Baby car seat guide
It has become a matter of course for adults to fasten their seat belts before starting the car. If babies or small children are to travel in the car, the principle of “safety first” also applies to the youngest passengers. But the restraint systems with which vehicles are equipped as standard are not suitable for children.
While children who can already sit are given a special child seat, the youngest are transported lying down in a so-called baby car seat.
These ‘restraint devices’, as they are referred to in the legal text, belong to the class “for infants” and are intended for babies and toddlers weighing less than 28lb. These car seats are designed to ride in your car in the rear-facing position only.
At the latest when the child’s head reaches the edge of the infant carrier, a “Toddlers and preschoolers” child seat must be purchased. Here you can find out which criteria are particularly important when selecting a baby seat in order to avoid making the wrong purchase.
Safety and comfort have top priority
Infant carriers equipped with a 5-point harness system are considered particularly safe. With this system, the lap belt ensures that the forces acting in the event of a collision are distributed evenly. In addition, this system reliably prevents the infant from slipping through. It is important that the belt is to be tightened at a central point. The buckle must function securely and should signal to the parents, if possible with a clicking sound, that everything fits perfectly. But the straps must not cut in any case. Furthermore, make sure that the baby car seat is equipped with good padding. Breathable cover fabrics are especially important in the summer months. So you can be sure that your little darling feels completely comfortable during the ride and can comfortably slumber towards the destination.
Recommendations for choosing car seats
Car Seat for babies
Checklist for the child seat - a child seat must:
- Be suitable for the weight of the child.
- Be approved for your motor vehicle and fit in the vehicle with regard to the headrest, the seat, and the belt guide.
- Be equipped with a recognized test seal.
- Design the belt guide in such a way that the belt fits tightly against your child’s body, even when the child is moving.
- Seat comfort is sufficient for long journeys.
- Avoid harmful substances.
- Have a removable and washable cover for easy cleaning.
Properly securing a child seat in the car
Types of Car Seats
Infants and toddlers
Type of Seat:
- Rear-facing-only.
- Rear-facing-convertible
General Guidelines:
All infants and toddlers must ride in the back seat of the vehicle until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by the manufacturer of child safety car seats. Seats generally have restrictions that allow children to ride rear-facing for 2 years or more.
Toddlers and preschoolers
Type of Seat:
- Forward-facing convertible.
- Forward-facing with a harness.
General Guidelines:
Grown children who have outgrown the weight or height limit for their convertible seat should use a forward-facing seat, with safety harnesses, for as long as possible, up to the maximum weight or height allowed by the manufacturer of the car seat. Many seats can accommodate children weighing up to 65 pounds or more.
School-aged children
Type of Seat:
- Booster
General Guidelines:
Now, all children whose weight or height exceeds the allowable limit for use of a forward-facing car seat. Should use a seat belt until the vehicle’s seat belt fits properly. This is generally when they have reached 4 feet 9 inches tall and are between the ages of 8 and 12. All children under the age of 13 must ride in the back seat.
Older children
Type of Seat:
- Seatbelts.
General Guidelines:
When children are old enough and big enough to be properly restrained by a seat belt in a car, they should always use lap and shoulder belts to provide the best.
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The best child car seats by type of use
- Baby Jogger City Go Infant Car Seat.
- Britax B-Safe Ultra Infant Car Seat.
- Britax Advocate ClickTight Convertible Car Seat.
- Graco Extend2Fit Convertible Car Seat.
- Baby Trend Yumi Folding Booster Car Seat.
- Chicco KidFit Zip Air Plus 2-in-1 Belt Positioning Booster Car Seat.
- Britax One4Life ClickTight All-in-One Car Seat.
- Evenflo EveryFit 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat.
Rear-facing only seats
Baby Jogger City Go Infant Car Seat
- Easier seat belt base installation with the integrated belt lock-off.
- Baby rides rear-facing from 4 to 35 lb, up to 32″.
4,8 Rating
The City GO 2 infant car seat provides a safe spot for baby to join in on your adventures from day one! It securely installs in any car or taxi, even without a car seat base, thanks to the taxi-safe belt path.
Britax B-Safe Ultra Infant Car Seat
- This infant car seat can be used rear-facing 4 35 pounds. Car seat dimensions 17.75 w x 25 h x 30.62 d inches.
- Child standing height 32″ or less. Seat width 8.75″.
4,7 Rating
The B-Safe Ultra infant car seat is designed for safety, comfort, and mobility. Easily and securely install the car seat with a base or without. Surrounded in safety: 2 layers of side impact protection, quick-adjust head protection, steel frame, and impact-absorbing base.
Convertible seats
Britax Advocate ClickTight Convertible Car Sea
- Patented ClickTight makes car seat installation as simple as buckling a seat belt.
- The shoulder width is 16 inches.
4,7 Rating
The Advocate ClickTight Convertible includes the ClickTight Installation System for safe and easy installation in every car, every time. This seat also offers three layers of side impact protection, an impact-absorbing base, and a steel frame for maximum safety.
Graco Extend2Fit Convertible Car Seat
- Convertible car seat grows with your child from rear-facing harness (4-50 lb) to forward-facing harness (22-65 lb).
- Simply Safe Adjust no-rethread headrest and harness adjust together.
4,7 Rating
Safely ride rear-facing longer. Convertible Car Seat grows with your child from rear-facing harness (4-50 lb) to forward-facing harness (22-65 lb). It features a 4-position extension panel that provides up to 5” of extra rear-facing legroom, allowing your child to safely ride rear-facing longer.
Belt-positi oning booster seats
Baby Trend Yumi Folding Booster Car Seat
- 8-position headrest height adjustment.
- Car seat is designed for a child 30-100 lbs and 38-57″ tall.
4,7 Rating
The Baby Trend Yumi 2-in-1 Folding Booster is designed to accommodate the growing needs of your child. Your new favorite travel companion effortlessly converts from a high-back booster to a no-back booster when your child gets bigger.
Chicco KidFit Zip Air Plus 2-in-1 Belt Positioning Booster Car Seat
- Offers head and torso protection with a boost to big kids who are ready to make the switch to the vehicle seat belt.
- LxWxH: 24.5 x 18.75 x 32.75 inches.
4,7 Rating
High-back to booster: designed to grow from the makers of the IIHS best bet kid fit booster, the kid fit zip air Plus 2-in-1 booster boasts premium features like an innovative, quick-release LATCH for grab-and-go convenience and 3D Air Mesh fabric for breathability.
All-in-one seats
Britax One4Life ClickTight All-in-One Car Seat
- Car seat grows with your child from 5 to 120 pounds & up to 63 inches tall.
- 2 layers of side impact protection surround the head, neck & torso.
4,7 Rating
One4Life convertible to booster car seat grows with your child for 10 years—from 5-120 lbs & up to 63” tall. As the only all-in-one with ClickTight, it’s easy to install in seconds, so you’ll know it’s right.
Evenflo EveryFit 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat
- The Evenflo EveryFit 4-in-1 Convertible Car Seat offers protection for up to 10 years.
- Min weight: 4 Pounds. Max weight: 120 Pounds. Max height: 57 Inches.
4,7 Rating
The EveryFit meets or exceeds all applicable federal safety standards and Evenflo’s side impact standard, with advanced side impact protection that reduces crash forces up to 30%.
FAQ - Car Seats
❓ What are the different car seats?
There are four types of child car seats, including: Rear-facing or infant-only. Convertible. Combination. Booster.
❓ What car seat should my child be in?
Children under six months need to be in an approved rear-facing restraint and children aged six to 12 months need to be in an approved rear- or forward-facing restraint. There’s now a standard for child restraints suitable for aircraft travel.
❓ Should car seat go behind driver or passenger?
You should only install a car seat behind the driver or passenger seats under the following conditions: If you have more than one car seat that needs to be installed. If your child is riding in the forward-facing position and you have another child riding in the backseat that doesn’t need a car seat.
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