Any parents want to protect their child from the dangers of the modern world. Nowadays, life with a baby is no longer imagined without a car: clinics, shops, walks. To transport a baby, modern and safe devices that can be easily installed in a car are required - a car seat. They will be discussed in our article.
Reasons to use
A small child needs parental love and protection from birth. Traveling in a car involves the possibility of sharp turns and braking. Such movements can adversely affect the baby due to the musculoskeletal system that is not fully formed. The muscles of the neck and the head, which weighs a lot relative to the entire body of the newborn, can be especially affected.
For the safe movement of babies into the car, a special design is needed, which is called an infant car seat. Since the baby must be transported from the maternity hospital according to all traffic rules, you should take care of buying this device in advance.
Those people who want to neglect the safety of their baby often later regret it. And the fines that traffic police officers can issue due to the lack of a specially designated place for a child are impressive.
Varieties
In general, accessories for transporting babies in a car can be divided into two categories: infant carriers and car seats. Let's consider each variety in more detail.
A baby car seat is a design that allows you to transport a child in a recumbent position, which makes it different from its counterpart. It is located on the seats in a perpendicular position relative to the movement of the vehicle. Fixation is carried out with belts. Inside such a cradle there are special fasteners that allow you to safely fix the baby in the structure, thereby avoiding rolling in the cradle.
There are several significant benefits of transporting babies in a car seat.
- When the baby is in its natural lying position, it is safest for him in the postpartum period. When the position is perpendicular to the movement of the machine, shocks in the cradle are minimal.
- Lying in the cradle, the child breathes in deeply, his lungs are maximally deployed in contrast to the half-sitting position.
- Sleep while lying on the road will be as deep as possible, swinging in the infant car seat will be as natural as possible.
- This design is best suited for a long journey (over half an hour).
The unfavorable factors for using the infant car seat include:
- the service life of such children's accessories is extremely small: on average six months;
- if you use a cradle from a multifunctional stroller, then safety on the road is somewhat reduced (the characteristics of such structures are inferior to specialized representatives);
- The car seat takes up almost all the free space in the rear seats.
You can also find car seats for newborns on sale. In them, the child has his back to the movement of the car. The kid is securely fixed with special belts, and the device itself is fixed with the standard belts of the car.
Car seats also have their advantages.
- Considered safer than infant carriers.
- Small and practical. The kit usually comes with bulky inserts that allow you to use the car seat from birth to several years.
- There are models that are installed on the base of the stroller. Mom will always be able to stay on wheels and lead an active lifestyle with maximum convenience.
The disadvantages of this type of device include a small load on the back of the crumbs. In the position of 30-45 degrees, it is minimal, but it is necessary to stop in the movement of the car with the child in the car seat every hour and get the child for 15 minutes.
It is recommended to consult a doctor before use.
Mounting options
As already discussed, the car seat is attached to the rear seats in the car using the standard seat belts. There are many more options for attaching car seats. It is very important to know the rules for installing such devices, since the convenience and safety of your children depends on it.
There are several options for attaching car seats:
- seat belts;
- Isofix;
- Latch and SuperLatch.
Fixation with simple seat belts is used for almost all devices. There are only the following differences: the seats of the zero group are fixed with a belt, and the child is directly fastened with the car seat belts. In groups above 0, the car's belt fixes the child, not the structure. Group 0 can often be seen complete with 3-in-1 strollers where the chair can be mounted on a chassis.
It is strongly recommended that you read the instructions carefully before installing the infant carrier in your car. This will help avoid mistakes when securing the device.
Note:
- fastening with belts should be strong, the chair should not move from side to side;
- before buying this or that device for transporting a child, you need to make sure that it fits in the car, since some of them, due to their dimensions, may not fit a certain car or the belt length will not be enough;
- the belts should not squeeze the baby, but at the same time they cannot be too loose;
- when buying a car seat, it is better to immediately purchase brackets for fixing the belt directly when the vehicle is moving;
- the belt should not go around the child's neck;
- if the car seat has a base, it must be securely resting on the car seat.
Isofix
This type of fastening is very convenient, since errors are excluded during installation. With this type of attachment, the seat is attached directly to the body using brackets at the base of the device and brackets mounted in the rear seats.
The Isofix device is located at the base of the chair: a pair of brackets on a metal frame, located on both sides of the holding device. There are two- and three-point ways to fix the chair. The third point can be a telescopic floor stop or an anchor strap at the top of the seat. There are models with an electronic notification system that everything was done correctly during installation. Not all car seat models have Isofix. In such cases, a chair platform with adapters can be purchased.
Be sure to read the important information before purchasing an infant carrier with this attachment system.
- When purchasing a car seat with Isofix mountings, check that your vehicle is compatible with this system. Locate the brackets in the seat gap: they should be located in the gap.
- The mounts in question are not suitable for carrying babies in the front. Fortunately, many car seats are universal and can, in addition to Isofix, be secured with the standard seat belts.
- The Isofix system is not recommended for passengers under one year old as it transmits unwanted vibration through its brackets.
- Metal chassis can scratch the seat material. To avoid such troubles, it is better to purchase a protective mat.
Pros of car seats equipped with Isofix:
- fasteners are carried out very quickly;
- displacement of the chair in one direction or another is excluded;
- approved by crash tests.
Such devices for children have their drawbacks:
- high price and greater weight in comparison with conventional models;
- will not fit many cars;
- transmits vibration to the child through metal parts;
- not suitable for children weighing more than 18 kg;
- installed only in the back seat.
Latch
This mount is the American analogue of Isofix. For the USA, this is an example of the ideal way to transport babies: this mount does not use heavy metal structures. Fixation is carried out with staples of the same name Latch and straps. The brackets are located in the rear seats.
The described foreign models of fasteners are combined, that is, if one type of fastening is present in the car, then another can also be installed without problems.
SuperLatch is reinforced with an automatic strap length adjuster.
The latch-mount does not vibrate, it is easy to install, quite lightweight due to the absence of heavy metal parts. Also, a chair with such an attachment can support a child up to 30 kg. There are also disadvantages: it is difficult to find such models, they are not universal, they are expensive and are not installed in the front seat.
Criterias of choice
To choose a specific car seat or infant car seat, you need to decide on the weight group of the child. There are devices for transporting babies from 0+ to a certain amount of kilograms. In some cases, the growth of the crumbs is also taken into account.
The infant carrier can be used from birth up to six months while the baby is sitting. Car seats have a wider age range. If frequent and long trips with a newborn are expected, it is better not to be stingy and purchase an infant car seat for six months to avoid health problems for your child.
Car seat accessories are very important. Try to choose models with a sun shade. Whether it's shining into the car or you put the device on the wheelbase and go for a walk, protection from glare always comes in handy. There are options for devices with a special handle for carrying a child. If trips involve the need for frequent exits from the car, then the handle on the infant car seat is a must.
It is very important to choose a model that has special quality certificates. The purchase of such a device for transporting a baby will allow you to be sure that the trip will be as safe as possible.
Then you need to choose the type of attachment possible in your car. Fastening with standard belts fits all types of cars, while Isofix and Latch are less versatile. You need to check the ease of fastening. Products with an overly intricate arrangement may cause installation problems for family members, making travel difficult.
When choosing a brand of children's devices, it is recommended to pay attention to the crash tests carried out in different countries. It is advisable to look for car seats that meet European quality standards. A device that has passed all the required tests is marked with the symbols ECE 44 or ECE 129.
When choosing accessories for transporting babies, it is better to pay attention to models that can be installed on the chassis. This will make it more convenient to move outside the car. They are similar to strollers.
The purchase of a restraint should be accompanied by a careful examination of the anchorages: they must be reliable, safe for the child, with wide and comfortable straps. Falling asleep during the trip, children should not feel uncomfortable. The baby's head must be additionally protected from impacts.
It is advisable to transport all children under one year old against the movement of the car, therefore, when buying a car seat, you need to take this point into account. Not all models, the age group of which takes into account several years, have a rear-facing option.
When buying devices for older children who are already one year old, you need to try to put them there. The baby should like the seat so that he does not act up on the road and does not distract the adults who are driving. It is also advisable to check the capacity of the device in the car.
It is desirable that the design of the child transport fits the car interior. Fortunately, there are a great many colors and designs of child restraints now.
It will be useful to be able to remove the covers for washing. Almost all car seats and infant carriers have such a function, but it would be correct to clarify this information in the store.
If the baby's head protrudes over the backrest, the car seat must be changed to an older age group.
It is undesirable to buy children's devices for transportation in cars from the hands, since an infant carrier that has been in an accident may be imperceptibly deformed. This will impair the protective properties and can lead to tragedy.
Rating of the best models
For newborns, it is better to use infant carriers: they are the most physiological. When buying a baby device for transporting babies, be guided by your own taste, customer reviews, as well as rating on the Internet. Consider the best models that are currently at the peak of popularity.
- Car seat ROMERBaby-SafeSLEEPER. Can be used from birth up to 13 kg. Inside, it is very roomy, but rather heavy (7 kg). Using the adapter, you can install this model on the chassis of the same brand stroller. The device is fixed using ordinary car belts. The baby is secured inside the carrycot with three-point belts. Made of high strength and soft materials. There is a special arc on the side, which in case of a side impact will serve as a shock absorber and soften it. The backrest can be raised and used for an older child. Includes earbuds that soften the ride and are also easy to wash.
- Car seat Maxi-Cosi CabrioFix. It is used for children under one year old and weighing no more than 13 kilograms. Fits in a rear-facing vehicle in both the front and rear seats. Can be fastened with regular seat belts and EasyFix with EasyBase belts. This model is lightweight, the child will feel free in it. Plus the large sides and side impact handle.
- Maxi-Cosi Pebble. A variation of the previous infant carrier. Additionally, this version provides a FamilyFix mount for machines that have the Isofix mount option. Designed according to European quality standards.
- Wow - a cradle for babies made in the USA. Can be used up to a maximum of 9 months. Lightweight and compact, fits on wheels. Fits into the car using adapters.
- BEBE Confort Creatis Fix. Convenient design allows the child to be in it in 2 positions: recumbent and reclining. The design has a sun visor and a carrying handle. A very durable infant car seat made of hypoallergenic materials in a versatile red color. Mounts on the platform.
- Cybex Aton. This comfortable and durable infant car seat is very popular and has passed numerous crash tests. Thick and soft sides of such a device will protect your baby from blows. The canopy of this infant carrier can be fixed in 4 positions. It can also be based on a wheelchair chassis from the same company.
- Recaro Young Profi Plus... The very thick frame of such a device makes it as safe as possible to find the crumbs inside. The upholstery material is made of natural and non-toxic materials that will not harm the baby in any way.
- Mima Izi Go Car Seat. An amazing feature of this cradle is the body material: it is leather. It is so convenient for keeping clean and hygienic with a small child. The fastening in such a device is double: suitable for regular regular belts and for Isofix. The advantages are the presence of a carrying handle and a comfortable, soft, adjustable headrest.
- Aprica CURURILA Isofix. The name of such a cradle speaks for itself. Isofix mounts are among the most reliable in modern child transport devices. This infant car seat can be rotated on its own axis without removing it from the base, which is undoubtedly very convenient. The tilt of this cradle has 7 different levels.In it, you can put your baby to sleep, feed, or simply open an additional viewing angle for him. The plastic from which the infant carrier body is made does not form debris upon impact. The set includes an anatomically shaped mattress.
Child transport instructions
When transporting a child in a child restraint, it must be remembered that the safety of the baby depends on how correctly this device is selected. First of all, it is necessary to take into account the age group of the baby: using a car seat of a different age group poses a danger to the child's health both in the event of an accident and because of physiological compatibility.
It is not allowed to leave your baby alone in the car in a child car seat or infant carrier.
When attaching the infant car seat, a specific sequence of steps must be followed.
- Attach the infant carrier perpendicular to the direction of travel of the vehicle with standard belts, following the instructions. Usually the places where the belts should be threaded are colored blue.
- Place your baby correctly in the infant carrier and secure with the device's inner straps.
- Check to see if the straps are crushing on your baby, and if necessary, use soft pads under the anchors
- Tighten the straps so that there is a 2-finger space under the straps.
- Check the comfort of the temperature inside the car and, if necessary, warm the child. To transport the baby, he must be dressed in tight clothing to avoid chafing with belts. It is better to insulate the child with a blanket than to put on a jacket or overalls, since bulky clothes will not allow you to securely fix the baby.
Additional Tips
It is important to know the following nuances.
- If a parent travels with a child alone, it is better to install a device for transporting the baby diagonally from the driver's seat. So it will be more convenient to look at the child and, if necessary, communicate with him in order to calm him down. If the device for the child is installed directly behind, it will also be impossible to move the driver's seat to a comfortable length, and the baby will not be visible in the mirror.
- If the infant carrier is compact and is installed at the front, it is necessary to check that the airbags are deactivated: their emergency release can lead to tragic consequences. If the safety system does not deactivate, then the child cannot be transported in front.
- Most car seats do not provide for a baby in winter clothes. This will interfere with the correct fastening of the crumbs in the seat belts.
- When the most reliable Isofix mount is missing in the car, and parents want to use devices of this type, you can contact a car service, where they will help to weld the necessary brackets. After that, it will be possible to use such modern devices.
See below for an overview of the infant car seat.
