Car accidents can happen at any time and even a simple jerk of the brake pedal can send anyone flying forward. So if an adult isn’t safe, what more children?
There have been many points made on the importance of having a child car seat and how it is imperative to your child’s safety on the road.
Little however, has been said about what to consider when buying one. With numerous brands, designs and prices, the effort understandably becomes quite intimidating.
Still, making it an excuse not to get one will lead to dire consequences during critical moments. Your child’s safety comes first above all else, and a child car seat is as life-saving as a helmet is to a motorcyclist.
Truth is, buying a child car seat is very much like buying a car. They all have their bells and whistles, but the objective remains the same, which is getting you from one point to another safely and as comfortably as possible. To that end, here are some basic pointers parents would normally be told to consider when making one of the best investments they’ll ever make for their child.
BUDGET WITHIN YOUR MEANS
Before you bog yourself down with the thought of how child car seats are going to cost you a fortune, know that they come in a range of prices beyond just function and form.
Between the low hundreds like RM200 and RM300, to the thousands with RM2,000 to RM3,000 verging on generally what is high-end, there’s something for all parents for all budgets.
“But surely the more expensive ones are the staple recommendation,” you might say. Not so, as this really depends on what ‘extras’ we’re looking at. Obviously, those that carry a premium price tag would offer more advanced features and details to them, like a built-in steel bar for additional stability and protection. The more affordable ones however would suffice in safety and comfort for your child, and that’s what matters most. They’re just as sturdy and functional where it matters so don’t write them off until you’ve checked them out.
WEIGHT AND HEIGHT
The weight and height of your child will be your real starting point when it comes to choosing the right child car seat. These points will guide the sales person you meet when they offer you the options, with thoughts on maximum amount of support, comfort and legroom for the journey.
The weight and height of your child will also determine core criteria such as seat placement, the size of seat, the facing direction being front or back, comfort and protection for your child’s neck, spine and legs, and the use of a booster.
As an example, while the general rule is that newborns to children up to the age of 2 — or below 13kg, with a height below 80cm — should have the child seat facing backwards for maximum protection against impact, the weight and height of the child exceeding those measurements may require the seat to face forward before reaching 3 years old, or even advancing them to a booster seat altogether.
TEST, TEST, TEST
There’s no real way to make the right choice without having your little one test the seat of your potential purchase to see what works for both you and them. Do not leave it to chance on what works without testing.
The importance of ergonomics will make a world of difference in experience for parents. After all, while children will have no clue of what ‘safety features’ mean as a whole, they still know what it means to feel comfortable. So unless you want them to be crying throughout the entire journey, you too would want your child to be happy and comfortable.
Testing itself can eliminate many estimations like the right seat for their weight and height. Having the seat tested can also give you an idea of what works for you and your child, allowing you to work out a better budget and expectation.
THINK LONG TERM
Your child will eventually outgrow their child seat over the years, but they still may not be old enough to go without one. Especially for those on a budget, you may want to consider the practicality of your investment. Companies have estimated the use of child car seats right up till the age of 4, before switching to a booster seat until they reach 7 or 8 years old. However, the use of the booster seat can come much sooner or later, depending on when they’ve reached the 36kg weight and 100cm height mark.
Since a child’s growth varies between individuals, parents may want to opt for combination seats that come with both child seat and booster options, with an adjustable back. As boosters are said to accommodate children of up to at least the age of 12 — as long as they still fall within the weight and height limit — your single purchase will effectively last their entire childhood, thus saving you money from having to spend extra.
EASE OF INSTALLATION
A criteria that often gets overshadowed by other features is also the one that will potentially make the life of parents easier.
There will be times when you need to move the child seat around, be it due to placement issues or just outright needing to clean it after a mess.
For the sake of time, technical complexity and constant maintenance, you’ll want a child seat that’s easy to install and is more manageable, with minimum hassle.
While it may seem like an obvious decision, companies have noted that parents have the tendency to overlook this because they usually underestimate the issue.
Sales representatives these days will help with the initial installation, but parents will be the ones doing the daily lifting.
SEAT BELT, ISOFIX, US OR UK
The most technical terms you’ll come across during your survey isn’t actually that complicated. Also, beyond this point, any additional features you may be introduced to will be mostly personal preference and are pretty much optional.
In brief, the child car seat is either locked in placed by the seat belt’s sling across the chair or buckled down from the back and bottom by attachment points. That lock mechanism is the Isofix.
The Isofix allows your child car seat to be installed without obstructing your child when they are seated. Since your child would have already been secured by the built-in harness of the chair, the Isofix option allows for an additional solid fixture of the seat.
However, not all cars support the Isofix option. This too extends towards your preference for the US or UK standard, which you will be asked upon purchase.
The difference between the two lies in the attachment mechanism at the back of the child seat. The US standard is more versatile with its extended locks and buckles, while the UK standard requires a mandatory bottom lock which your car may or may not have.
Check your car seat or car manual to see which one is compatible with your car. Do some research online or on YouTube to get a clearer view as well. If you’re still unsure, you should always engage the child car seat sales personnel to give further advice on your decision.
Once your child outgrows their child seat and moves on to the booster, the car’s seat belt will be mainstay from then on out.