Everyone knows that it is impossible to transport a child in a car without a special device. Having rummaged a lot on the Internet, after sitting on numerous forums, newly-made parents often make a choice in favor of a transforming car seat. What it is, what is its advantage over other models, what are its strengths and weaknesses - about this and many other things in more detail.
What is a convertible car seat?
This concept itself speaks for itself: it is a device that can be modified depending on the tasks and stated needs. It is designed for different weight categories. Today, there are chairs on sale designed for the first and second years of the life of children, whose weight does not exceed 18 kg. And more recently, universal transport devices could only be used for a child from 3 years old and older weighing 9-36 kg. However, if you wish, you can find universal options that combine both of these groups.
The essence of the transformer is that such a chair has various devices that can change with the child and adapt to his parameters. In such models, the position of the back and headrest changes. They can have all kinds of inserts and restraints, which give a tighter fit for the child, and, therefore, an additional degree of protection.
They can be removed when the child is older.
Benefits
The transforming child seat has undeniable advantages.
- Saving. A folding car seat can significantly save a family budget. Many parents prefer to familiarize themselves with crash tests before buying a transport device in their car. Brand models with a positive reputation are expensive. And by purchasing a transformer, you can pay once and not think about this problem anymore.
- Availability of additional details. Universal chairs, as a rule, have a lot of useful bonuses that make it more functional. The most common of these is a removable cover that can be washed as often as needed. And there are also examples with a food stand, with a winter envelope and with a cooling cape for summer, with a pillow for the head and other pleasant little things.
- Some models come with a carrycot for a restful sleep of the baby, as well as the ability to remove the back, turning the chair into a booster.
- Possibility to install the chair in different directions. It is known that infants under one year old must be properly transported against the traffic, and older children - facing forward. Such a transformation is possible with the modern Isofix system, which serves as an additional fastening of the seat in the passenger compartment.
Disadvantages of a transforming car seat
Despite the obvious benefits from purchasing a universal folding car device, the transforming chair has many opponents. A universal seat must comply with the transportation standards for both a one-year-old baby and a teenager 10-12 years old. And this task is difficult. Here are the most common reasons that are not in favor of the transformer.
- Unreliable mechanism... It is believed that multifunction devices are extremely unreliable and prone to frequent breakdowns. Since the burden of multitasking falls on the design, the wear of the mechanisms is much faster.
- High price. Not all manufacturers can boast of having folding multifunctional models in the assortment range. Therefore, such copies are often very expensive, and not every family can afford such a purchase.
- Isofix system does not fit all brands of cars. In earlier brands there are no corresponding devices, thanks to which it would be possible to install the chair using this system.
- Not suitable for babies under 6-9 months. While the baby has not yet learned to sit, all his movements occur exclusively horizontally. Therefore, at this stage, he needs a cradle. Today there are models of car seats that include a mobile infant car seat. However, their choice is not diverse enough, and the cost is high.
- Inconvenient sizes. Some users note that the back of the station wagon is too wide for small children. And if the child is large, then his legs will rest against the front seat.
How to choose a convertible chair?
When purchasing any car seat, you should check the presence of the European Union Safety Compliance (CE) certificate, which confirms that the specified product has passed all the appropriate tests and tests and meets all the standards and requirements established in the European Union. The document must contain the following information:
- product name and model;
- information about the manufacturer or who the certificate was issued to;
- name of the authority that issued the document;
- validity period of the certificate;
- research protocol numbers and dates when they were carried out;
- list of standards based on which the tests were carried out.
But you also need to study crash tests and reviews of the purchased model, where you can get information about the convenience and level of security.
The material used for the upholstery of the car seat is also important. Many people mistakenly believe that it must be cotton. However, practice shows that such a cover can shrink during washing, and the wear resistance is not very high. And for a transformer, this is very important, since it is bought for more than one year. Modern synthetic materials are absolutely safe for a child. They are practical and durable. As for the case, it is better if it is one-piece, not prefabricated.
Particular attention should be paid to side protection. Having a large padded headrest and armrests would be an advantage. Their sizes are also important - the larger they are, the more reliable. The headrest can be detachable for added comfort.
It is best to buy a child seat with your child. Place your baby in a chair to understand how comfortable he is in the chair and how much it fits him. And of course, the chair must fit the car itself.
See below for interesting information on crash testing.
