Why Use a Child Car Seat?
A child must always be transported in a car with an appropriate restraint system, which consists in a child car seat specifically designed for car transportation that is approved to the regulations in force. A child travelling in a car without a child car seat, or in a child car seat that is not fitted correctly, may be seriously injured also in case of minor incidents or sudden braking. The child risks being violently thrown from the seat, hitting the dashboard, the windscreen or the front seats. For a child travelling without child car seat the risk of suffering mortal or very serious injuries is seven times higher than for an adult. The reason why a child car seat must always be used can be easily understood from a simple example. A child of 15 kg travelling in a car that has an accident with front impact at 50 km/h, exercises a force equal to 416 kg.
The Advantages for the Child
Safety – A child car seat is the most appropriate accessory for transporting a child in the car because it ensures maximum safety, protection and restraint in case of accidents, although to a different degree in accordance with the model. Read more
This is because each child car seat has a protective frame made to measure for the child’s weight and a safety harness incorporated to the child car seat. The models for the smallest children also offer extra protection against side impacts and anatomical padding designed for ensuring the best posture during the journey. The sole car safety belt is neither appropriate nor safe for a child since it has been designed for adult passengers.
Protection Follows the Child’s Growth – Most child car seats have a shape and protective parts that can be adjusted according to the phases of development of the child. Read more
Apart from specific insert pillows that are ideal for the smallest children and that can be removed when they grow, on the market there is a variety of types and models offering different solutions, which allow you to adjust the height, width and inclination of the backrest, headrest and/or armrests. These adjustment systems always ensure maximum protection to the child at every stage of growth.
Comfort and Well-Being – A child car seat is the best solution also with regard to the child’s comfort. Read more
A child car seat has anatomical padding in the key points where the child exercises more pressure (seat, backrest, and headrest), materials that ensure maximum breathability, specific pillows and adjustment systems for reclining the backrest in the case of smaller children, which allow them to travel in the most natural position.
Road Accidents in Europe – Although there has been a constant, significant fall in the number of accidents, the figures certainly do not provide any reasons for being optimistic. Read more
Every year there are approximately 1.1 million road accidents with about 1.6 million injured people in Europe (30,000 of which are fatalities): Although the number has halved in the last decade, in 2004 another 1,000 children (under 16 years of age) have lost their life due to road accidents.
It has been estimated that, today, approximately 50% of children are still travelling by car without a child car seat, or with a child car seat fitted incorrectly. It is evident that more awareness and a regular use of the child car seat is the only effective way to safeguard the life of our children.
Passenger Regulations – In general, the regulations in force in European Countries require that all car passengers must use an appropriate restraint system: Read more
a safety belt in the case of adults and a child car seat in the case of children. In most European Countries it has been sanctioned that all children from birth up to 1.50 m of height must always be fastened by a restraint system appropriate for their height and weight.
The correct Child Car Seat for Each Child
The choice of a car seat must always be evaluated on the basis of the child’s weight. The European norms and regulations subdivide children’s weight in “Mass Groups”, which are weight groups according to which child car seats are classified. Each child car seat is designed, homologated and produced in accordance with this reference parameter. Groups
Grupo 0 From birth up to 10 kg. From birth up to 9 months, approximately
Group 0+ From birth up to 13 kg. From birth up to 12 months, approximately
Group 1 From 9 up to 18 kg. From 8 months up to 4 years, approximately
Group 2 From 15 up to 25 kg. From 3 up to 6 years, approximately
Group 3 From 22 up to 36 kg. From 5 up to 12 years, approximately
The age groups indicated above are approximate, since the physical development of each child is a subjective.
Specific and Multi-Group Child Car Seats – Specific child car seats have been designed only for a single Mass Group (for example Group 0+ or Group 1). Multi-group child car seats, on the other hand, have been designed for two or more Mass Groups (for example, Groups 0+/1 or Groups 1/2/3). Picture
Advantages and Disadvantages
Specific child car seats ensure the maximum level of safety, comfort and functionality for children belonging to a specific group of weight. They therefore constitute the best solution for daily or frequent use (main car, long journeys, etc.). As they have been designed for a single Mass Group, they can be used for a shorter period of time.
Multi-group child car seats, on the other hand are economically advantageous because they have been designed for two or more weight groups and can therefore be used for several years. Although they offer the safety characteristics they have been designed for, they must meet the needs of children of different ages and body size and, therefore have a less rigid frame. These child car seats are ideal when used occasionally (for example, they can be fitted in the grandparent’s or baby-sitter’s car, or used for short journeys).
The Homologation Label – The child car seats manufactured and approved to the norms and regulations in force must display a homologation label. Before purchasing a child car seat, it is therefore necessary to check whether the product displays this label: it is generally attached on the rear or base of the child car seat and can easily be identified because it is orange. The homologation label is a kind of identity card for the product, as it indicates its fundamental characteristics. Label
