Taking care of the safety of your child is the responsibility of every parent. Despite the fact that the rules of the road clearly specify generally accepted standards that must be observed when transporting small children in the vehicle interior, as well as penalties for their non-compliance, the use of a special device with mounts should not be caused by this.
Everyone should understand that there is nothing more valuable than human life, and in particular the life of one’s own child. However, choosing a chair from the variety presented in stores can be quite difficult.
Why buy a baby seat
Amendments to the legislative framework requiring the use of special restraint devices in the car to transport children from birth to 12 years of age were adopted on January 1, 2007. Since then, all drivers must use this device to ensure the safety of children from 0 to 12 years old.
IMPORTANT! For the absence of a car seat for a child during carriage, it is punishable by an administrative fine and is considered a gross violation of the rules of the road.
Statistics show that the use of special restraint devices can reduce the number of fatalities in accidents among infants by 70% and by 54% among children from 3 years of age. These are significant numbers. Everyone should understand that ensuring the safety of the baby during the trip is the primary task of every motorist.
Varieties of armchairs
Children's stores and specialized salons offering an assortment of child seats sell an extensive assortment of these products. It will be very difficult for an ordinary buyer to choose from a variety of manufacturing companies and various characteristics.
Specialists distinguish 5 main groups of child seats in the car:
- category "0" (assumes use during the period from birth to 9 months of life, when the child weighs no more than 10 kg, such a chair has a distinctive feature of installation in the passenger compartment of the car, it is fastened with straps, exposing perpendicular to the movement of the vehicle);
- category "0+" (used to fasten children not exceeding 13 kg in weight up to 15 (18) months, fasten the chair with the back in the direction of movement);
- category "1" (set by the front side in the direction of movement, children from 1 to 4 years old with a weight not exceeding 18 kg feel quite comfortable);
- category "2" (a baby under 6-7 years old with a body weight of not more than 25 kg feels great in such a chair, mounted on the back sofa or front seat);
- category "3" (in this chair children under 12 years old, weighing up to 36 kg are transported, installation - facing the windshield).
When choosing a car seat for a baby, one should take into account not only his height and age, but also his weight category. This is explained by the fact that many children by weight or height do not correspond to their age. In this case, you will need to choose a chair from another category of products.
What to look for when buying
In addition to the necessary parameters in the form of the child’s height, weight and age, when choosing it is also necessary to take into account the method of fastening the car seat in the car, its security, the ability to adjust, as well as its practicality, ease of cleaning, model, color, design and other parameters. Although the combination of colors and seat design for the baby will play a secondary role. The safety of the child should come to the fore.
To do this, you need to decide on the system of fastening the seat in the vehicle. Experts advise purchasing restraints with the Isofix system, which today is considered the most reliable. For this, the machine must be equipped with special brackets. The seat is fastened in them quickly and provides a rigid grip with the car body.
IMPORTANT! Not all cars are equipped with similar grooves for attaching a seat. Make sure that they are under the regular seats of the rear sofa before buying a car seat.
Child restraints, like cars, pass special crash tests. They allow you to determine the security category of the device. They are designated by values from 1 to 5. To be sure of the safety of your child, it is better to purchase models that have a rating of 4 or 5.
Children often fall asleep even on the shortest trips, and also grow very quickly, as a result of which their position in the chair changes. A high-quality and properly selected seat should be able to adjust the back, belts and head restraint to ensure a comfortable sitting of the baby in the chair.
How to choose the right
In order for the child to always feel comfortable in the passenger compartment and to be safe when committing an emergency, it is necessary to choose the right restraint. It is important to study the market for the goods offered and choose a decent option that meets all the stated parameters and characteristics.
The right selection rules will help you choose the right seat:
- category "0+" is perfect for children from birth to 14 months with a rating of 5 points for crash tests;
- from 1 year to 4 years, the “1” group is suitable with a 4-point assessment according to tests, the Isofix fastening system and removable easy-to-wash covers will be useful;
- armchairs from the categories "2" and "3" are perfect for children from 4 to 7 years old, a good addition will be the adjustment of the head restraint, back and belts, as well as removable, easy-to-wash covers;
- for children aged 8 to 12 years old, armchairs without a backrest (boosters) are great, which will help to stretch a standard seat belt in the right place.
A wide range of car seats offers a huge selection of models that differ in important safety features, style, color and other parameters. When choosing, you should be guided by the recommendations of other parents, the physique of the baby and his lifestyle. The cost of products also varies, but it is worth remembering that any, even the cheapest chair is much better than its absence.
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