The best and safest child seat is of no use if it is not installed correctly. In a critical situation or in the event of an accident, the child must be properly secured.
The variety of child seats
If you want to be mobile with your child and transport it in the car, for example, you need a child seat. The safety of the child should have priority. Babies are also often carried in so-called infant carriers, which can also be attached to the car as a child seat.
- Children up to the age of twelve or less than one hundred and fifty centimeters tall must be secured in a child seat when traveling by car. Up to nine kilos of body weight may only be transported against the direction of travel.
The range is large and sometimes a bit confusing. Many manufacturers have specialized in child seats, and a distinction is made between the two:
- Baby seats
- Child seats
- booster seats
Child seats are designed for the age and weight of the child. But also for the bike you need a special seat, if you want to take a child on it. Here, too, there are different models, which differ from each other primarily in the point of the fastening location.
Baby seats are suitable for about the first year of life
Child car seats
First of all we will go over the variants of child car seats.
Baby seats
The baby seats are about for the first year of life thought, they usually have a carrying handle, so that the baby can be easily transported. So they are usually car seat, baby carrier and baby bouncer in one.
- Additional support cushions
- Seat belt pads and
- A sun hood,
Some are also suitable for taking on airplanes.
Child seats for all ages
About from nine months to three and a half years of age child seats are used. You can also calculate the seat size by the existing weight of the child, so there are correspondingly larger seats for about nine to eighteen kilos of body weight of the child.
Today these are mostly in an ergonomic design. They usually have different sitting and sleeping positions.
9 months to 12 years
Some car seats grow with the child and are available from nine months to twelve years of the child’s life or from nine to 36 kilograms body weight to use. They adapt to each stage of the child’s development; they are a bit more expensive to buy, but pay for themselves in the long run.
4 years to 12 years
Others are suitable for use from the fourth to the twelfth year of life of the child or from 15 to 36 kilograms of body weight suitable. They are ergonomically designed.
Here, the headrest is triple adjustable so that the child’s head does not tilt forward while sleeping.
However, the entire seat can no longer be placed in the sleeping position. Other models in the same category, however, can be placed in the resting position.
In the group for children aged four to twelve, there are also simpler and less expensive child seats that cannot be adjusted to the resting position. The booster seat is relatively inexpensive; here, the back section is missing completely and the child is secured with the car seat belt.
This is intended for older children who almost no longer need a child seat. But for the head to be protected by the headrest and for them to have a good view in the car.
Up to 12. A child seat must be used before the child reaches the age of 12 or a height of 1.50m
booster seats
Larger children weighing more than 22 kilograms may be transported in a booster seat. These are polystyrene cushions that are about 10 centimeters high.
Booster seats are designed to bring the child’s dimensions closer to those of adults to ensure optimal harness fit. Models with guide horns for the lap belt are considered particularly safe; these prevent the belt and the child seat from slipping away.
Harness systems
- Isofix
- Pelvic or
- Three-point harnesses;
The shape of the car seat and the geometry of the harness are also important. The harness length must be sufficient and should be checked.
- Simple child seats are only placed on the car seat,
- A three- or two-point belt is guided through an impact cushion and secures the child and child seat.
Other child seats are not secured separately; the car 3-point harness runs through different guides to ensure optimal belt routing and secure the child.
3-point harness system
A good point belt restraint is as important as an automatic pretensioner. This seat adapts to the different developmental stages of the child. An integrated 5-point system is height adjustable; when the child is taller, these belts are removed and the vehicle’s 3-point belts are used.
5-point harness system
a 5-point harness system ensures safety. A booster seat is suitable for children from the age of 4. age up to 12. Suitable for the first year of life. These are quite inexpensive, but offer little comfort and are sometimes uncomfortable.
Some child seats are bolted to the car body with additional straps, the vehicle’s own belt attachment points are used and the child is secured by a harness system of the child seat. Or the child seat is fastened with the two- or three-point belt of the vehicle and the child is then secured with the harness belt of the child seat.
There are various belt systems for child seats
Tips for buying: requirements for a high-quality child seat
With the right purchase of the child seat are the age and weight of the child to consider. It is also important, whether the car has airbags and which harness systems used, as well as whether there is isofix and which seat direction desired is. It is best to try the seat with the child in the car.
For many parents, price is of course also a decisive factor. Especially for smaller children, it is important that the the cover of the child car seat must be removable and washable.
The car seat should not only be safe, it should also look good and be comfortable for the child. Of course, you should also make sure that the seat fits in the car, because not every seat is suitable for every car.
Furthermore, it must meet the following different criteria:
An infinitely variable adjustment of the backrest of the child seat to the inclination of the car seat back ensures a secure hold of the child seat.
To be able to rest comfortably, the child needs comfortable armrests.
An ergonomic design supports the good posture of the child and adapts to the child.
Since children grow quickly, it is advantageous if the headrest is adjustable in height.
Since children can tire during longer journeys, it should be possible to adjust the seat to the resting or sleeping position with the simplest and quickest possible hand movements.
In the case of seats for older children, it is a great advantage if the headrest is also tiltable.
Purchase criteria depending on the age
Babies up to 10kg ride most safely in a car seat or car cradle. The seats can be mounted on the passenger seat or on the back seat.
So-called reboard systems are particularly suitable, in which the children sit with their backs facing the direction of travel, or. recliners. The risk of injury to the head and neck is therefore much lower than if the seat were to be positioned in the direction of travel.
However, reboard systems may only be installed on the front passenger seat if they are available for this seat there is no airbag, or the airbag has been turned off by a workshop.
the shells can be either locked on a special device or fastened by means of a three-point car belt. The baby car seat base itself can be fixed with isofix system or with the car belt.
Children in the infant carrier may only be transported against the direction of travel
Infants up to 18kg should be bucket seat driving. These seats can also be mounted on the front passenger seat or on the rear seats. The little passengers sit particularly safely in models with a catch. The car seat is fixed by means of isofix hooks or a universal car belt.
For older children there are child seats or booster cushions. If you decide to buy a booster cushion, you should bear in mind that the head and back are completely unprotected despite the seat.
Seat cushions do not provide as high a level of safety as a real child seat. In the best case, the backrest should remain on the child seat, even with larger passengers, as it provides effective side impact protection and enables optimum belt guidance.
Purchase criteria:
- accident safety
- Seat direction
- Comfort
- Fastening system
- Handling
- Car compatibility
- Washable cover
Classification of the seats into groups
The child car seats are divided into various groups.
In the group I you can find child car seats for 9-18 kg body weight of the child and can from 9. Life month up to 3,5 years find use. Seats like these "grow with you and are z.B. Multiple adjustment at the headrest. As a rule, they can be placed in a reclining position; this is especially important for smaller children who may fall asleep in the car.
Group II and III is suitable for children from 15-36 kg suitable and an age of 4-12 years. These all-rounders are a bit more expensive to buy, but they can be used for a relatively long time.
Read Stiftung warentest or ADAC-test
Before you decide to buy a child car seat, you should in any case view test results, such as the stiftung warentest or ADAC-test. Some products have been rated unsatisfactory. It is important whether the child car seat is intended for a baby, a toddler or a larger child.
test seat
Very small children cannot yet make a statement, but older children should always try out the seat before buying it to make sure it is comfortable and has enough padding. Otherwise, longer journeys can become torture if the seat is too hard.
Especially with two-door cars, you have to make sure that you can still get to the respective model of the child car seat. Everyday handling must also be comfortable.
It is important for the child to be able to rest his or her legs comfortably. The padding should be soft and comfortable. The available space for arms and shoulders must be sufficient and care should be taken to ensure that the child still good visibility has.
Aspects of safety and ease of use
child seats must ensure the safety of the child and provide a simple and allow for back-friendly handling. User-friendliness pays off in everyday life. the technology, the safety and the functionality as well as the comfort of the child and the practicality of use are the criteria that matter in a child seat:
Many child seats have a special side impact protection to ensure the safety of the child and to protect the child.
To ensure that the child sits comfortably and has enough room to play, a wide seat cushion should be used.
Where there are children, there is also sometimes spilled, so it is important that the cover of the child seat is removable and also washable.
The installation of the child seat should be quick and easy. Uncomplicated and trouble-free installation is as important as comfortable use.
The belts should be easy to adjust. The most important thing about the car seat is its firm and secure mounting. Many recommendations are to try out the child car seat before buying it to see if it is easy to install and if it can be secured in a stable and non-slip manner.
It is advantageous if the child seat is light but still stable.
Seat belt pads ensure that the belts do not cut in.
Test standards
Children’s accessories are expensive, so you may decide to buy a second-hand child seat. The seat must comply with the current test standard, which is as follows ECE 44-04, is also allowed ECE 44-03.
Seats with test number 02 may no longer be used since april 2008. And it must be ensured that the seat is in perfect condition.
Above all, when buying a used child car seat, pay attention to the following. The old child car seats no longer meet the safety standards and those who violate them must expect a fine.
Parents are responsible for the safety of their child in the car.
Depending on the mounting of child seats, they are tested according to ECE regulation no. 44 divided into four categories:
- Universal: is attached via the adult belt, suitable for most positions
- Restricted: is fastened via the adult belt, suitable for special seating positions
- Semi-universal: is used with ISOFIX systems
- Special vehicle
Furthermore weight classes differentiated; class 0 (up to 10 kilograms) has been replaced by class 0+.
| class 0+ | Classification in size classes according to ECE-R 129 |
| Class Q0 | ≤ 60 |
| class Q1 | 60 to ≤ 75 |
| class Q1.5 | 75 to ≤ 87 |
| class Q3 | 87 to ≤ 105 |
| Class Q6 | 105 to ≤ 125 |
| class Q10 | > 125 |
Potential risk of accidents with cheap and old child seats
Frequently cheap models fail tests, as the risk of injury is above average.
Parents should therefore not save at the wrong end and rely exclusively on tested quality. Numerous cheap child seats regularly fail crash tests, have cracked seats or cover fabrics with increased pollutant levels.
Fragile and difficult to operate
Extensive child seat tests demonstrate that thriftiness can be dangerous. Because especially cheap child car seats in the price segment of less than 70 euro are unpleasantly noticeable.
- In front and side crash tests, the following frequently occur very high load values come to light. The material of the seat shells is particularly sensitive to breakage, and the same applies to the impact shields.
- The size adjustment is anything but comfortable and increases the risk of operating errors.
- Belts are often worn out after a short time, seat belt buckles show corrosion on.
- Incomprehensible operating instructions with confusing explanations do not make cheap child seats any better and make installation considerably more difficult.
On many years old secondhand child seats one should do without, even if one or the other euro can be saved here. The old models often do not meet the current safety standards.
Incorrect use limits safety
The second problem is the incorrect use of child car seats. Even if parents follow the current test results and buy the best-ranked model with all the chicanes, there can be safety risks. To be well secured in the car, children must be seated correctly.
Errors often occur during the installation of the seat because the installation instructions are not read thoroughly. Or the safety belts are not put on correctly. If the harness straps are not fastened as specified, children can quickly slide forward in the event of a collision, drastically increasing the risk of injury.
Parents should always check the study the operating instructions carefully, to avoid errors in the fixation of the small passengers.
Notes on mounting
Where to place the child seat?
The first question before installation is where the child seat or infant carrier should be placed. In principle, child seats and infant carriers are allowed on the front passenger seat – but only if the passenger side does not have an airbag or if it has been deactivated by an authorized workshop.
Many experts consider the rear center position in the car to be the safest place for a child seat, as it is more protected in the event of a side impact. But this is only possible if the child seat can be secured with a lap belt.
Child car seats are secured with three-point, two-point or special additional belts. The child car seat must not wobble or tilt sideways under any circumstances.
With the isofix system, a device is installed in the car in which the child seat locks into place. The straps used to secure the child must fit snugly, but they must not chafe, such that a flat hand can still fit between them.
In the passenger seat: reboard systems may only be installed on the passenger seat when the airbaig is deactivated
Test in your own car
The child seat must always be anchored securely and reliably. Before buying it should be installed in any case in the car so you can see if it is firmly seated. Child seats are different and so is the interior design of the vehicle. Not every seat fits perfectly in every car.
Child bike seats
The child must also be able to ride safely on the bicycle.
Types
Whether you mount the child bike seat on the handlebars or on the saddle, i.e. use a rear or front model, both have their advantages and disadvantages.
Front models
The majority of models sold are rear-mounted child bicycle seats. Children weighing more than fifteen kilograms are no longer allowed to sit in the front seat in germany.
But seats mounted in front of the driver still enjoy a certain popularity. Here the child bike seat is mounted on the steering tube of the frame.
The seats can be mounted between the handlebars and the saddle, so that the child looks in the direction of travel, or in front of the handlebars above the front wheel, so that the child can look the adult in the face, but sits against the direction of travel.
But here the child can also talk to the driver and is in contact with him. And of course the child is under supervision and in the field of vision of the driver.
Disadvantages
Even front models, however, have some disadvantages that are not harmless:
Steering may be more difficult and require more skill.
the child is more unprotected in case of accidents.
Front models can’t have headrests, as they would interfere with the driver’s vision. This is especially problematic for smaller children if they fall asleep during the ride.
The children are exposed to wind and weather in the direction of travel and can cool down quickly due to the wind, especially because they are not moving.
It can be very tight when getting on and off the bike.
Steering behavior is severely impaired.
In the event of a fall, the rider may fall over the child.
Rear models
The rear-mounted models are directly on the carrier or with a special bracket on the seat tube mounted. They give the driver more freedom of movement and the child is more protected by high backrests that support the back and head. Also the child has more freedom of movement.
Disadvantages
Rear models also have some disadvantages:
The leg rails often restrict the rider’s pedaling circle.
The rider cannot maintain contact with the child.
The child does not have a good view in the direction of travel.
Smaller children can easily slip sideways out of the seat if the seat belt is not fastened properly.
If the saddle springs are not covered, a small child can easily crush his or her fingers.
Criteria for a good child seat
What could be better than a bike ride with your child?. Most little ones love such undertakings and enjoy the ride and what exciting things there are to see on the way.
In order not to spoil the joy, the child should above all ride safely. Stiftung warentest has tested several child seats and found many of them to be too tippy.
A high price does not necessarily guarantee a high level of safety of the child bike seat. Therefore, when buying should make sure that the child bike seat can be mounted securely, stably and firmly. Make sure that the operating instructions are easy to understand and simple, so that even a layman can install the seat without any problems.
The child bike seat must be able to be fastened securely and easily
Harnesses and locks
The belts should tight enough fit, so that the child does not slip sideways out of the child bike seat. The seat belt buckle should be easy to operate, but close firmly and reliably.
The safety lock must not be able to be opened by small children’s hands, but should have a ease of use for the adult own. However, a child bike seat must not only be safe, but also prove itself in everyday use and not be cumbersome or time-consuming to handle.
Padding, size and footrests
You should make sure that the child seat is sufficiently padded, to be able to absorb shocks. If a front child bike seat is used, it must not restrict the child’s steering range.
A child seat should not be too small, but also not much too large, in order to provide the child with sufficient safety. The seat must have footrests on which the child’s feet can be secured; legs and feet must be protected so that the child cannot injure himself or herself on spokes or the chain.
Foundation tests and trial assemblies
It is absolutely advisable to look at the various test results, such as those from stiftung warentest, before buying a child bike seat. Also a detailed consultation in the specialized trade and perhaps a test assembly of the child bicycle seat is to be recommended, in order to be able to use it check on site for stability and safety.
Children not only sit quietly in the seat, they also tilt and rock. Therefore, after assembly, you should shake the seat firmly to check whether it can also withstand strong movements. Brackets must never come loose or loosen to protect the child from injury.
Instead of a child seat, many parents also opt for a bicycle trailer – but this represents the better and safer variant?
Comparison of bicycle trailers and child bike seats – tips on making the right choice
To transport a child by bike, you can use a child bike seat or a bike trailer.
Advantages of the trailer
According to TuV tests, bicycle trailers are supposed to be safer. However, the sturdy frame of the bicycle trailer must reach the height of the car bumpers. So it can not be rolled over or pushed away.
A bicycle trailer offers decisive advantages:
Depending on the model, two children can also be transported in one bicycle trailer.
The trailer may for children up to the age of seven be used.
Manufacturers often offer a rich accessories at. For smaller children who can not yet sit, there are baby seats, so that they can also be taken along.
Most trailers offer a small storage space, so that smaller purchases and the like can be stowed away.
Especially for longer bike trips, the spacious trailers are more comfortable than bike seats.
Safety aspects
It is important to note that the trailer:
- Secure seat belts features
- About one its own lighting has
- Has a roll bar
- A spoke cover is needed
- An overrun brake is needed
Bright, eye-catching colors make it highly visible and it should also be marked with a pennant.
Disadvantages of the trailer
But there are also disadvantages:
If you travel a lot in city traffic, make sure that the child is sitting directly at the height of the car exhaust fumes.
During the ride, no communication with the child is possible and it is not under supervision. Especially with small babies, who then scream and announce their needs, this can prove to be difficult. For older children the ride can be fun, but smaller children may feel lost.
The riding experience with a trailer is different, you have longer braking distances, you need more space on the sides and you have to corner differently. Therefore, when buying a bicycle trailer, first practice riding without the child.
Children’s bike seats
With a child bike seat, the child must already be able to sit independently and it may not older than six years its. With a stable and robust bike, you can also attach two child seats, a rear and a front model, so you are also mobile with two children. Smaller purchases can only be stored if a front model is used and saddlebags are attached to the rear or if a rear model is mounted and a sturdy bicycle basket is attached to the handlebars.
Buying a bike trailer – tips for making the right choice
The selection of bicycle trailers available on the market is gigantic. There are single and two-seaters, models with particularly low weight or additional shock absorbers – and the layman is often at a loss.
Of course, the price is a decision criterion for many people, but on the other hand, people are also willing to invest more for a higher level of safety and comfort. If the quality is also right, a few hundred euros can be due for a children’s bicycle trailer.
Intended use
The first question you should ask yourself when choosing the right bicycle trailer is how it will be used. Is the child to be taken to the kindergarten a few streets away in good weather, or is a trekking tour lasting several days planned for the vacation?? If you ride off-road, for example, you should look for an good suspension not to do without, while it is dispensable for tours through the asphalted settlement.
one or two seater?
The question of the one or two-seater is easily answered: what about your family plans?? But a two-seater can also make sense in single-child households, for example, if you often pick up your child’s friend from kindergarten or if you want to stow shopping bags.
The advantage of a single-seater is primarily its lower weight – and also the smaller space it takes up, for example in stairwells. Single-seaters are also easier to maneuver through narrow doors, such as the cellar door. On the other hand, most bike trailer models are foldable, including the two-seaters.
Other aspects of the purchase
Another aspect concerns the coupling. If it is to fit both parents’ bicycles, it is a good idea to take both parents’ bicycles along with you when you buy it. When buying over the internet, make sure it is compatible with the parent bike types, after all, not every hitch fits every rear wheel hub.
With a second hitch, with which you equip the other parent’s bike, you remain more mobile as a family and can react more flexibly to the requirements of everyday life. A universal hitch is not recommended, because the more play a hitch has, the more the wheel and trailer sway. A firm, individual connection provides a remedy here.
Children who are still too small to sit upright are transported in the bicycle trailer with a baby car seat. To make this as jolt-free as possible, the bike trailer for babies should have a extra strong suspension have.
In addition, the suspension should be adjustable to the weight of the child in order to compensate for uneven surfaces in the best possible way. If parents sometimes carry just the baby, sometimes the baby plus groceries, they must remember to readjust the suspension before each trip. When transporting a baby, the tires of the bicycle trailer should also be rather wide and not too bulky be, because low tire pressure provides additional cushioning comfort.
If you also want to use the baby bike trailer as a stroller, you need a so-called "buggy set". Additional accessories, such as a coffee cup holder, can be purchased as desired. This also applies to seat reducers and headrests, which can be purchased as accessories for very small children.
the smaller the child, the more care should be taken to choose a manufacturer that offers a as large an accessory package as possible offers. Of course, you do not have to buy everything that is offered here – but it is reassuring to know that you can quickly and accurately retrofit if necessary.
The mosquito net on the bicycle trailer is not a luxury accessory, but an absolute necessity. Children should always be transported with the net closed, because it not only keeps insects and dirt out, but also protects the little ones from chippings and stones.
For the summer, on the other hand, sun sails are a good choice, because the windows of most bicycle trailers do not have UV protection. In case of doubt, the same applies here as elsewhere: it helps to ask the manufacturer directly.
Prefer new products
For warranty and safety reasons – after all, you can never really be sure whether a second-hand child bike trailer has not already had an accident from which invisible material breaks or cracks have remained – it is advisable to always buy a bike trailer unused.