Much attention has been paid to the safety of children in cars. One of the aspects is the optimal location of the child seat. Factors such as the size of the car, availability special system attachments, the nature of the child.
Classic location of the child restraint inside standard car - the second row of seats. According to the European Safety Institute (Euro NCAP, it is the safest for child restraints. If possible, it is better to put the seat in the middle - then little passenger will be in the center of the vehicle at an equal distance from possible hazards.
If the child is calm and does not require much attention while driving, it is better to place the seat behind the driver's back. When an emergency situation arises, a person first of all takes himself away from the blow, and, as a result, the closer the satellite is to him, the more chances that he will not suffer. If the child periodically needs attention or it is important for him to see mom or dad, then it is better to place the seat diagonally from the pilot. Then it will be easier for the parent to control the baby or give him something if necessary.
In very small cars, which have practically no trunk, you can install baby chair on the front row. In this case, it is imperative to turn off the airbag, since during a possible collision it can open and harm the child with a blow. Some luxury coupes and convertibles also have child restraint mounts in the single passenger seat.
Wherever the seat with the child is located, recent tests show that it is better to position it with its back, in the direction of travel. In this case, the risk of injury to the neck, back and head during an abrupt stop is reduced by 90%. If a serious accident occurs, the child will be protected from glass.
It is also worth noting that each car manufacturer may recommend a specific model and brand of child restraints. This means that certain tests have been carried out by the manufacturer and the proposed combination gives the optimum result. These same recommendations are adhered to by various institutes that perform safety testing.
And remember: the safety of our children is in our hands. The presence of a child seat in a car does not in itself guarantee complete child protection. It is important to comply with all the requirements for the location and installation of the restraint device, which are prescribed in the instructions.
With the increased punishment for transporting a child without a child car seat, most car owners rushed to stores to buy car seats. This is understandable - now the fine for transporting a child without a special car seat is greater than the price of an average car seat. Moreover, modern tests have proven that the unsecured child suffers the most in a car accident. In 9 cases out of 10 in a more or less serious collision, unfastened small child dies either immediately or before the arrival of an ambulance. So why put your child in danger, if the guarantee of his safety is sold in any children's hypermarket and is not so expensive. After purchasing an accessory, the business can get stuck due to the fact that most car owners do not know how to install baby car seat... This is a simple matter, but it also requires special knowledge and skill.
First of all, it is necessary to touch upon the topic of choosing a child car seat. To choose nice chair, you need to follow several rules. First, ask the seller to show you all the car seats that are included in your estimated maximum amount purchases. Then check that each child car seat has a certificate. This is due to the fact that recently on the shelves of auto shops, underground car seats have appeared without certificates of passing the check. See how the car seat is attached. It's good if the chair is versatile and can be used different types fastenings: seat belt and Isofix system. The mounting method must be suitable for your vehicle type. After you have checked all the documents and methods of attachment, sit the child in this chair. The most important parameter here is convenience, because a ride in an uncomfortable chair will cause discomfort for the child. Fasten all the belts and see if the child is sitting comfortably, if he likes everything, if the chair is suitable for height and weight. Only if all these points are agreed can you buy the selected car seat.
Most child car seats attach to the rear seat with a seat belt. Even if you have not read the instructions for installing the car seat, it is not difficult to figure it out. Any child car seat has a rigid plastic base - a frame. It has two wide slots in which you need to thread the seat belt in order to install the car seat. First, pull the seat belt all the way for a more comfortable fit. Then thread the belt through one hole on the frame of the child car seat and pull it out through the other. Now you can snap the belt buckle into the belt buckle and that's it. The seat is secured to the seat belt and now not a single car inspection officer will snag. Moreover, you can be sure that in the event of a car accident, the child will not be seriously injured.
If you do not know how to properly install a child seat, and this is possible due to the unique design of the car seat, contact the seller for detailed advice. Make sure from the start that you can fit a car seat into your car.
Installing the car seat in a non-fit vehicle
This is possible on very ancient cars, which are not structurally provided with rear seat belts. But how, then, is the child car seat secured? In this case, it is prohibited to install the child car seat in the rear seat. After all, if there are no seat belts, then, in fact, there is nowhere to fix the chair. There is an option for attaching a child car seat with the Isofix system. But, as a rule, not all car seats are equipped with this system, and cars in which it is, are quite expensive and modern, in which rear seat belts are provided.
If there are no rear belts, it is possible to install the car seat on the front seat. Installing a child car seat in the first row of seats is very convenient, as there is no need to constantly monitor what the child is doing in the back seat. But this can only be done when the front airbag is deactivated in the front passenger seat or there is none.
By installing a child seat in your car, you immediately solve many of the problems associated with transporting a child. Modern child car seats have a belt buckle that snaps in and out with a special combination of movements that a small child cannot do. This means that you can be sure that your child did not unfasten and did not go for a walk in the car. You know for sure that he sits in the car seat and will not run away anywhere.
No matter how much they talk about the advantages of a child car seat, many car owners spit on it and continue to carry a small child unfastened. But when head-on collision a child sitting in the center of the rear seat, due to its low weight, flies forward of the car at great speed and punches windshield... Only a few babies survive after such a blow. Even if the mother is holding the child in her arms, after the collision the child will fly out of her hands, no matter how firmly she holds him.
A child in a child car seat is fastened with a five-point (!) Seat belt, like a Formula 1 pilot in a sports car. And be that as it may, in a car accident of any severity, the child sitting in the car seat will remain in it until the moment you unfasten it. That is why a child in a car seat is the most protected passenger.
The modern child car seat, equipped with side shields, protects the child from any kind of car accident, even from a side impact.
So, it is imperative to use a child car seat when transporting a child. Its use will save you from communicating with traffic police inspectors on this topic and will guarantee the safety of your child, provided it is correctly installed. And if you still continue to save on a child car seat or rely on your driver's professionalism, you can only sympathize with your child.
Video
Learn more about installing a car seat without Isofix in the video:
Here's how to install an Isofix car seat:
Not every car enthusiast thinks about safety when driving his car. Most drivers rely on a solid body, driving skills, airbags and seat belts, and this is enough to drive confidently. But when a new “passenger” appears in the family, the issue of safety comes first. Now, in order to transport your child, you need to purchase a child seat. However, this does not mean that you can calm down on this. To be sure that your child is safe, you need to know how to install the child car seat correctly. Let's figure out what's what together.
How to install a child car seat by group
Before talking about how to install a child car seat correctly, you need to figure out which groups of child seats exist today. The thing is that certain types of such chairs have a clear design that can be installed in only one place. Let's see what types of chairs exist and how they are installed depending on the group to which they belong.
Group 0 and 0+
A child seat in a group 0 car is used if the child's weight does not exceed 10 kg. As a rule, such a chair is used for newborns, and after six months it will have to be replaced with a chair of another group. The chair itself is a basket that is used in strollers. The only difference is that this seat has additional seat belts inside. This kind of car seat is installed on the rear seats in such a way that the child is perpendicular to the movement of the car. For additional security, the car seat is fixed with standard car seat belts.
The Group 0 child seat becomes unusable too quickly, so there is an improved version - 0+. The difference is that these chairs usually hold up to 13 kg. Therefore, you can transport a child up to 1 year old and only then buy a new seat. In addition, the chairs of this group are installed with their back to the movement, which has a positive effect on the child's neck and spine. The advantage of group 0+ seats is that they can be installed on the front seat.
Group 1
If your child is already able to sit still, then it is time to switch to a child seat in the car of group 1. It must be installed with the face in the direction of the car. Until your child reaches 15-18 kg in weight, you can safely sit him in this seat, without worrying about safety while driving.
Group 2-3
A child seat in a group 2 car is very rare, since many manufacturers prefer to combine 2 and 3 groups in one. In this case, you get a child car seat without internal belts. Now, car seat belts are used for fixing, which pass through special holes in the seat. It's not even worth talking about the comfort of such chairs, because most of them have a well-adjusted tilt angle for your child to sleep well.
Group 3 or booster
Boosters - this is the name given to child seats of group 3. This cannot even be called an armchair, because the booster has a solid structure and is just a seat. There is no side protection and they are not securely attached. Although the manufacturers prove that they can be used for children from 4 years old, we would argue about whether such chairs can be used at all.
Which car seat is best?
Today, these are all existing classes of child car seats, but as practice shows, there are much more of them. Manufacturers have learned to competently combine several classes at once in one chair. These chairs are of course more expensive, but in the end they save you money. After all, if in 1-2 years you have to change at least three chairs, you can buy one chair once, which will serve you 2-3 years.
When choosing a child car seat, you need to consider things such as the height and weight of the child, the way of fastening and other important factors that allow right choice... There is probably no definite answer to the question "which car seat is better?" Each child seat has its own pros and cons, and your goal is to determine the best option for you and your child.
How to fix the child seat?
By fastening methods car seats for children can be divided into three groups. Each seat has a different mounting method, and they are all widely used in car seats. Which mounting method is right for you is up to you. In turn, we will try to tell you how to fix a child seat of one class or another.
- Seat, secured with seat belts. These seats are fixed in the passenger compartment using standard passenger belts. Most often, special grooves are provided in chairs of this type, where the seat belt is stretched. A definite plus of this system is that it is a universal mounting method suitable for all vehicles. The downside is that there is no single instruction on how to install such chairs, but for each chair, as a rule, instructions are attached.
- Armchair with ISOFIX fastening. Child car seats with ISOFIX attachment are attached directly to the car body. For this, there are special brackets in the car in the back row between the back and the seat, into which the mount is inserted. It is also enough reliable way fasteners, however, not all vehicles are equipped with such brackets. That is why, when choosing a car seat, you should pay attention to the way it is attached.
- Armchair with Latch attachment. The Latch type attachment on a car child seat is a strap with a kind of anchor at the end. How to install a Latch type child car seat? Quite simply - the strap extends over the seat back and clings to the body bracket with an anchor. Again, this type of fastening is not suitable for all cars, so you need to check in advance if such a bracket is in your car.
How to fasten a child seat?
In the review, we managed to discuss the classes of child seats, dividing them according to the principle of the child's age and weight, the type of seat, and also by the method of attachment. When choosing a child seat of one class or another, you determine in advance how to fasten the child seat, because all this is written in the instructions. The situation is quite different with exactly where to place the child seat in the car.
Of course, as we said earlier, the future position of the chair depends on the class itself (0, 0+, 1, etc.). But in which part of the cabin will your child be as safe as possible? And as practice shows, the safest place in an accident is the rear right seat, as well as the rear seat in the middle. In the event that you were able to correctly install the child seat in this place, you can be sure that your child is completely safe. We hope we were able to answer the question of how to install the child car seat correctly.
Instructions
The group 0 infant car seat can only be installed in the rear seat. It is attached to the standard car seat belts with an adapter belt. It is very important to install a headboard away from the car door to reduce the risk of injury to the baby in a side collision.
Car seats of group 0+ can be installed both on the back and on, but always against the direction of the vehicle. In the event of a frontal collision, this arrangement ensures the safety of the baby. It is advisable in the front seat if the driver is carrying a child alone. In this case, the driver's attention is less distracted and driving safety becomes higher. The car seat of this group is fastened in the passenger compartment with seat belts or using the Isofix system. You can also use a special stand base.
If, when attaching the infant car seat, the length of the car's standard seat belts is not enough, you should contact the service center to replace the seat belts with longer ones. To avoid such troubles, when buying, you should check the installation of the seat on the car. In this case, it is necessary to understand the fixation scheme. This must necessarily be applied on a readable place. Places for the passage of belts should also be marked. For rear facing seats, this color is blue.
A dedicated stand base makes it easy to install and remove the infant car seat. This device is fixed and permanently located in the cabin. When installed, the car seat simply snaps onto the base without the use of belts. If it is necessary to install the car seat in another car, it can be secured with straps as standard. This base stand can be sold with the infant carrier or separately. Inside the car, it is secured with seat belts or Isofix latches.
Seat belts are not used when using the Isofix system. Correct fit indicators help prevent errors when installing the infant carrier (when correct installation the green indicator will light up, if wrong - red). The installation process of the infant car seat is simple: it is fixed at two points to the car body by means of special brackets that are located between the pillow and the backrest rear seat... For greater reliability, there is a lower stop in the passenger compartment floor or an upper anchor strap attached to the back of the rear seat. The procedure for using these devices is described in the operating instructions for the car seat and car.
When using group 0 + / 1 universal car seats, installation methods are used depending on the weight and age of the child. If the baby weighs up to 13 kg, the chair is installed against the direction of travel. When the child reaches 1 year old and weighs 13 kg, the chair must be reoriented in the direction of travel. The seats of this group can be fastened with both seat belts and with the Isofix system. In addition, the car seat must be marked in two colors: blue for rear facing, red for forward facing.
A car seat is a special car seat that is designed to transport babies up to a year. She is orthopedic and with seat belts. The infant carrier can protect babies from shocks during accidents.
What is a car seat for?
The weight of the infant car seat is 4-5 kg, there is a carrying handle, in some models it is possible to attach it to the stroller. It is also possible to have an awning to protect from the sun. The position of the child is lying or reclining. A soft insert is required to reduce the load on the spine. Backrest tilt - from 30 to 45 degrees. All modern cradles take into account the developmental features of the baby's body to achieve the highest level of comfort and safety.
If the infant carrier is attached to the front seat, make sure the airbag is deactivated. Remember the most safe place in the car - behind the driver and in the middle of the rear sofa, and the most dangerous - in the front.
At what age can the infant carrier be used
- 0 - for children up to six months. The peculiarity is that the back is completely horizontal. Ideal for premature babies.
- 0+ - for babies up to a year.
It is important to note how the infant car seat is installed (the safety of the baby depends on this in case of accidents) - necessarily against the direction of the car. The main advantage of the infant carrier is that the position in it contributes to the normal breathing of the baby.
How does a car seat differ from a chair
To compare car seats and car seats, it is important to remember the features of the body of babies - a slight stiffness of bones, a huge amount of cartilage tissue, weak muscles in comparison with a large head. Based on these factors let's compare the infant car seat with the seat:
1. In the cradle, the child is in a horizontal position (the most correct for small children), and in the car seat, the baby is reclining, which slightly reduces comfort.
2. Car seats are designed for children up to 9 kg and 70 cm (not without exceptions), and a seat for children up to 13 kg and 75 cm.
3. The cradle is located perpendicular to the movement of the car and is attached with a standard belt. In the car seat, the child is positioned in the same way, but against the movement.
4. In a side impact, the cradle is more dangerous for the baby's head. The child is more protected in the chair. Therefore, when it comes to safety, the car seat is significantly better.
How to install the infant carrier correctly
If you have purchased an infant car seat, learn how to properly attach it to your car to ensure the safest and most comfortable stay for your baby.
1.
The infant carrier should be installed with the headboard away from the door to avoid side impact injuries.
2. The carrycots of category 0+ can be installed on the rear or on front seat... Be sure to install against the direction of the machine. This car seat is secured with seat belts or a special system.
3. It may happen that the length of the belts is insufficient. Then they need to be replaced at a service center.
4.
To find out how the infant carrier is attached to the car, it is enough to find the installation diagram - it should be drawn in a conspicuous place.
5. Installation will be much easier if you use a stand (base). It can be secured with straps or the Isofix system. It is fixed and then not removed.
