the road. Most of this "impact" will take on the soft upholstery of the car seat. For half a year the appearance of the product can be badly damaged. Therefore, you need to look for a product with removable covers.

Buying an autoarmchair with removable covers will allow you to wash the cloth and keep the conditions clean for the child. But in the case of short-term use of the chair, this is not necessary, so detachable covers are useful only for those who often ride together with the baby.

Additional selection criteria for

Some seats in category 0+ are equipped with additional chassis, which allows you to get the seat out of the car, install it on your own base and easily move around the street or institution without having to carry the baby in your hands. It is convenient and fast, because you do not need to shift the child, but you can immediately take it with the car seat.

But this is in demand with frequent trips to places where walking is required( there is no possibility to drive close to the car, the active life of the mother, who may have to deal with additional matters with the child).If you already have a small stroller placed in the trunk or from the house to the car no more than a minute, then the individual chassis for the car seat will not be needed.

Which child car seat is best for choosing

To make it easier to navigate in a wide variety of models, it is easier to choose a car seat by dividing it by key parameters:

1. For infants and up to 14 months, it is worth taking the group 0+ with a five-course of motion. Who plans a lot to walk with the child will come in handy chassis with a frame, connected to the bottom of the car seat and sun visor.

2. For one-year-olds and up to 4 years, a product from the 1st group with test results for a minimum of 4 stars, an Isofix mount, and removable covers is suitable. It is mandatory to have adjustments to the height of the head restraint, the angle of the backrest and the exit points of the belts.

3. Older children, from 4 to 7 years old, the optimal design is a group of 2/3 with the attachment of standard belts, removable covers and adjusting the headrest and backrest. Fixing the position in the machine in the direction of travel. Do not interfere with coasters for frequent trips.

4. For children aged 8-12 years who behave quite consciously, the 3rd category of the product in the form of a seat without a backrest is suitable. This will allow you to properly locate the passenger and stretch the standard belt in the right place. The most simple and inexpensive design is suitable here.

How much does the car seat for

Buy a car seat for various parameters of the child can be in the following price range:

1. For babies and up to 14 months( up to 13 kg) the product will cost from 2000 to 6000 rub. The higher the cost, the more they score on crash tests and are equipped with additional devices( visor, handle, lining on the legs).

2. For children under 4 years( 9-18 kg), the car seat will cost 3000-12000 rubles. Here, too, the price affects the configuration, the availability of Isofix and the available adjustments.

3. For small passengers from 4 to 7 years( 15-36 kg) full seats will have a price of 6000-12000 rubles. The cost depends on the upholstery material, the ability to adjust the tilt and the attachment system.

4. Supports for children 9-12 years old have prices from 1000 to 3000 rubles, which is due to the fabric and height of the protruding armrests for convenience.