Car Seat: a critical responsibility of all parents
Road crashes are one of the top causes of child deaths in India. One major cause is because most parents do not use the appropriate safety methods for their child’s protection.
When it comes to car crashes, holding a child in your lap is just as dangerous as having children stick their heads out of sunroofs.
Children need a dedicated safety device. While child helmets and harnesses are usually sufficient for two-wheelers, children in cars require a dedicated device for safety. A child car seat is that device.
As someone who studies road crashes, I know the importance of choosing the correct safety device for your needs. You simply cannot choose any car seat and be done with it.
That is why, instead of just creating an empty listicle on the “best child seats”, I have created a two-article series on child seats to explain them in detail.
In this two-article series, I have answered questions such as “What is a child car seat?”, “Does my child really need a separate seat?” “Which child seat should I get?”
Let’s begin!!!
Quick Links:
- What is a child car seat?
- Does my child really need a child car seat?
- Can I buy any child car seat?
- Child car seat types
- How do I use the child car seat?
- Which brand of child car seat should I buy?
What is a child car seat?
“Car Seat” or “Child Restraint Seat” or “Child Car Seat” (I will use these terms interchangibly in the articles) is a passive safety device designed specifically to keep your child safe in a car crash.
Does my child really need a car seat?
Yes, absolutely! There are multiple reasons why children need car seats.
I am a Road Crash Investigator and Researcher. I have studied thousands of Indian road crashes and have made an alarming observation. The survival rate of children involved in car crashes is abysmal. It is much worse than adult occupants. One primary reason for the low survival rate is how children travel in cars.
Your lap is not safe
Children either travel by sitting on an adult’s lap, or they are left unrestrained in the rear seats, or worse sitting on the driver’s seat!
All these methods are extremely risky.
Having the child sit in your lap may make you feel that the child will be safe in your arms. Or you may feel that you will be able to protect them in a crash. However, in reality, this will never work. A road crash takes place in less than a second. There is simply not enough time for you to react and protect your child. Any unrestrained child will be thrown around inside the car or sometimes even out of the car’s window. And in the scenario that you do manage to hold on to your child before the crash, thanks to the tremendous forces of a crash, the child will either simply fly out of your arms or be crushed under your own weight.
Using only a seat belt is not a good idea either
What about buckling the child with a seat belt? Seat belts are supposed to be safe, right? Well, yes. Seat belts are very safe. Even after the introduction plethora of safety features such as Airbags, the seat belt is perhaps the greatest car safety equipment ever made. However, seat belts are designed for adults. If you have tried buckling a child with a seat belt, you may notice the mismatch. In most cases, the shoulder belt usually goes over the chin or even the head of the child and the lap belt might hang loose. In the event of a crash, the belt will not be able to restrain the child. Another problem is that the belt strap material is too hard for a child. This may also cause injuries.
Child Car seats provide ride comfort
An additional benefit of car seats is the ride comfort they provide to the child. All of us are aware of the condition of Indian roads. However, you can be assured that your child will have a comfortable ride as car seats will absorb most of the bumps and jerks. Just remember to take periodic breaks!
Getting a car seat is simply non-negotiable if you want your child to travel safely and comfortably in a car. A car seat is one of the essential road safety items for a car.
Can I buy any car seat?
No!
Children grow very quickly within the first 10 years. It is not possible or safe to have a one-size-fits-all approach for child car seat design.
That is why child seats are categorized and designed according to the different stages of the child’s growth. Car seats are categorized as per the child’s height and weight. Not their age.
Technically, car seats are broadly categorized into 4 groups as per the older ECE R44 standard*:
- Rear-facing infant seats (Group 0)
- Front-facing seats with a harness (Group 1)
- Booster seats with back support (Group 2)
- Backless booster seats (Group 3)
*the ECE R44 is an outgoing standard that will be phased out by 2025 end. It will be replaced by the R129 standard that has the following benefits:
- Universal integration with all cars supporting ISOFIX.
- Side impact protection which was not present in R44 (Very Important). Also use of more advanced dummies for testing.
- Categorisation of the seats is based on the child’s height and not weight. Makes it easier to know when to upgrade.
Car seat manufacturers also manufacture ‘Convertible’ or ‘Combination’ or ‘All-in-one’ seats that serve multiple categories/groups.
Understanding the different types of car seats, their purpose, and their limitations can get a bit complicated. To simplify this, I have condensed the information on each child car seat type in the table below.
Car seat types
The table below can help you choose the right seat based on the child’s age. Remember that your child’s height and weight should also match the seat specifications (as per ECE R44). For R129 approved seats you only need to check the height requirements.
Some additional tips for choosing a seat for newborns.
1. If you plan to travel a lot with your child within the first year of birth it is better to get an infant seat. These seats can be detached from the base and double-up as a child carrier or can be used in strollers. These seats are also perfect for newborns who cannot hold their necks. However, once the child grows out of the infant seat, you will need to buy another seat.
2. If you do not plan to travel with your child till the child is older (older than 8 months or so), you can either go for a convertible seat + booster seat combination or buy an All-in-one seat (my recommendation).
How do I use the car seat?
Getting a car seat is the first step. But, just using the seat without proper fitment will render the car seat useless. In fact, Multiple studies show that car seats are not properly installed. Car seats need to be attached to the vehicle for optimum safety.
Fortunately, car seats are very easy to install. For installation, you can refer to the owner’s manual provided by the seat manufacturer or even refer to videos like this one.
Car seat fitment methods
Car seat fitment is done by one of two methods: Using an ISOFIX/LATCH system or using a seatbelt.
Using an ISOFIX or LATCH system.
The ISOFIX system is designed specifically for attaching the car seat directly to your car’s chassis. This ensures that the car seat does not remain loosely attached. The system involves top tethers and lower anchors which secure the car seat.
Using an ISOFIX makes installation easy and straightforward. However, ISOFIX has the following drawbacks:
a. Universality: ISOFIX is not provided in all cars. Check the owner’s manual for confirmation. However, most new cars especially with good NCAP ratings do come with Isofix joints.
b. Weight limit: Since ISOFIX systems use fixed anchors, they are subjected to weight limits. Most ISOFIX can only be used up to Group 1 seats (convertible seats). Do not use ISOFIX for booster seats.
Cars sold in the US have a similar system called LATCH. Although both LATCH and ISOFIX serve the same purpose i.e. providing an easier and more secure installation method, their attachments are different. A seat with LATCH support may not fit in your car’s ISOFIX system. It’s better to check the installation before buying.
Using a three-point seat belt
The humble seat belt also plays an important role in restraining car seats. The biggest advantage of seat belts is their universality. All car seats support a belt fitment. Try to get a child seat where the seat belt passes under the seat base instead of over the base. The former seats make it easier to move the child in and out of the seat.
Some important points regarding car seat attachment:
- After the attachment, try and move the car seat. Secure car seats will not move more than an inch in both ISOFIX and seat belt mechanisms.
- Forward-facing seats have a top tether that provides additional stability.
- Both ISOFIX and seat belts are equally safe. The only difference is that seat belt installation requires some additional steps. Pay attention to the manufacturer’s guidelines.
- Car seats without ISOFIX support tend to be a bit cheaper. Do not spend more for ISOFIX seats if your car does not have the support.
- Lap belts or two-point seat belts can also be used to secure car seats. However, lap belts should only be used for car seats having a 5-point harness. Booster seats should always be used with a lap-and-shoulder belt.
End of Part one
The first part is a guide on choosing the correct car seat type. In the next part, I have provided details on the brands and models you can consider. You can continue reading Part Two here.
Last Updated on October 19, 2024 by RSG