The road, like no other place, is fraught with many dangers. Both car manufacturers and traffic police are struggling to resolve the issue of how to make a car trip with a child safe. But this issue is especially worried about caring parents.
Car seats versus car seats
Infant car seats have become popular lately. However, experts say: this popularity is not justified, since tests have shown that the strength of these inventions is extremely low, because to facilitate the construction of the cradle, thin or rubberized plastic is used, which crumbles like glass upon impact. In the event of an accident, such a device will not protect the baby in any way. It is much safer to transport babies in a baby carrier.
The child should choose the size of the car seat depending on his weight and age. Chairs marked "0" are designed to transport children weighing from 0 to 10 kg (from birth to 9 months), marking "0+" is able to withstand a load of up to 13 kg (from birth to one and a half years). "1" is intended for a weight of 9-18 kg (the age of children is usually from 1 to 4 years old), "2" - for 15-25 kg (from 3, 5 to 7 years), and "3" - 22-36 kg (from 6 to 12 years old).
Restraint devices
In addition to car seats, there are other types of restraints to ensure the safety of children in cars. These include adapters and car safety vests.
An adapter is a device that changes the position of the car seat belt. Thanks to its application, the belt moves from the neck of the child to the level of his shoulder. This device, of course, increases the degree of safety in the car, but it has one significant drawback: the position of not only the shoulder belt, but also the waist belt changes. As a result, the waist belt is in the area of the child's abdomen. And this is far from safe. A strong jerk in this case can lead to injury to internal organs.
The safety vest is essentially close to the adapter, but more advanced. In it, the belt runs over the shoulder and grabs the pelvic area. Perhaps this is the only adequate replacement for a child's car seat, however, if the child falls asleep in the car, it will not work to put it, as it can be done in a car seat.
Alternative restraint structures
It is a misconception that for the safety of children, it is enough for them to be in something soft and voluminous, fixed in the passenger compartment. It is not uncommon to see cushions laid on the seat, attached with straps. It is strictly forbidden to seat kids on such homemade chairs. In the event of an accident, they will not only not help, but even harm. Falling out due to a blow from under the child, such a pillow will pull the lower part of his body along with it. The little passenger will be with straps around his neck and belly.
