Car seats: what are there and how to fix them correctly in the car?

When transporting newborns, mums and dads bear a great responsibility. A safe ride can only be guaranteed by a car seat correctly fixed on the back seat - its straps securely fix the baby and ensure its retention on the seat.

What is it for?

In 2007, new requirements for moving children in a car were established in our country, in particular, a rule was introduced for their mandatory placement in special restraining mechanisms - this standard is enshrined in clause 22.9 of the SDA. In order to protect your baby from all sorts of dangers and at the same time not become a lawbreaker, you should purchase a car seat. Its structural and operational features must be matched to the child's height and age.

Many were outraged by the adoption of this law - since this leads to unnecessary expenses and inconvenience, however, it is necessary to clearly understand that a child car seat is by no means a whim of our legislators and not at all some kind of luxury item, the installation of which, if desired, can be neglected.

This is a special design that protects the kid from injuries that he can get in the event of an accident, sudden braking and other emergency situations on the road.

There are statistics according to which in cars with an installed car seat, the probability of injury to a child is reduced by 90%. But this effect can be achieved only when the device is fixed in accordance with all the rules and technical requirements. Infant car seats are a type of car seat that is used for a child under the age of six months, since babies differ in their anatomical features during this period.

The musculoskeletal system of infants has not yet been fully formed, therefore, their transportation using an ordinary chair is rather difficult. In the first months of life, the bones of babies do not have sufficient rigidity, and cartilaginous tissue predominates in the skeleton, the proportions of the baby also differ from the proportion of older children: the weight of the head corresponds to about a fifth of the total weight of the baby, and despite the fact that his neck, on the contrary, is very thin. underdeveloped. In such a situation, any sudden shaking creates a serious risk of injury. Car seats are characterized by certain dimensions and at the same time they are clearly "large" for babies in the infant period.

The infant car seat is made in the form of an ordinary cradle; it can be used to place a newborn who has not yet learned to hold the head and control all active movements of the arms and legs. There is also a small nuance - the respiratory processes of babies are not perfect, they largely depend on the position in which the child is located, therefore it is extremely important that he stay in the car in the most physiological chair. When the baby lies in it, its chin is lowered, in this position there is no interference with proper breathing, and there is no increased pressure on the unformed spinal column.

It should be borne in mind that the first months of life, children cannot adequately perceive the surrounding reality, therefore they require constant attention and control from relatives. During this period, the car seat is much more comfortable and safer for the baby than the car seat. The infant carrier is also more profitable for more practical reasons - if the child is often transported in autumn and winter, then it will be much warmer for him in the cradle.

Well, do not forget that no matter how much you want to save money, you will still have to purchase a cradle - you should not discount this fact.

Types of chairs

Car seats are of the following types:

category 0 - applies from the moment of birth and up to 13 kg;

category 0+ - a type of car seat that can be installed up to one and a half years.

Category 0 assumes that the baby is in a prone position, and in a type 0+ car seat he is reclining, while orthopedic rollers are placed under his back and neck, and the limbs are slightly raised. This category is similar in principle to car seats, but differs from them in the presence of a carrying handle and the ability to fix it on the wheels of the stroller. The choice of car seats is quite large these days. Therefore, when purchasing an installation for your baby, you should consider the following important nuances:

first of all, you need to take into account the height and body weight of the child;
it is better to dwell on the fabrics from which the cradle is made - it is optimal that all materials used are exceptionally breathable and hypoallergenic; it is desirable that the infant car seat be equipped with a ventilation system;
many people buy used infant carriers - this device is quite expensive and hand-held goods can significantly save money, but this can be done only if there is absolute confidence in the reliability of the design;
it is important to clarify whether there is a place for a tab for the baby's head, and also to find out how many positions the cradle can take;
separately, it is worth paying attention to the product labeling, for example, the ECE R44 / 04 indication says that the car seat for the baby meets all safety requirements.

It is worth considering the most popular and quality brands of car seats.

Roemer Baby-Safe Sleeper

This installation belongs to category 0. It is designed to move children weighing up to 13 years due to the increased dimensions, which correspond to 30x43x62 cm. The weight of the infant car seat is 7 kg. The structure is fixed in the car using two standard three-point belts. Thanks to the same straps inside the installation, the baby's body is securely attached, thereby giving him maximum immobility.

Among the advantages of the model are the following:

frame strength;
internal padding provides good absorption of kinetic energy in the event of an impact;
the presence of a handle, which acts as additional protection in a side collision;
the ability to remove the inner liner, which effectively supports the baby's body;
backrest position can be adjusted;
The infant car seat is made of hypoallergenic material, which can be easily cleaned from dirt when machine washed.

Maxi-Cosi CabrioFix

Such a cradle can only be used until a baby is one year old, until its weight has gone beyond 13 kg. This model is fixed against movement on the front or rear seat, has two mounting options. The advantages of the model are as follows:

ease of attachment;
light weight - only 3.5 kg;
elongated sides that protect the neck from side impacts;
the presence of a handle that provides additional safety in frontal collisions;
centralized belt tensioning mechanism;
compliance with quality requirements ECE-R44 / 04.

Maxi-Cosi Peb

This carrycot is a more modern version of the previous model. It makes it possible to transport children weighing up to 18 kg, therefore it can be used up to one and a half, and in some cases even up to 2 years. The device has a support leg, which rests on the floor of the car, thereby ensuring its maximum stability. This type of carrier is equipped with the FamilyFix system, thanks to which the carrycot can be installed in a matter of moments using a special button, which gives additional reliability and physiological position of the child.

BOB

This carrycot is designed for the smallest - you can use it only at a very early age, usually no more than 9 months. It is quite compact, its dimensions correspond to 74x32x20 cm, and it weighs only 3.2 kg. This product is notable for its versatility - it can be installed on the chassis of a stroller and move the baby both in car and on foot. The model has built-in adapters, due to which it can be easily transferred to the car seat mode.

ForKiddy

These infant carriers can be purchased to move babies from the moment they are born. The model fully complies with the current European regulations, and various crash tests rated it 4 points out of 5. The advantage of this chair is in anatomically shaped pillowwhich helps to keep the baby's back in a comfortable position. The cradle is made of soft material, the straps are glued with soft pads and inserts.

However, such products are rather poorly detached from the seat, so it is easier to fix them once and leave them on the seat, and carry the baby in a different way around the streets.

Graco Junior Baby Sport Luxe

This model is the ideal value for money. The brand is recognized as the absolute leader among the products of the middle price segment. This cradle is designed to move children from birth, so the kit must include an orthopedic insert that fixes the head in the desired state, which prevents stress on the fragile neck muscles and spine.

All supplied inner belts are three-point. A nice bonus is the option to rock the baby and the sun canopy. The body of such a car seat is additionally protected on the sides. This carry cot can be installed on the stroller chassis. It has a handle that makes it easier for parents to carry the bassinet, it is small and lightweight.

"Aegis"

Car seats of the domestic company "Aegida" have earned quite good reviews. They are fastened backwards and held in position with a special strap. The anchorages located inside have 3 attachment points, which makes the placement of the child the safest. For a more comfortable stay of the baby, the device is equipped with an awning that protects from the sun, a portable handle and an orthopedic pillow under the head. Reinforced protection is installed on the sides.

Cybex

This infant car seat is recognized as one of the best in its segment. It fully meets the basic requirements and wishes of young parents, in addition, it is considered the most comfortable and convenient. This model received the highest marks in numerous crash tests. A unique feature of the infant car seat is its specific denim color scheme in several shades.

It is very important that this carrier has an anatomical backrest and a physiological headrest, while the latter has 11 different positions. Such parameters can have a beneficial effect on the correct fixation of the child and the level of his comfort. The mount is quite strong, but at the same time gently presses the baby and creates additional protection against sharp collisions. The disadvantages of the product include its overpriced, which is not available to every young family.

Maxi-Cosi CabrioFix

This device for transporting babies belongs to the premium segment due to the exceptional quality of the materials used, as well as the increased level of convenience and safety of a small child during transportation. In our country, this model in 2016 became the winner in the nomination "Parents' Choice" - it says better than any words that the cradle of this brand has earned the trust of many thousands of buyers.

The safety of the crumbs is ensured by the reinforced fastenings of the side panels and a special three-point baby restraint system. Additionally, there is a sun shade, a handle for carrying a child and a special pocket for storing small things. If necessary, the cover made of soft material can be easily washed and removed from any dirt in the washing machine.

In a car, this carrycot must be placed in the back seat, where it is secured with a regular belt.

Seat installation

Installation of an infant car seat for young children has some features. The carrycot is installed exclusively in the rear seat for the following reasons:

the infant car seat, in contrast to the chair, is characterized by rather impressive dimensions, since the baby is lying in it;
fastening the cradle requires the use of several seat belts, and on the front seat there is only one and it is impossible to securely fasten the cradle;
in addition, fixing the infant carrier in the front seat will be a big hindrance to the driver, since he will be constrained by the size of the device and the need to constantly be distracted by the baby.

In fairness, it should be noted that there is no consensus on which seat in the car is considered the safest. For many years, experts have argued that this is the rear seat on the left - that is, immediately behind the driver. The logic here is simple - in the event of an emergency, the driver begins to automatically twist the steering wheel so as to protect himself, therefore, the passenger in the back also receives certain advantages. However, some time ago, American scientists proved that the safest place in the car is the rear center seat.

According to statistics, for several years it was found that the rear seats are 60-85% safer than the front ones, while the safety of the average is higher than that of those located on the sides by 20-25%. This is due to the fact that in the event of a collision, the middle place is not subject to compression, and this cannot be said about the sidewalls.

Mounting options

Depending on the modification, the infant car seat is distinguished the following are the main ways to attach it to the seat:

in the direction of the car;
against the movement;
fastening in both directions.

The second is considered the safest option. As for the combined devices, at first they are installed against the movement - until the baby grows up and his weight reaches 13 kg, and as the child grows, the cradle is moved against the movement - this option is optimal up to 18 kg of weight. However, in most cases, young parents prefer two separate chairs instead of a single combined one.

The infant carrier is fixed along the car seat in such a way that the child is carried sideways. Such carriers, as a rule, completely occupy the free space of the rear seat and are fastened with two seat belts to the inside of the car.

In such a cradle, the child is placed in a prone position, and across his chest there is a fairly wide mount - a seat belt.

It has been found that the optimal place for installing a car carrier is the seat is directly behind the driver. In front of the baby, you can only place it as a last resort or in a situation where the mother is forced to transport the baby alone. In this case, the child is in front of his eyes and the parent keeps his condition in the zone of attention, he feels calmer because he sees the child.

It should be borne in mind that the car seat on the front seat can only be installed with the airbag deactivated.

For a car with 7 seats, the recommendations are the same - the cradle should be placed in the middle of the seat, located immediately behind the driver.

The most popular mounting option is with seat belts. By the way, for cheap economy class models, this option is the only possible one. To secure the infant carrier with these straps, the Isofix straps must be used.They are installed on most modern vehicles. The strap is fixed in such a way that the lower part of the chair is pressed tightly and fixes the backrest vertically, providing a secure and durable fastening.

Due to the large variety of models, the design features of the car seat body can vary significantly, as a result, and the mechanism for pulling them through the grooves also varies. It is worth noting that if such fasteners are used not for their intended purpose, then their effectiveness is noticeably reduced. The disadvantages of this method of fixing include a rather inconvenient way of fastening and unfastening the seats.

In addition, when the tension is loosened, such belts can stretch, which is contrary to existing safety standards. In 1990, the International Committee for Standardization introduced the Isofix, a general standard for fixing car seats in a car. In European countries, there are legal requirements to place this locking system in all machines sold.

This type of fixation consists of two main elements - brackets, made of metal. They are attached to the body of the vehicle at a distance of 28 cm from each other and are located strictly between the back of the rear seat and the cushion in the area where passengers are located. Usually, the placements of these elements are indicated by the corresponding signature - Isofix and supplemented with a picture depicting a baby in a cradle.

The installation of such a system should be specified in the instructions for use of the vehicle or in an authorized auto center when buying a car. The basic area of use for this type of attachment is type 0+ devices, where the baby is securely fixed with seat belts. They can support body weight up to 18 kg.

In the USA, there is another principle, which, however, is analogous to Isofix - this is Latch. Its difference lies in the fact that belts with a given locking mechanism to the brackets are equipped here, and not just guides. In addition, there are additional fasteners such as:

support leg - it is also called "telescopic stop" - it is required for the most durable fixation of the given position of the infant car seat; such a mechanism is most often mounted together with the Isofix mechanism and is based on a simple seat for children;
stubborn foot made in the form of two interconnected metal tubes on the platform of the cradle and allows you to adjust the required length to fully rest against the bottom of the car with further rigid adhesion;
anchoring also often found in modern cars; it is a latch for attaching to the anchor bracket, which is located on the floor, as well as to the ceiling of the cabin, the rear of the car seat, located directly behind the driver; in the place where such a mount is located, there is an image of a child in a car seat.

Important! The main task of the support leg and anchor lock is to reduce the total load on all basic fasteners of the infant car seat, as well as to minimize the "peck" of the carry during a frontal impact. The use of such structures in general significantly increases the degree of protection in the event of an accident.

Isofix and Latch fastening systems have such undeniable advantages as:

firm fixation of the chair into the vehicle body;
minimization of the risk of illiterate installation of the cradle in the car;
reducing the risk of "diving" under the seat belt in the event of a strong collision or sudden braking;
ease of installation and assembly of the chair - in order to fix the cradle on the seat, you just need to place the guides in special brackets and press them tightly until they fully engage - two clicks will tell you about this.

Important! Chairs with fasteners of these types make the child's transportation the most comfortable and safe. Their effectiveness has been confirmed by crash tests, which have given much higher ratings for the safety of infants in a car when compared to other types of restraints.

Rules for attaching a baby

Babies in the infant car seat are transported in a prone and reclining position, and the second option is more desirable after 3 months, since the head and butt have a fulcrum. The optimal angle is 30-40 degrees. If the angle is greater, then this significantly reduces safety in frontal collisions. If the angle is less, then the impact creates an increased load on the baby's spine. In addition, this position interferes with the normal functioning of the respiratory system.

In the first three months of a child's life, his head needs additional fixation. For this purpose, special orthopedic rollers are used, which are placed on both sides of the baby's head. Some parents use a regular stroller carrier instead of a car seat. This is a big mistake, since such cradles have low safety indicators. In such a setting, the child is in an unstable position, dangles when moving and, at any sudden stop, can fly out of his "chair".

The following guidelines apply when using the infant carrier:

a traditional infant car seat is placed on the back seat in such a way that the baby's head is located in the opposite direction from the door, which will save the baby from injury in the event of a side impact;
there should be no foreign objects on the seat where the cradle is installed - during movement and emergency braking, they can get into the cradle and harm the child;
if the size of the standard belts is not enough, then they must be replaced at a specialized service center;
it is not allowed to fix the infant car seat with a two-point belt, as well as with a faulty mount;
it is not allowed to transport a child in a cradle that has been in an accident - in this case, there is a high probability of damage to the fastening mechanisms;
the baby's weight should be monitored - if it is higher than permissible for each specific model of the infant car seat, the chair must be changed.

The infant car seat is an obligatory attribute of the movement of children in the car, regardless of whether it is a personal car or a taxi. Such a device allows you to ensure maximum safety of the crumbs in a collision, as well as at the time of emergency maneuvers and forced braking. In this case, it is extremely important that the seat is securely and firmly fixed in the cabin, and the baby is fastened properly. For this, infant car seats are supplied with various stickers, which are a kind of instruction and describe how to fix the baby.