The safety of the transport of children in the car is very important, as is the choice and installation of the car seats suitable for them. In this guide we have summarized all the parameters that a good parent must keep in mind when he decides to bring a child into the world.
Parents are always worried about the safety of their babies when they are at home, in the park, at their grandparents, while they completely forget about their safety when they get into the car. A real contradiction that we hope that you, parent or relative who are reading this guide to transporting children by car, will remember not to practice.
Transport of children by car: front or behind, which is the best place?
The best place for transporting children by car is the central rear seat, but only if the car is also equipped in this place with a three-point belt or ISOFIX attachments (quite rare in cars of a few years ago). Otherwise, the safest and most comfortable place for positioning the child is the rear seat on the side.
However, many parents prefer to carry their child next to them in the front seat. But remember to deactivate the airbag if the child travels in the front and to position the seat very far from the dashboard if traveling. The only justification for putting the child upfront could be the fact of wanting to keep the baby under control during the trip, perhaps interacting with him for the few seconds of a traffic light. Certainly better than constant contortions in search of the pacifier or the toy fallen between the seats, which many parents perform.
Groups of car seats, here’s how to choose the right one
Group 0: up to 10 kg (approximately 6-9 months)
Group 0 includes the “carrycots” that are the padded cradles to be fixed with the car seat belts: in this case the child is lying down. Advisable only in the first months of the child if you have to make frequent or long trips. Otherwise they are a useless purchase, better switch immediately to the real seat. Also remember that you must always refer to the length / height of the child and not to his age.
Group 1: from 9 to 18 kg (approximately 9 months to 4 years)
Rear seat in the direction of travel (if the child is very small, it is therefore preferable at the beginning to mount the seat in the opposite direction to that of travel if provided for by the seat). Important: if you position the seat in front of the vehicle, put the seat all the way back and leave the airbag active.
Group 2: 15 to 25 kg (3-6 years)
Rear seat however is a booster, a rather rigid “cushion” or base that allows the child to be tied up with the safety belts supplied with the car. Better to buy a model with a backrest and side protections for the head.
Group 3: 22 to 36 kg (5-12 years)
Similar to the previous riser but approved for heavier weights. When the child reaches the height of 150 cm he can simply use the car seat belt without a booster, if lower the use of the belt alone is prohibited, as well as dangerous (neck or shoulder injuries).
Car seats: try it before purchasing
It is always recommended that you test the child seat before buying it. Because there are a number of factors you need to look in. Starting with does the seat optimally adjust in your particular car mode? Is it easy to remove the car seat if it’s a frequent requirement and most important of all, does the child fit in properly?
Remember child seats can be costly especially when you don’t compromise on the safety and of course you should never compromise on the safety. But not every parent has the budget to constantly change the seat as the child grows and trust us they grow fast. For those parents we recommend convertible seats, which can be adjusted to accommodate children of all heights and weights. Getting the best convertible car seat for tall babies is one of the best purchases you can make as it will save you money and you can even use it for your next born.
Practical advice in choosing a child seat for those who have already used them
Child seats must have belts that are adjustable in length and height (they move upwards on the seat back as the child grows). The attachment of the belts (generally 4 or 5-way) is positioned on the baby’s tummy. The ideal closure must be easy for an adult (so that the child can be evacuated quickly in an emergency) but too hard for the child (who, rest assured, will try in every way to untie).