Choosing a car seat can be overwhelming, how do you figure out which one to buy? We have created a handy car seat guide to make your search for the best car seat a little easier.
1. Car seat certification
We are very lucky, because at this point, if we narrow down our options by 50% and include only the certified child restraint systems. We narrow them down to ECE R44, ECE R129 and The Swedish Plus Test.
So what are the differences between these certifications? ECE R44 standard is being the most basic one, and ECE R129 is newer than ECE R44 standard because it follows more detailed tests for improved head & neck protection, and in addition, side-impact crash test has been added.
What is the Swedish Plus Test? The Swedish Plus Test is recognised as the toughest crash test in the world! It offers the highest level of safety and will give you peace of mind when driving.
2. Isofix
ISOFIX is a standard European fitting system that refers to the two metal bars that are welded directly onto your car's chassis. In some cars they are highly visible and in others they are concealed. You would need to ensure that you are aware of the anchor points in your car before selecting the right car seat. Either the car seat can be fitted with seat belt installation or ISOFIX installation, you would like to ensure that its compatible with your car.
3. The Height And Weight Of The Child
Every child grows at their own pace. The key things to look at when buying a car seat are the height and weight of the child, as this will determine what car seat will last them the longest. A child in the 50th percentile for height and weight will reach 18kg/105cm at around age 4, the lower the child's percentiles the longer the car seat will last. So, the higher their percentiles, the less time their car seat will last. At Safety On Board Middle East, we do recommend a car seat with a 25kg weight limit and 125cm height limit for all children in or above the 50th percentile to enable rear facing for as long as possible. It's proven that rear-facing is 5 times safer than forward facing, so it is definitely the best way to keep your child safe in the car.
Look for the car seats that have passed The Swedish Plus Test because this is the toughest crash test on earth to pass.
4. Your lifestyle & daily routine
This might surprise you to hear, but every family is different and your car seat has to work for YOU!
How many cars in the family do you have? Does daddy drop the children at school and mummy pick them up? If you travel a lot and are constantly installing and uninstalling your car seat, then it should be easy to install and uninstall. If you are planning for a second child soon then buy a car seat with a long lifespan so that you could pass it down to the next child.
Where will the car seat be installed? One on each side (Often the middle seat does not have ISOFIX ) or one behind the passenger and one in the middle seat, so that we leave one more space available for an adult to seat in? (a great option for families with a nanny)
Do you have 3 – 4 children and you are driving in a 7-seater car? Do we need to compromise on Safety? No, definitely not, but what works for your friend might not work for you......
This is the current set up with our family;
Mummy's car: BeSafe Stretch for Sofia (4 years old) and BeSafe Izi Twist B for Leo (1 year). This setup will be obsolete as soon as Leo reach 18kg or 105cm. at which point we will move him to a BeSafe Stretch all the way up to 7 years old (36kg or 125cm height, whichever comes first).
Daddy's car : Axkid One for Sofia + BeSafe Stretch for Leo. Daddy car does not have isofix in the middle seat, so he decided to go for a Swedish Plus Tested seat with seatbelt installation, which can also be used up to 125cm (Approximately 6-7 years old). So Daddy’s car is sorted for the foreseeable future because he has 2 toddler car seats up to 125cm.
5. Where to buy the best car seat?
There are several reasons why we always recommend that you to buy your car seat from a specialized child car seat retailer. The technician will guarantee you are buying a car seat that suits the above requirements, they will ensure the seat is installed properly, and they will give you a quick 101 installation course on the spot.
What's more, a car seat specialist will have NO OBJECTION to changing the car seat if, while undergoing the installation, they realize X seat does not fit Y car. Inappropriate car seats will never be installed by a specialized technician.
Finally, your specialist will be happy to re-installed the seat whenever is required after the first installation, at no extra cost. For example, you might buy a new car and need to move it across.
Safety On Board Middle East is a child car seat specialist, we offer free car seat consultation and will recommend you a car seat that not only fits your child and your car, but also your lifestyle. Contact us directly for more information and advice.
To wrap it up: Please buy a car seat which is suitable for your children, your car and your needs. Trust in specialized technicians for a long life commitment to safety.
Leave a comment