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Car seat info for infants car seat group one 9 Kgs.- 18 Kgs
Your baby has by now progressed into car seat group 1. This is a major change in your baby’s travel perspective in the way that he /she will now see the world. Remove obstructions to enable them to see.
Although your baby can remain rear facing from 9-13 Kgs. most parents make the forward facing transition at around 9or10 Kgs. (20 lbs>). Now there are certain criteria that may inhibit your baby remaining rear facing until 13 Kgs. Given that as no two babies are the same the child may not physically fit in the seat this can be dependant on the child’s build sex etc.
Importantly look at the child’s head if the head is protruding above the height of the chair then it can no longer be used, disregard the child’s legs as the legs will often be much longer than the seat length this is to facilitate fitting the car seat belt, if the base were longer then the car seat belt will possibly not be long enough to go around the back of the carrier.
Although the group one car seat has been crash tested to 18 Kgs this is often beyond its normal use. Personally I like to see children moving into a group 2/3 seat at 15Kgs. This involves the child travelling in the car as we do wearing the cars own 3 point seat belt this reduces spinal damage in the event of a collision which is consistent with the increased weight of the child’s head.
Children are much happier when wearing the car seat belt as it is much more comfortable. Like us after we have put on our seat belts we quickly forget that we are wearing one, so will a child. Their increased comfort levels normally make for less complaints about getting into the car seat.
Behaviour, I am often asked what should be done with difficult children who continuously try to escape from their restraints. Now make no mistake if a child wants free from its restraints then it will achieve this very simply and very quickly, becoming a danger to themselves and other passengers. In this event the car must be pulled over and stopped as soon as it is safe to do. A form of discipline must be applied and make it clear that the car will not be move until the child complies do not offer treats as a reward, the child will soon get the message through repetitive boredom.
Boredom is a key problem and one manufacturer in particular RECARO offers built in audio speakers on some seat models for entertainment. Now the main function of this feature is far from being a gimmick, the level of audio volume ensures that if the child wishes to listen it must sit in the safe position which is erect and back in the car seat in order to hear clearly.
Under no circumstances use additional aides to secure your child in the car seat. The child must be able to be released from the car seat through one action which is the red button on the crotch strap or seat belt. Now unfortunately a child as young as two has the strength to open the button because by law the button must disengage with a pressure of no more than 40 Newtons. Not much pressure at all, it must also be coloured red making it an attractive plaything, this is to enable it to be located in a smoke filled car.
Group 2/3 child restraints 15-36 Kgs.
These are the most uncomplicated of all the groups as by now we are dealing with a more mature child sitting in a standard 3 point seat belt.
The huge importance in this group is ensuring that the car seat belt crosses the child’s chest at the correct angle while offering side impact and head protection.
Although side impact is not a mandatory test it is important to ensure that the car seat you are choosing has been side impact tested, not all manufacturers to this. Collision of heads, or a child’s head colliding with the car’s body or glass has very serious injury implications even at slow speeds, this is why I do not endorse the use of booster cushions the should in my opinion be outlawed, imagine holding your child by the ankles and dropping him 6 feet, head first onto concrete, doesn’t bear thinking about does it? use a full restraint.
