Buying a car seat? 5 important things to consider

There is a lot to think about when you have just become parents. And one of the first, and most important, things is to make sure that your newborn baby rides safely in the car. The same applies, of course, as the baby grows and gets bigger. Having a car seat that fits both the car and the baby is important so that you don't compromise on safety – and that the baby sits comfortably.

Which car seat is right for my child?

It's actually not that easy to know which car seat to buy. There are many makes and models to choose from, and the child requires different types of car seat depending on how old she or he is. There are three different types of car seats:

• Baby protection: From 0 to about 9 months.

• Rear-facing child car seat: From 9 months to about 4-5 years. (About 25 kg or 125 cm.)

• Booster seat/booster cushions: Up to 12 years.

Baby protection

The baby seat is a rear-facing car seat for the very youngest and is suitable for use until the child is about 9 months old. You attach it using the car's own belt and the child is strapped into the baby seat with a five-point harness. A baby seat should not be leaned against anything, e.g. the dashboard.

Rear-facing child car seat

The rear-facing child seat is for children up to about 4-5 years of age. If the child has not outgrown the car seat, you can continue to use it. The longer the child sits rear-facing, the better – a small child's head is very heavy in relation to the child's size and the muscles in the neck are not yet developed to withstand even heavy braking.

A rear-facing child seat can also be installed using the car's own seat belt. Nowadays, many cars are also equipped with Isofix mounts, which simplifies installation and prevents it from being installed incorrectly.

Forward-facing child car seat

When your child is big enough, they can sit in a forward-facing car seat. Some car seats can be used both rear-facing and forward-facing, but they tend to be a bit bulky, and aren't really optimal for either orientation.

Belt cushions

In addition to forward-facing car seats, children can also sit facing forward on booster seats or booster seats. In these, children can sit from about 5 years of age to 12 years of age, and it is only then that you should place the child facing forward.

Booster seats are available with and without backrests. Some models hold both the child and the seat using the seat belt, while other booster seats have Isofix mounts, and the seat belt is there only for the child's safety.

Regardless of what type of chair you are going to buy, there are several things to consider. Here we list some of the most important points.

5 important things to consider when buying a car seat

There are of course more than 5 things to consider when buying a car seat. Here, however, we will concentrate on what you should keep in mind when it comes to the car itself. But in addition to that, you should know that the car seat should be approved according to ECE R44 or UN R 129. Ideally, it should also be plus tested.

1. Will the car seat fit in my car?

2. Let the child test ride in your car.

3. Should the child sit in the front or back?

4. Child car seat with Isofix.

5. Buy used?

1. Will the car seat fit in my car?

It's not a good idea to just buy a car seat and take it home without knowing if it can actually be installed in the car. Not all car seats work in all cars.

Therefore, you should always try to install the child car seat in the car it will be in. Feel free to ask the store staff for help – they know how to install the child car seat correctly. Studies have shown that too many child car seats are installed incorrectly, and are therefore almost dangerous to sit in.

We at Kvdbil have tested fitting a child car seat in three different car models: hatchback, station wagon and SUV. The test showed that the station wagon provides the best space for the car seat, while there is a little less space in an SUV. But even though there is the least space in a hatchback, it worked out perfectly, and there was plenty of legroom in the front seat with a child car seat fitted in the back seat.

You should always try the car seat in your own car. The space varies between different makes and models and it is not possible to say in advance that a particular seat will fit. In addition, a car can actually be too big – there are cars, especially minibuses, where the distance to the passenger seat backrest is too far for the child seat to be tilted against it. In other words, only seats that are approved for installation without support, or that have support legs, will work there.

2. Let the child try before you decide

The car seat should not only fit in the car. You certainly don't want your child to sit uncomfortable, and perhaps not have enough legroom. In a rear-facing car seat, your child will sit until they are 4-5 years old, so it is important that there is plenty of space even then.

3. Should the child sit in the front or back?

Whether your car seat is installed in the front or back of the car has no impact on safety. Often the child sits more comfortably in the front and if you are alone in the car it is a little easier to put the pacifier back when the child spits it out – you also have a better view of the child.

It is also very important that the child sits rear-facing for as long as possible, preferably until the age of 5. A child's head is very heavy in relation to its body weight and cannot withstand very great stress in a crash or even during heavy braking.

NOTE: If your child is sitting in the front seat, your airbag must be deactivated. In the event of a collision, the airbag poses a life-threatening risk.

4. Child car seat with Isofix mounts

If your car is equipped with Isofix mounts, it is easier to install the child seat in a stable and safe way. The seat also sits firmly in place even when no one is sitting in it. A prerequisite is, of course, that the child seat is also prepared for Isofix.

The only disadvantage of Isofix is that it is only approved for children up to 18 kg. There are car seats with a different fastening method where the child can sit up to 25 kg.

5. Is it a good idea to buy second-hand?

Buying a used car seat can definitely be a good idea. However, we recommend that you only buy from someone you know and that you know the history of the seat. If it has been in a crash, it should be discarded.

In addition, it should not be older than 4-5 years old. The plastic in the chair ages and becomes porous over time, and its lifespan is estimated to be about 10 years. Therefore, the chair should not be older than 5 years, considering that you want to be able to use it for your child until it is no longer needed.