Do you have questions about car seats so that your baby travels as safely as possible? We will discover how to find the most suitable one and the differences between the different types that exist.
The little one has already been born and among so many things that his happy arrival entails is the moment to choose a good chair that responds and complies with all the safety regulations so that our little trip is safe and protected.
When it comes to choosing the best chair, both mothers and fathers, we find an endless number of these travel seats, of all brands, all colors, sizes, prices, of which they are placed in the direction of travel or vice versa. Of the March.
Before buying the travel chair for our baby, we must first check that it complies with the safety regulations, the travel seat that we buy must be approved.
You may wonder what does homologated mean.
It must be subject to current European regulations ECE-R44.03, this regulation is an orange label (sticker) that the chair must have and which is usually located at the back of the chair.
This orange label is the proof that guarantees that the car seat has been subjected to all the safety tests such as side and frontal crashes, and that it complies with what safety and reliability are guaranteed.
Spanish regulations establish that all minors under 12 years of age who do not reach a height of 1.35 centimeters must use a restraint device or chair adapted to their height and weight.
The regulations establish for this a classification of child safety systems that is adapted to each stage of their growth, classifying them by groups: Group 0, group 0+, group me, group II, and group III.
Know the weight and height of each of the groups
- Group 0: This group is for newborns, and up to 12 months, and up to 10 kilos of weight.
- Group 0+: This group is also valid for newborns, and until the baby is 18 months old, and up to 13 kilos in weight.
- Group I: From one year to 4 years and as long as they have from 9 kilos to 18 kilos of weight.
- Group II: This group collects from 3 years to 6 years and with a weight comprise in, (from 15 kilos to 25 kilos of weight).
- Group III: From 22 kilos to 36 kilos of weight and an approximate age between 5 years to 12 years.
Know the characteristics of each group
The characteristics that we detail below will guide us on how to place each car seat as well as when it should be used instead of car seats, seats or booster cushions:
Group 0
The chairs that correspond to this group are placed in the opposite direction to the march, in the front or rear seat, with the rear seat being the most recommended.
In the event that we carry a carrycot, they must be placed in the rear seats and in a horizontal and transverse position to that of the march.
Group 0+
These chairs are always placed in the opposite direction to the march and will always be placed in the rear seats and we will hold the chair with a 5-point harness.
By placing the seat in the opposite direction to the march, it ensures that the baby’s head, neck and spine are better protected.
When the baby exceeds 13 kilos in weight or his head protrudes above the backrest, we must change to the chair of the next group.
Group I
In this group are the chairs that come equipped with a harness and that face forward?
These seats are placed in the car before the baby is seated and secured with the vehicle belt.
Once the seat is placed in the car, we will seat the baby and we will hold it with a 5-point harness and that we will always adjust well to its little body.
Some models of chairs in this group also allow them to be placed in the opposite direction to travel.
Group II and Group III
To this group correspond the seats and the lifting or lifting cushions. These models are indicated when the boys and girls are somewhat older but not that much, they are older for a seat but still small to use the car seat belt like adults.
We place the seat or booster cushion in the car, seat the child and hold the child with the car seat belt in the following way: We must take the diagonal band of the belt and pass it over the clavicle and over the shoulder Without touching the neck and the vertical band of the belt on the hips and thighs, we will never leave it on the child’s stomach.
In addition to the characteristics that we have been detailing for each group of seats, we must take into account some tips when choosing it:
- Check that the chair is firmly attached to the car seats.
- Check that the chair adapts perfectly to the car seats as well as the car seat belts.
- Always follow the assembly instructions.
- Buy approved seats and look on the label for the letter E which will indicate for which type of car the seat is valid as well as the age and weight of the children who can use it.
- Bear in mind that the center rear seat is the safest against a side or frontal collision.
- Take into account if the chair is going to be placed in the front seat of the car, we must disconnect the airbag.
