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Baby Car Seats & Accessories
Are you looking for a car seat for your child? Wondering what rules apply? In the UK, all children either under 135 cm in height or the age of 12 (which ever they reach first) must be secured in the correct car seat or restraint – no exceptions! Ignoring this law can result in a £500 fine at the ... View more
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Buying Guide - Baby Car Seats
Buying Tips
Watch out for the label: safety standards
Car seats must adhere to the R44-03 or R44-04 standards. The label must have the letter E in a circle which guaranties that the car seat bought by you adheres to the European standards. The label must also mention the weight range for which the car seat is approved. For example, 19 lb to 39 lb (9kg to 18kg) for a group I seat.
Baby in place: the harness
Group 0 to II car seats are fitted with a harness. There are 3-point or 5-point harnesses. 5-point harnesses are more reliable and effective than the other models. T-shaped, they resemble the harnesses used by road racers. The strap that passes between your child’s legs prevents him from slipping from the seat.
Isofix or not? The fitting system
Most of the car seats can be fixed with seat belts. Some of them are fitted with the Isofix system which allows you to fix the seat directly on the body of your car and not on the seat belt anchorages. It offers the advantage of being easy to install and not having to drive with a badly fitted car seat.
The semi-universal Isofix seats are fitted on the backrest with two special clips and a knee brace which prevents the seat from toppling over.
The universal Isofix car seats have a Top Tether strap fastened to the boot which replaces the knee brace. From 2011 on, all new cars are fitted with the Isofix system.
Keep in mind: lateral protection
Seats fitted with head supports are more secure in case of lateral shocks. Hence it is not advisable to remove the headrest from the group II and III car seats.
From babies to big fellows: adaptability
Convertible seats are those that can be modified to suit your baby’s growth. Though economically more viable, certain studies indicate that they are less practical, in terms of security as well as usability.
Comfort and hygiene: seat cover
For your child’s safety and hygiene it is recommended that you purchase a model fitted with a removable and washable seat cover.
Group II and III
Group II seats are for children weighing 33 lb to 55 lb and group III for children weighing 48 lb to 79 lb.
The car seats in these two groups enable the use of seat belts. Hence your baby is not held by a harness any more, as is the case in the previous groups. There are booster seats which keep your child seated at the right height to fasten the seat belt: it must go over the shoulders and not the neck.
There are two types of car booster seats: those that are fitted with a backrest offering better stability and simple boosters which can be used till your baby has outgrown them.