BABY ZIDDY TIPS - Car Seats
SAFE CAR TOURS
HOW TO CHOOSE A BABY SEAT
Traveling in a car with a baby requires a lot of patience, extra care and, above all, attention when driving.
Car seat, rear-view mirror, extra pacifiers and sun shade are accessories that will become part of your day-to-day. We are talking about a paraphernalia of essential products for the safety of your baby on the go. Regardless of the demands, which you quickly get used to, remember that the most amazing thing is that you will be able to explore the world with your child. Car seats are mandatory by law and must accompany, throughout growth, the size and weight of the baby.
DO YOU KNOW HOW TO CHOOSE THE IDEAL CAR SEAT FOR YOUR BABY?
NEWBORNS:
FROM BIRTH TO 12 MONTHS
Car seats up to 13 kg or 75-87 cm
Whether up to 13 kg in the case of a car seat approved by Regulation 44/04 or up to 75 cm or 87 cm in the case of a car seat approved by R129, also known as i-Size, the “egg” type seat is the most suitable for traveling safely with a newborn baby, as it is the one that best adapts to the baby's small body. In addition to the car, this type of car seat can also be installed in the stroller.
BABIES:
FROM 12 OR 15 MONTHS TO 3/4 YEARS
Car seats up to 18 kg or 105 cm, rear-facing
Within this age group, there are several models of approved car seats up to 18 kg (R44/04) or up to 105 cm (R129 or i-Size), and it is essential that the child continues to be transported facing backwards, preferably up to the 3 or 4 years. The reason is simple: the head of a child up to 4 years old is very large and heavy, compared to the total body weight (about 25%, compared to 6% in adults) and the neck is very fragile.
CHILDREN:
FROM 3 TO 12 YEARS OLD
Car seats up to 36 kg or 135 cm
After 3/4 years and when they weigh more than 15 kg, children can already travel facing forward in a booster seat (back booster seat). If the child still fits well in the previous car seat — that is, does not exceed the maximum weight or height indicated, the inner belts are at shoulder height, there is no slack in the car seat, the head is well supported — it is not necessary to change her straight away to a new chair.
Our suggestions for Baby Car Seats
It is important that parents seek free information to help them choose the car seat that best suits their car, but also babies and children. Therefore, we advise you to consult the 'Digital Safety Guide: Products for Children' , available on the website of the Association for the Promotion of Child Safety (APSI) which, in addition to helping with the choice of car seat, gives guidelines for a safe installation and a correct use, drawing attention to the most common or most serious errors.
On the website of the National Road Safety Authority (ANSR), you can also find four films, made by APSI, which indicate the most recommended car seats for each age, size and weight, also warning of errors in installation/use, and how to avoid them.
There are still some issues to consider:
The seat belt and harness must never be twisted or bent. Both must always be very tight on the body. The harness must be adjusted daily, leaving just one finger gap, measured between the shoulder and the harness.In rear-facing seats, the harness must be adjusted to shoulder height or slightly below; in front-facing seats, it should be at shoulder height or slightly above.
For additional information on how to choose the ideal Car Seat for your baby, visit our Childcare page dedicated to Car & Baby Stroller. Also find out how to travel with babies in peace and how to complement family outings with themost suitable stroller .
Isofix is an international standard system for attaching car seats to cars. It consists of two hooks, present on the lower side of the back of the car seat or on the base used to install the seat, which are fixed to two irons, attached to the chassis, existing between the seat and the back of the car seat. It also requires a third top attachment point, called the top-tether, usually located behind the back of the seat or in the trunk (marked with the Isofix symbol), or else a foot that rests on the floor of the car.
The use of a car seat with Isofix is not mandatory, but it is recommended whenever possible. In the case of the egg, for example, it makes installation more intuitive, easier and faster, which is attached to the base that is usually already fixed in the car. More importantly, it reduces installation errors, which are more frequent when using a seat belt.
Children under 3 years of age are allowed to be transported in the front passenger seat, provided the front airbag is switched off/deactivated, and the use of a rear-facing seat is mandatory.
In cars that are not equipped with seat belts, the transport of children under 3 years of age is prohibited.
After age 3, children can travel in the front passenger seat when:
• There are no seats behind;
• The rear seats do not have seat belts;
• There is no space behind for the installation of 3 car seats;
• It is necessary to transport 4 children.
These last two clauses are contained in an ANSR document that regulates special cases in the transport of children and that determines that the tallest child must travel in front.
When transporting a child in a seat installed in front of the front passenger seat, care must be taken to move the seat back as far as possible, to keep it away from the dashboard and a possible front airbag deployment.
In the analysis of many real accidents involving children, the back seats are considered safer, so families are advised to opt for these seats whenever possible.
When reaching 135 cm in height, the child can stop using the booster seat, however, it is important to confirm that the seat belt is well supported in the middle of the shoulder and that the child does not put it under the arm (very serious error).The booster seat can be used as long as the child does not reach 150 cm in height, depending on the car in which he is traveling, as he must not keep his head too close to the roof of the car. Only from 12 years old is it recommended to travel in the front seat.
A very frequent question from families is which place in the car is safest to transport the baby.APSI recommends preferentially the seat on the right, behind the front passenger, so that the child gets into the car and is always taken out on the side of the sidewalk, which is considered safer.In addition, the installation of a rear-view mirror in the headrest of this seat, correctly oriented, allows the driver to see the child traveling in a rear-facing car seat and vice versa.
When it is necessary to transport 2 children, the eldest will travel behind the driver, taking the same care to get in and out of the car on the side of the road.She will be able to use the right front door when the baby seat prevents her from using the back door.
You should not use very old car seats, borrowed, purchased second-hand or already used by two children, as there is a natural wear and tear of their components. If they were involved in an accident, they may have suffered structural damage not visible to the naked eye, but which could compromise the safety of the child. Preferably, chairs should be purchased new for each child.
The car seat must be approved by the FAA or TÜV, with the “For Use in Aircraft” seal. Any approved airplane car seat cannot be wider than 44 cm in order to fit in most airplane seats.
When booking your flight, we recommend that you ask the airline if they accept car seats and if you can get a discount on the purchase of a ticket for your child, in order to get a separate seat, as this is the only way to guarantee that you will be able to use it. the car seat.
