One of the essential and most important things we must have since we began our life as fathers and mothers is the child retention system in which our children should go whenever we travel or transport by car.
We know that it is a broad topic and that it can lead to many doubts, so I have gathered all the key points in an article. We share you the basic information that every parent should know about car seats.
The chairs have an expiration date
Many parents do not know, but All car seats or child restraint systems have an expiration date. How can we know what it is? Based on its elaboration date, which should be clearly indicated, either on a label or written directly on the plastic of the chair at the back.
The exact number of years the chair has to be used safely It will depend on each manufacturer, but most of them have a life time of between four and six years. If in doubt, check the manufacturer's manual, which we recommend you read thoroughly before using it.
They must be replaced after an accident
If the child restraint system suffers severe blows or was in a vehicle accident it is likely that there are broken or damaged parts inside and that are not visible to the naked eye. Therefore, they must be replaced by a new one and not continue to use it.
Do not buy second-hand chairs
Buying second-hand chairs can be dangerous. The passage of time and the daily use of child restraint systems, as well as weather conditions causes them to wear out and their materials deteriorate.
When buying a new product from a trusted store, we make sure we have a child restraint system that is in optimal condition. Instead If we acquire a second-hand chair, we do not know with certainty the use that has been given to it, nor if it was in vehicle accidents or if it has any defect that is not visible, causing them to not work as they should and putting children's lives at risk.
Place it properly in the car seat
One of the most important things about child restraint systems is to use them properly, because only then can we be sure that they work as they should. Before installing it in our car, you have to read the manual to know how to do it correctly.
The installation will depend on each brand, either ISOFIX (which is the case of most chairs and cars) or with the seat belt. It is important to emphasize that the chair must remain fixed in the seat, so whatever the form of installation, we must ensure that it is completely taut and without bends or slacks.
The safest place is the back seat
By law, in Spain all children under 1.35 meters must go in the back seat of the car, of course, in their child restraint system. But there is a reason for this measure, and that is the back seat is the safest place to place the car seat.
And which side is better? The central square, in the case of cars that have three of them. If our car only has two or no ISOFIX anchor in the center, the best place is on the right side, because that square is the one that offers the safest access for the child to get on and off the side of the sidewalk.
Correct use of harnesses
As I commented on the point about installing it correctly, car seats only work as they should and are safe when used correctly. The position and adjustment of the harnesses is something that we should not take lightly, we must also follow certain measures to ensure that the child is well placed and safe travel.
At this point it is also important to read the manual, but as a rule there are three points that we must take care of:
- That the straps or harness don't have kinks or slacks.
- That is tight enough, so that only a pair of fingers can slide between the harness and the child's body.
- Let each part of the harness pass or is placed in the right place, according to the manufacturer's instructions.
They should not be used for more than an hour and a half.
While child restraint systems are the safest way to travel by car with children, they It also has its time limit and should not be used for long periods.. In the case of babies, the maximum time in which they must remain seated in it is an hour and a half. On long trips, the recommendation is to make stops following these times and get the children out of their seats to stretch and rest.
Recall that the chairs for the car They are not cribs nor should they be used outside the car, because in the case of babies there is a risk of postural asphyxiation, because their body is not yet strong enough and the shape of the chair makes it flex on itself, which could make breathing difficult.
At this point we return to the importance of proper fastening with harnesses, as the placing them too loose, could cause the child to be in a position that limits or cuts off the air flow.
At minimum counterdrive up to 4 years
For some years now, it is recommended that children travel as far back as possible, and even recently, the American Academy of Pediatrics updated their recommendations, eliminating the age limit to take them back and forth. increasing the minimum time to four years of age.
It has been proven that the back-up chairs are the safest way for children to travel and that we must try to take them as long as possible in this position. And yes, they are also equally safe in the case of a rear impact.
Older children should go in booster with backrest
When we talk about child restraint systems, many parents believe that these are only necessary during the first years of their children's life, however, by law, children should travel in them until they measure at least 1.35 meters. Ideally, travel on them until the safety belt adjusts them correctly and the use of child restraint systems is prolonged until they measure 1.50 meters.
In the case of older children who are already too old to use Group I chairs, we will use Group II and III chairs, which range from 15 to 36 kilos. All chairs approved under the i-Size regulations for children between 1.00 and 1.50 meters have a backrest. Although some models are only lifters, it is recommended to use those that have a backrest until children are 1.25 meters tall, because they protect you better in case of lateral collision.
Respect weight and height limits
Finally, It is important that babies and children travel in the child restraint system suitable for their weight and size. Previously they were classified according to age, but with the new European regulations i-Size, they will be made by weight and size, taking into account the child's height. Now, the groups classify as follows:
- Car seats i-Size 40-75 cm. They are equivalent to group 0 and are used from the birth of the baby until he reaches 75 cm in height (approximately 12 months of age). They must always be installed in the rear using the ISOFIX system or the safety belt provided that this is indicated by the manufacturer.
- Car seats i-Size 40 to 105 cm. This group would be the equivalent of the current group 0 + / 1, which is also used from birth until it reaches 18 kilos (approximately 4 years). They must also go in the opposite direction to the march and be installed with ISOFIX system and have a support leg or top tether.
- Car seats i Size 100 to 150 cm. It would be the equivalent to the group of lifts with the support of groups II and III of the old regulations (which we mentioned in the previous group about lifters with support in the case of older children). They cover from 15 to 36 kilos (approximately between 4 and 12 years of age). These chairs are fastened with the car seat belt.
We hope that this guide with the key points on child safety systems will help you to solve the doubts about its use and know the basic information that every parent should know about car seats.
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