The purchase of a child car seat is a crucial moment: this device protects the child in the event of a traffic accident. To choose a chair by age, you need to stock up on certain knowledge.
When choosing a car seat, you should pay attention to the mark given to it after the crash test. You can see the results of such tests conducted abroad. The car seat must be marked: ECE R44 / 03 or ECE R44 / 04. The seat in the car is fastened in two ways: with the seat belts of the car or with the Isofix system.
How to find a car seat by age
It is important to determine exactly which chair group you need to buy, so it is worth taking your child with you to the store. As the child grows, it is worthwhile to switch to the next group chair in a timely manner: if the head is 1/3 out of the upper edge of the back of the car seat or the belts exit points are located below the shoulders, it is time to replace the car seat. According to the law, up to 12 years old, a child must ride only in a child restraint, but according to the physical parameters, children are different, and it happens that at the age of 11 a child cannot fit into any chair. Car seats, depending on the child's body weight, are divided into groups:
- group 0: child's weight from birth up to 9 kg;
- group 0+: weight from birth up to 13 kg;
- group 1: weight from birth up to 18 kg (up to four years);
- group 1+: weight from 9 to 18 kg;
- group 2: weight from 9 to 25 kg, this chair can be used until the child reaches the age of six;
- group 3: weight from 22 to 36 kg (from 6 to 10 years old), or from 15 to 36 kg (4 to 11 years old);
- transformer: such a car seat “grows” with the child, suitable for children weighing 9-36 kg.
Seats of group 0, 0+ are installed against the car's course This is done due to the fact that the infant has a heavy head and the neck muscles are too weak. The child does not yet hold his head normally and, in the event of sudden braking, may be seriously injured. The car seats of these two groups have special handles: they allow you to remove the seat from the car without disturbing the sleeping baby.
Important points when choosing a chair
You cannot buy a used chair. If it has been in an accident, the seller may be silent about it. Such a device will not provide adequate security. A baby under the age of six months should not be taken with you on a long trip. If necessary, you can transport the baby in a prone or reclining position. For this, it is better to buy a chair of joint groups 0/0 + or 0/0 + / 1. When buying, you need to study the material from which the car seat is made: it should not have any fragile plastic parts. It is important to evaluate the quality of the upholstery, the width of the belts and straps on them, the lateral protection of the head and shoulders from impact. The buckle on the seat belts must be covered with soft material. It is imperative to be able to change the position of the back, because children often fall asleep in the car.
