If it is expensive to travel with a newborn baby even in a private car, then in the future it looks more difficult to leave him at home in a situation where the whole family would be happy to go on vacation or visit. A child who has reached at least a year is no longer considered by many to be so small and helpless, you can follow and care for him even outside the home, therefore, it remains only to decide how best to place him in the car.
If the baby weighs more than 9 kg, but has not yet reached the age of 12 years, then the best durable solution for him will be a child car seat of category "1-2-3".
Features:
In the old fashioned way, many domestic drivers prefer to carry children without any additional devices, not really thinking about how correct this is. In fact, this is not just inconvenient, but also prohibited by the current traffic rules, which clearly state that until the age of 12, any child should be transported only in a special device.
In the end, it is more comfortable for the baby himself, because even in the most comfortable car, the seats are designed with an eye to adults, while the car seat tightly hugs the baby, ensuring the correct position of the spine and even hands thanks to the comfortable armrests.
In the event of an accident, such a device will not allow the child to fly out, which cannot be said about the standard seat belt, which is too large and instead of the body can cover the neck of a small passenger, provoking serious injuries in the event of sudden braking.
Naturally, for children of different ages, the requirements for the size and specifics of a child car seat differ radically, and therefore such products are traditionally divided into age categories. Models of the "1/2/3" group are rightly considered the most durable, and therefore the cheapest solution, because they can be used for eleven years. The sustained passenger weight of such models is from 9 to 36 kg, which roughly corresponds to the age of one to twelve years.
For the sake of fairness, it should be said that the age range for a particular model can be expanded even more if it implies the possibility of installing an additional liner for newborns, and for children of a dense build, there are car seats whose maximum permissible weight is overestimated.
By the way, convenience for passengers of such different sizes is also achieved due to inserts. The design, in fact, is a large category "3" child car seat, designed for elementary school and pre-adolescent schoolchildren. Inside it, one or two liners are fixed with their own seat belts, which allow to reduce the space on the seat, more securely fixing the baby and not allowing him to meddle or slide, even with very sharp braking.
Accordingly, as the child grows, such inserts are removed, and without them only an almost teenage seat of group 3 remains, for fixing in which standard car seat belts are used. When a child outgrows such a chair by weight or height, it can already be transported as an adult.
Varieties
A car seat for children from 9 to 36 kg must meet the requirements of each age group for which it is designed, and the smallest passengers are naturally the most demanding. Different manufacturers offer different comfort conditions, and also use completely different approaches to ensure them, therefore, child car seats can even be classified to a limited extent. Naturally, before making a purchase, it is advisable to have an idea of what the money will be paid for.
Of course, models with a sleeping position are the most popular. Such convenience can be organized in different ways - there are chairs with a horizontal sleeping position (only for the smallest children) or simply with a certain adjustment of the backrest tilt. A universal chair could not be considered so fully without the function of lying down, since a child from one to three years old may want to sleep at any time, and his loud discontent caused by the impossibility of realizing a dream is unlikely to contribute to a good atmosphere in the cabin. Actually, even for a school-age child, the opportunity to sleep comfortably will not hurt, because the distances in Russian realities are often very impressive.
At the same time, a full-fledged recumbent car seat for a schoolchild is not possible due to a lack of space in the car, and indeed such models are not always compatible with a car due to a possible lack of belt length.
The transformer is also a success, which allows you to add even an insert for the smallest to the design. There are actually relatively few such models, because with the typical dimensions of a newborn, it makes no sense to take up a lot of space with a large car seat. In addition, many parents believe that the first year of life is still not the best time for active travel. However, if your family has a different point of view, you should definitely buy such an accessory.
It is worth noting that it is customary to divide child car seats in this category by how exactly they are attached in the passenger compartment. The most modern and relevant is the Isofix fastening technology, in which the product is equipped with long metal spikes that fit into special grooves made of the same material provided for by the vehicle design. Such a solution provides direct attachment directly to the body of the machine, therefore, unauthorized disconnection of the chair even in an emergency situation is impossible; in addition, the likelihood of improper installation of the structure is minimized.
However, this solution also has disadvantages - for example, it is completely unsuitable for old cars, especially if it is the brainchild of the Russian car industry, it is not suitable for cars with too low a roof. Separately, it must be said about the cost, which is usually about twice that of competitors.
The classic car seat attachment scheme assumes that the child sits down on the seat and is fastened with standard car seat belts - this becomes possible and safe due to the increase in the volume of the car seat itself. It turns out that the belts hold the child, and already he, being fastened, holds the chair.
With the correct installation of the car seat and the correct placement of the belts, this solution is still relevant, especially since it is suitable for the vast majority of cars and is relatively inexpensive. However, in terms of reliability, such a safety device is still inferior to the Isofix system, because the belt can come off or be unfastened by the naughty child himself.
The latter especially often happens due to the fact that with this method of fixing the belts often rub the skin severely, but if you ignore the safety rules, in the event of sudden braking, the child risks flying out with the chair.
An alternative solution can be a child car seat, in which the child is fixed not only and not so much with seat belts, but with a pressure table. By the principle of its action, the structure resembles an ordinary feeding table, when the forward exit blocking acquires additional useful functions, being a convenient tabletop for eating, creativity or games. This option is good because the baby does not feel constrained and can even spin without being in danger, while no belts rub anything on him.
For boys, this solution turns out to be more suitable also in view of the fact that during sudden braking, fixation with belts can damage the groin area, which certainly will not happen with the table. However, there were some drawbacks here, because such a car seat is usually still fastened with belts that must still reach the table at which they are fixed - this task is easily solved in foreign cars, but it becomes a problem in the samples of the domestic auto industry. Another disadvantage is the fact that the actual dimensions of the seat cannot be precisely adjusted depending on the season of the year and the amount of clothing on the child.
Manufacturer rating
As is often the case, in the case of eminent manufacturers, you can not guess with the choice of a particular model, still being satisfied with the purchase, but unknown brands from China can unpleasantly surprise even if all their characteristics were thoroughly studied in advance and supposedly completely meet your child's needs.
Of course, you should not blindly rely on a well-promoted brand name, since its chair may be very good, but not suitable for you specifically, but still numerous reviews indicate that good fame usually does not accompany manufacturing companies just like that.
The requirements of each child are individual, especially since the choice of a car seat must also be carried out in strict dependence on the model of the car and the dimensions of its interior. At the same time, none of the manufacturers still stands still - each company tries to surprise customers with something new, better than that of its competitors, but sometimes such attempts to squeeze out rivals even end in the release of an unsuccessful product. This means that there are no eternal leaders, just as there are no eternal losers - even the best brands have failures, and relatively stupid companies can succeed.
In short, any top 10, including ours, runs the risk of being both subjective and, which is very important, fickle. However, we present our review of not definitely the best, but simply very popular car seats as of the summer and autumn of 2018.
Maxi Cosi is one of the most sought after car seat brands worldwide, based in the Netherlands. European origin in itself speaks volumes - in those parts it is customary to be very strict about road safety issues, but this is not the main highlight of this brand. The fact is that several years ago he introduced the Turnosafe technology, which allows you to turn the chair in any direction. Of course, such a technological move was very positively received by many parents, because now the passenger in the back seat can perform almost any operation with the child, even while the car is moving.
All major models from this manufacturer are regularly tested in crash tests, where they show themselves not lower than the "good" mark. Another thing is that such an acquisition will hurt your pocket, because its average price is several tens of thousands of rubles, depending on the model.
Aprica is a Japanese brand of various goods for children, which enjoys particular success in the Far East due to the manufacturer's geographic proximity and relatively low prices. The specialists of this company have devoted many years to the issues of comfort, because each of their car seats is distinguished by the use of breathable fabric. This point is very important, because most car seats "hug" the child quite closely, and in a hot summer, such a trip can be even that test.
Such a solution is probably not the most budgetary, and yet it is noticeably cheaper than the same Maxi Cosi.
Inglesina is one of the absolute world leaders in the production of baby strollers, therefore it is not surprising that car seats are also not alien to this manufacturer, and its products are in high demand among consumers. Probably, the products of this particular Italian brand can be called the most balanced, since the prices for the products are comparable to that of Aprica, however, much attention is paid not only to increased comfort, but also to the safety of the little passenger.
Everything here is thought out in order to avoid even minor injuries. These chairs have traditionally received very little critical opinion.
Nania is a vivid example of how a poor quality product can be in demand due to its low cost. This solution is far from the best in terms of safety, because in the numerous crash tests that the products of this French company pass, the most popular rating is only three. At the same time, the main selection criterion that makes it possible for this brand to enter our rating was the cost, which is literally limited to a few thousand rubles.
For the sake of fairness, it should be noted that other points also attract the attention of the consumer - for example, the release of goods in a European country and excellent reviews regarding the ease of caring for covers.
Recaro are world-renowned car seats that prove that German products, in principle, cannot be bad, especially if they have something to do with the automotive industry. The standard positive characteristics of such products, such as increased safety and comfort, need not even be mentioned - they are assumed by default. At the same time, the products of this particular brand are considered the most spacious, therefore, for children of a dense physique, this may be the best solution.
A very special achievement in the form of a built-in audio system installed in a car seat (the Monza Nova IS Seatfix model distinguished itself) underlines that the manufacturer is ready to do anything to satisfy the needs of customers. At the same time, such chairs of the middle price category often receive maximum marks from experts for the environmental friendliness of the materials used.
Cybex is another popular German car seat that seriously claims to be the world leader in this field. The manufacturer clearly proves that for a modern successful company, the main factor of success is not so much the existence of a century-old history, as a careful attitude to its work. There is no doubt that the employees of this company are as patriotic as possible and only install these child car seats in their own cars, because in terms of safety, almost all models in the history of this brand have earned a rating above nine on a ten-point scale.
As befits a German product, there is maximum concern for the safety of the child, therefore only 100% environmentally friendly materials are used, in all other parameters the product also deserves no less than "good" marks.
Kiddy is another German brand that has decided to focus on the safety of the little passenger, not only in emergencies, but at every minute while traveling by car. The fact is that many manufacturers somewhat ignore the correct position of the child's back and neck, arguing that he will remain intact in a collision.
The specialists of this company decided that one should not interfere with the other, therefore they actively involve professional children's orthopedists in the development of each new model. As a result, children's doctors usually recommend the products of this particular brand, especially since some car seats from the brand's lineup received an absolutely fantastic 9.8 out of 10 for safety.
Happy Baby is a Chinese brand.Let's be honest - most of the advantages that buyers describe in reviews do not at all relate to the main characteristics that a car seat must have. Most often, the cost (of course), compactness, ease of installation and convenience for the baby are distinguished. It should be noted that buyers of such a chair probably have nothing to compare with - perhaps they would have greatly changed their assessment of such a product, having experienced at least one of the three German brands described above.
However, even unassuming consumers usually criticize such Chinese products - there is an unreliable plastic case, which can break even without any accident by the efforts of the child himself, and not too good fabric, which is problematic to wash.
Capella is a brand that positions itself as South Korean, but in practice, it has taken absolutely all of its production facilities outside the country, to China. The fact of production in South Korea would say a lot in favor of such products, but it would be more correct to say that Koreans control how the Chinese save their money. The choice in favor of such car seats is a kind of compromise between the purchase of full-fledged "Western" (where the quality level can be attributed to Korean) seats and the purchase of cheap, but rather mediocre Chinese models.
The price is one of the main arguments in favor of choosing such a product, since it will cost literally 10 thousand, but the quality will also be appropriate - fluctuating between an acceptable four and an inexpressive three.
Everflo is another brand that maintains a newfangled tradition that makes it difficult to pinpoint the exact origin of a product. The company itself is listed as a Canadian one, most of its products are actually produced in China, while the manufacturer is largely oriented towards the Russian market, so he managed to start gradually expanding his production here. As of mid-2018, it has not yet reached the production of car seats, but it is possible that very soon Russia will acquire "its own" child seats. As befits such a manufacturer, it occupies an intermediate position between Chinese firms and serious manufacturers.
The choice for such products falls due to the extremely low cost (usually less than 10 thousand rubles), but the quality of the questions is often more than the answers.
How to choose?
To make the right choice, and not to waste money, you need to focus on many selection criteria. To begin with, you should understand that parents often praise the "1/2/3" category chairs for the reason that this is a single investment for a decade to come, but it is not at all a fact that both the child and children's doctors share such delight. It is not for nothing that highly specialized goods still exist in the age of total universalization - just a special product for a particular situation is always better suited than one that is designed for all occasions. There are exceptions when universal does not mean bad, but this usually affects the cost, and then a reasonable question arises whether it was not easier to buy several separate car seats, even if not the most promoted manufacturer.
The second point that you definitely need to pay attention to is the banal compatibility of the product with the family's car. It would be the height of foolishness to buy a product with an Isofix system mount, having heard enough praise for the reliability of such a connection, while a family car has absolutely no stud grooves! However, even supposedly compatibility should not be misleading - you should first make sure that the chair fits normally in the salon, while everyone present feels comfortable.
It is imperative to take into account the fact that the child will grow significantly over more than a decade of operation, therefore if he is cramped already in a year, then it is not worth taking such a chair.
In the pursuit of maximum safety, one cannot ignore such an important point as comfort. Agree, if the baby is uncomfortable, he will cry and complain all the way, this is unlikely to have a positive effect on the driver, who should devote all his attention to the road situation. A child complaining about a car seat is not necessarily out of pampering - it can really be uncomfortable for him, given the almost obligatory tight-fitting nature of the product. In the conditions of Russia, where a trip can last not only for hours, but even for a week, it is worth paying more attention to comfort, and therefore for long trips it is worth choosing a reliable car seat that has at least the ability to adjust the headrest in order to allow the little passenger to sleep with relative comfort - it will save parental nerves.
All other parameters depend primarily on personal preference. If the car seat model has any potential advantage, the manufacturer will not be too lazy to announce it loudly, so do not be lazy to inquire in advance about the description of the car seat from the manufacturer and the real consumer reviews of the selected model.
How to install in the car?
The way the car seat is installed in the passenger compartment is highly dependent on the fastening method provided by the car seat. The situation is easiest with models equipped with Isofix - there you just need to insert the metal spikes that the product is equipped with into the grooves provided for by the car design. These fasteners are designed in such a way that the possibility of incorrect fastening is completely excluded - the pins simply will not enter the groove. If everything is done correctly, you will hear a characteristic click, and without pressing a special button, you will not be able to remove the car seat.
Oddly enough, the mounting pattern of more traditional car seats looks a little more complicated. In fact, such complications are caused only by a variety of designs, in which armrests with cup holders may or may not be present, while the presence of a clamping table can completely change the installation pattern of a car seat. In this regard, you should not look for a "universal" mounting scheme for all traditional car seats - it is better to pay attention to the instructions, which must be attached by any self-respecting manufacturer.
It should be remembered that professional engineers work on the fastening scheme for each model, and the consumer, who does not take into account the slightest nuances of the design, is often himself to blame for any injuries that a child may receive.
For an overview of the Cybex Pallas M-Fix car seat from 9 to 36 kg, see the following video.
