Children in the car: not without a child seat

Children in the car: Not without a child seat

They are heavy and bulky – but if you do without a child seat in the car, you risk your child’s life. According to paragraph 21 abs. 1a of the road traffic regulations (stvo) it is even required by law, that children who have reached the age of 12. Children under the age of 18 and/or under 1.50 meters must use a seat. If they disregard this, they can be fined.

Drive safely with these standards

Before a manufacturer is allowed to sell a child seat, it must meet a certain test standard. In germany these are the standards ECE R 44/03 or ECE R 44/04. You can tell whether the seat complies with these standards by the orange ECE test seal. The eight-digit approval number should be start with 03 or 04. If it starts with 01 or 02, the child seat is outdated, it may no longer be used. In July 2013, the international standard ECE R 129 came into force, which applies in over 60 countries. It is stricter than the old standards and is intended to replace them. Child seats according to the new standard are also i-size seats called.

Which seat for which child?

There are different types of child seats on the market. They are divided into different groups, which are on the weight of the child orient.

  • Group 0+: these infant carriers are suitable for children weighing up to 13 kilograms. They are installed against the direction of travel.
  • Group Iseats for children between 9 and 18 kilograms, which corresponds to an age up to about 4 years. Child seats in this group are available with a so-called harness belt, which holds the child securely in the seat, or with a restraint system. This is a padded table that is attached in front of the child’s tummy.
  • Groups II and III: seats for the weight classes 15 to 25 kilograms resp. 22 to 36 kilograms, which corresponds to an age of 3.5 to 7 years or less. 6 to 12 years. This is usually a booster seat, often with additional back support. The child is usually strapped in with the safety belt. The seat ensures that the belt runs comfortably and securely over the child’s body.

In addition there are child seats that grow with the child. With these, you can adjust the width, height and belt routing when your child has grown a bit. If you are not sure which seat is the right one, check the publications of professional associations such as ADAC or stiftung warentest. These regularly test child seats for safety, handling and comfort.

Backward or forward, rear or front?

Before you buy a child seat, you should do two things: let your child try it out so that you know whether it is suitable for you feel comfortable in the seat, and check whether the seat fits in your car at all. Because sometimes, for example, the safety belt is too short to hold the seat or infant carrier in place.

Babies and toddlers sit best against the direction of travel. This means you are better protected in the event of a head-on collision, as fewer forces act on the spine. From about two and a half years of age or when your child can walk safely, you can also place it in the direction of travel. On the back seat the little ones sit safest. It is best to use the middle seat or the one on the passenger side. This also makes getting out safer because the door opens to the sidewalk side.

Sometimes, however, it makes more sense to transport the child in the front passenger seat, for example, if there is no one else in the rear seat to look after the child on long journeys. If you are placing a rear-facing seat in the front seat, you should use the turn off airbag. If the child is facing the windshield, you should push the passenger seat back as far as possible, the airbag can remain switched on. This is the only way to ensure that your child will not be injured in the event of an accident due to the airbag inflating like an explosion.

many child seats are fastened in the car with the safety belt. Another option is the isofix mount in newer vehicle models. It is usually hidden between the seat and the backrest. If the child seat is hooked in there, it is firmly attached to the body and therefore sits particularly securely.

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Christina Cherry
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