Frequently Asked Questions on Child Car Seats

December 24, 2022 / By
Car seats

This article is an FAQ to my series on child car seats. Please click here if you want to learn more about child car seats and their benefits.

Child car seats are important.

However, child car seats also require a detailed understanding of their working and may raise some questions in your mind. That is why I decided to create a list of the Frequently Asked Questions on car seats. I believe that you may find the answer to your question here.

I drive very safely and slowly and have never been in a crash. Do I still need a child car seat?

I am glad to hear that you follow safe driving rules. We need more defensive drivers like you in our country. However, not everyone drives safely. Especially on highways/ring roads/expressways. The other vehicle’s speed matters as much as yours in a crash. The risk of not using a child car seat is just too high. Consider the car seat as additional insurance for your child’s safety.

I own a “5-star rated” car. Do I still need a car seat?

Even a 5-star rating will not protect an unsecured child. Also, check if the 5-star rating on your car is for adult occupant safety. Global NCAP provides a separate rating for child occupant safety. Check your car’s rating for child safety.

Also, remember that the child safety rating assumes that the child is secured in a manufacturer-recommended child seat. The same rating cannot be expected for every child seat in the market. You can check the recommended child seat in the car’s Global NCAP crash test report. The car’s child safety rating automatically becomes zero if you do not plan to use any child seat at all!

You can check this link to learn more about NCAP ratings and their limitations.

My child has not used a child car seat from birth. Can my child start at a later age?

Yes! You can start using a child car seat for older children. The only challenge you may face is convincing the child. I have a couple of suggestions. One is to convince your child that the seat is his or her special seat in the car and nobody else will use that seat. Some children love that sense of ownership. Another suggestion is to lead by example yourself. Start wearing a seat belt every time you sit in the car (especially in the rear seats). After all, children learn the most by following their parents.

Which is the best seat position to keep the car seat?

Car seats should always be placed in the rear seating row. Here is why. The safest position is the rear-middle seat as the child is sufficiently protected from all sides. However, since most cars only have lap belts in the middle seats, this position is applicable for car seats with a 5-point belt harness.

Booster seats need to be installed in positions with a 3-point seat belt. The safest position for Booster seats is behind the driver’s seat. However, if you are traveling alone with your child, I suggest placing the car seat behind the front passenger’s seat. This way you can keep an eye on the child. Just don’t get distracted while driving!

How do I check if my child is safely secured in the car seat?

You can do two checks to ensure that your child is safely secured.

  1. Ensure that the child seat is properly restrained to the vehicle. A properly restrained seat will not move more than an inch in any direction.
  2. To check if your child is belted correctly, pinch the belt strap above the child’s shoulder. A secure belt will not be easily pinched.

You can also check the child car seat manufacturer’s guidelines.

How long should my child remain in a car seat during a journey?

A child should remain in the car seat for the entire journey! A ‘2-hour rule‘ is often recommended for babies i.e. keep your baby in the car seat for a maximum of 2 hours at a stretch. Any longer might lead to other complications. Take periodic breaks on long journeys. If possible, one of the parents or some other adult can sit with the child in the rear.

But, at all costs, do not take the child out of the seat in a moving car!

When can my child stop using a car seat?

Your child can stop using a car seat only when:

  • Without any seat assistance, the shoulder belt goes across the child’s collar bone and the lap belt goes across the hip. The belt should not be loose at any point
  • The child is tall enough that the knees bend at the edge of the seat.
  • The child can remain restrained with minimal fidgeting. No moving around under the belt!

I have a small/compact car. Will a child car seat fit in my vehicle?

Most car seats should easily fit in the rear seat of any car. The process of installing the seat might require some adjustments in small cars. But with practice, you will get the hang of it. For larger seats such as the convertible and all-in-one seats, you may have to make some minor adjustments such as moving the front seat forward. If you have a small car, you can consider the following car seat models:

  • All-in-one seat: Diono Radian series (3R, RXT)
  • Infant seats: Graco Snugride 3
  • Convertible seat: Evenflo Tribute LX
  • Booster seat: Most booster seats are narrow and short enough to fit in smaller cars.

Child car seats are expensive. Can I buy a used or second-hand car seat?

Child car seats lose their reliability once they are involved in a crash. Child seats also have an expiry date after which their structure can become weak (this does not happen overnight though). The expiry date varies from seat to seat. 

You can consider buying a second-hand child seat if you are 100% certain that the seat was not involved in a crash before and the seat is not past its expiry date.

I have seen child car seats with an ECE R44/04 safety rating. What does that mean?

An ECE R44/04 approval label states that the car seat complies with the basic safety requirements of the European standard (ECE) R44. There are some things you should know regarding the ECE R44 rating:

1. The R44 rating is an older version of the rating. Since 2013, the UN R129 ratings have been launched which will gradually phase out the R44. This does not mean that R44 is not safe. You can still use seats with R44 ratings.

2. It is important to note the last 2 digits in the rating i.e. “04” in “ECE R44/04”. “04” and “03” are safe to use. “01” and “02” is illegal to use in the EU since 2008.

3. R44 rating does not test for side impacts. Only the front and rear collisions. UN R129 ratings also check for side impacts.

India also has its safety rating, the AIS 072, which is derived from the ECE R44.

Third-party agencies also test child seats. You can check the safety and usability rating through:

Do child car seats need repair/maintenance?

No. Car seats do not need maintenance. However, the seats need to be cleaned from time to time. Most seats have provisions for this. In a rare scenario, car seats may face manufacturing defects and could be a part of a recall (this applies to global brands). It is better to register your seat so that you may be informed about a recall in advance.

These questions and my other articles cover almost everything you need to know about child car seats.

If you have any question that is not covered, please mention it in the comments. I will try to answer it to the best of my knowledge.

Last Updated on December 24, 2022 by RSG