Car Seat - Rating

Legislation in many countries prohibits the transport of children without special restraints. But even if there is no such prohibition, parents are interested in that during the troubles that happen on the roads constantly, the child is not injured. Conventional belts in this situation help poorly. The only way out is a car seat, whose rating is quite high. The article will discuss which chair is better and why.

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Some thoughts on cost

Car manufacturers offer their customers a variety of child restraints at various prices. In any car shop you will find both very cheap Chinese products and reliable devices from reputable manufacturers with a worldwide reputation. Great temptation to save, but is it worth it?

You don’t usually want to think about accidents on the road, but still, counting the money, remember that a chair can save your baby’s life, and this is more expensive than several thousand rubles. A good device that complies with all international safety standards cannot be very cheap. But if you wish, you can find an average model at a price that will not be inferior to premium products. If a product such as a child car seat has a high rating, it means that it meets the safety standards as much as possible.

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What is a safety standard?

Now let's figure out what is the safety standard, which is labeled as ECE R44 / 04 on quality products. This standard has been developed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe specifically for child restraints. The document entered into force in 2009.

Important! Compliance with this certificate is required for all devices in which children are transported. Otherwise, the car seat simply does not get on the counter. The certificate itself is orange, and the letters and numbers are inside the circle.

If the product is certified, it means that:

• Attached to him is an instruction that is understandable even to an illiterate and not too versed in technology person.
• There is also a guarantee that the item is fully equipped, a diagonal belt clip is attached to it. In this case, the mechanism should be such as to automatically adjust the tension.

Important! An orange certificate is the first thing to ask at the store.

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What is a crash test?

Special tests are carried out to determine if the restraint is in compliance with international standards and to evaluate its performance.

What guarantees a crash test?

Such testing passes any child car seat, the safety rating is determined precisely by the test results. They are showing:

• that the child will not fall out if the car rolls over;
• that the head deviates no more than 30 cm;
• that the chair does not fall apart on impact;
• that all parts, including buckles, remain in place;
• that the locking system is reliable enough;
• that the straps move no more than 3 cm.

Important! A crash test is not one action, but a series of tests. They are carried out by car manufacturers, independent expert groups, reputable car clubs and other organizations that have the appropriate license and the necessary equipment.

Company Certification

Chair manufacturers and retailers reckon with the opinions of organizations such as the ADAC, ÖAMTC, or TCS auto clubs.

The most popular and reliable ratings for ADAC car seats. Experts find out not only the level of security in direct and side impacts, but also other parameters:

• ergonomics;
• the quality of materials and the content of harmful or hazardous substances in them;
• comfort level.

How does a crash test happen?

• For testing, mannequins are used, on which special sensors of high sensitivity are installed.
• Crash tests are carried out on special equipment that can simulate a real traffic situation - for example, a collision.
• Experts carefully study both the movements of the dummy and the readings of devices, after which it is concluded how this or that product complies with safety standards.

According to the results of crash tests, reports are published - ratings of car seats. Before going to the store, it is useful to familiarize yourself with their results.

Important! Seat belts are tested on the following parameters:

• compliance with tension force;
• resistance to temperature extremes;
• resistance to ultraviolet radiation;
• resistance to abrasive substances;
• the ability to open the buckle with a force of 40-60 N in the absence of loading;
• when loading - the ability to open the buckle with a force of 80 N;
• Compliance with slip and offset standards.

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Car seat groups

Having looked at the rating of child seats, do not forget to make sure that the model you are interested in corresponds to the age, height and weight of your child. All child restraints are divided into groups by weight and approximate age:

• 0/0+;
• 0+/1;
• 1;
• 0/1/2;
• ½;
• 2/3;
• 1/2/3;
• 3.

Important! For children of different ages, products of different strength are needed, and this, in turn, depends on the material of the chair, and the fixation system, and the width of the belts:

• for groups from 0 to 1, belts of at least 25 mm are needed;
• for 2 and 3 - not less than 38;
• in other seats, belts with a width of about 30 mm are used.

For the smallest

If you see the marking 0/0 +, this means that the device is designed for a baby from birth to one year old, weighing no more than 13 kg.

Important! As a rule, such markings are not armchairs, but infant carriers or transformers.

But there are other options:

• For the baby, another device, designated as 0 + / 1, is also suitable. In such an armchair, you can carry it up to four years - at least until it becomes heavier than 18 kg.
• A nine-month-old baby, if he weighs at least 9 kg, can already be seated in a chair of group 1, and carried in it until the age of four.
• Even better, if you see the marking 0/1/2 - such a transforming product is suitable for both a baby and an older preschooler. It can be used both as a cradle and as a chair. A young traveler can weigh from 0 to 25 kg.

Universal seats:

• A good option is transformer 1/2. In this, you can ride a nine-month-old baby weighing 9 kg, and a first-grader who has already recovered to 25 kg.
• Chairs with marking 2/3 are made for children from 3 to 12 years. They ensure the safety of those weighing 15 to 36 kg.
• Finally, group 3 - products for students from 7 to 12 years. The passenger must weigh at least 25 and not more than 36 kg.

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Car seat, armchair or booster

On sale you can find several types of restraints:

• car seat;
• booster;
• armchair.

What is the difference:

• In the infant carrier, the baby is lying. For a newborn, this is very convenient. Such a device is attached to the seat using special straps.
• A booster is an additional seat without a back, which is placed on the main one. The kid sits high, his position is fixed by the usual seat belt. Unfortunately, such a device does not protect against side impact. The booster is not suitable for very young passengers - it can only be used for a child who weighs at least 25 kg.
• The car seat provides the most reliable protection. If you want the device to serve several, choose a transformer that is suitable for both infants and younger preschoolers.

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What are the criteria for choosing?

No self-respecting manufacturer will ever write anything like “car seat 0 rating”. Everyone seeks to prove that his products are the best. But experts and buyers do not always agree with this.

Important! Even a product that has passed all the necessary tests and has a safety certificate may not be very convenient for your child.

International organizations have done almost everything for you: the chair is in compliance with standards, made of safe materials.

You have already decided at what age your baby will use the chair, so it remains to look at such features:

• quality of materials;
• the possibility of washing;
• the weight;
• simplicity and reliability of installation;
• if necessary, the presence of a tab for the newborn;
• good design;
• additional accessories - awning, pocket on the back, etc.

Important! The material should be soft and pleasant to the touch. In addition, any baby thing needs to be kept clean, so it is very important that the cover can be washed. The orthopedic tab will allow the child to lie comfortably.

Two words about fixtures

Modern mounts serve to ensure that even the most inexperienced father can easily install a chair, and it would not fall off at the first turn. The best option is Isofix. The chair is placed on sliding skids and is attached with special locks to metal hinges fixed on the car body.

Important! Such a device is simply impossible to put incorrectly.

Pleasant trifles

There are things optional, but pleasant. If the device is equipped with an awning, you do not have to think about whether the sun prevents your baby from sleeping. In the pocket on the back you can put all sorts of little things that should always be at hand.

The weight

The car seat is not always in the car - it has to be transported periodically, so it is better if it is light. This is especially important for cradles and transformers, because a baby who has fallen asleep on the road can be brought into the apartment without much strain.

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Best Crash Test Car Seats

If you have already decided on your criteria, it will probably be easier for you to make your choice based on the rating of car seats. It is a brief overview of the most popular models that we will offer you further.

CBX by Cybex Free Fix

In tests of the last two years, German and Dutch firms are firmly in the lead. The “scoreboard”, with several reputable organizations, is headed by the German holding device CBX by Cybex Free Fix for children from 4 to 12 years old.

This model has been receiving top scores for several years now:

• The chair reliably protects the baby from frontal and side impacts.
• In addition, the back is designed so that the baby is not too cold or too hot - thanks to special openings, an optimal microclimate is maintained.
• The product is lightweight, weighs only about five kilograms.

Important! There is no lying position, but this model is also relatively inexpensive.

Maxi-Cosi Pebble

This company produces the most popular child car seats from 0 to 18 kg.

The Maxi-Cosi Pebble model, designed for children lighter than 13 kg, scored high points from almost all experts according to the results of 2016-2017, despite the fact that it was developed more than ten years ago:

• The device is comfortable, made of a fabric that is pleasant to the touch, and is decorated with elegant embroidery.
• The straps have soft shoulder pads.
• This armchair can be fastened with regular straps, and with the help of a special base.
• It is installed easily and reliably.

Maxi-Cosi CabrioFix

This is another worthy car seat in the ranking of the best models. Designed for newborns. One of the leaders in 2016 - in all respects the armchair received excellent marks:

• One of the bonuses is a special orthopedic insert that allows the child to feel comfortable while lying down.
• There is a side protection system.
• The chair is quite light, weighs less than five kilograms, and is equipped with a convenient carrying handle.

Recaro privia

The transformer model from the German company Recaro meets the most stringent criteria. It is convenient, and in the ratings of car seats of the last five years, it has consistently occupied one of the leading positions:

• There are soft pads under the shoulders.
• Handles can be put in three positions.
• Such a device weighs less than four kilograms, so if the child falls asleep during the trip, there is no need to wake him up - you can just move him home in the chair, which in this case is used as a carry.

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Stock footage

In this article, we have revealed to you what the concept of crash test and other certification options in the manufacture of car seats means. We hope you were able to choose the best car seat, possibly from our rating, for your child, and even a trip with an accident would be safe for him.