Choosing the Safest Baby Car Seat | A Complete Guide
Posted by Julie Monson on
CHOOSING THE RIGHT CAR SEAT FOR YOUR BABY
Choosing the right baby car seat before your baby is born is essential in order for you to transport your precious bundle safely. However, without being able to see how your baby fits in the car seat before you buy it, can result in some unexpected problems when you strap your little one in for the first time.
This comprehensive guide will help you to ensure that you buy the safest car seat for your baby, that installs well in your car and that suits your budget.
Tip#1 - Choose a car seat suitable for a newborn
Car seats come in varying shapes and sizes and are designed for children at different stages of development from birth to age 10/12.
MULTISTAGE CAR SEATS
Multistage car seats cater for children from birth to 25/36Kg, depending on the model. As tempting and economical as a multistage seat may seem, they often do not work well for newborns.
This is because multistage seats are designed to accommodate babies from newborn to age 7 or 12, depending on the model. The delicate postural and safety needs of a newborn are very different from that of a 12 year old!
Many multistage seats do not recline sufficiently for a newborn and the harnesses often do not reach the baby's shoulders to strap them in securely.
Some multistage seats only rear face to 13kg (approximately 18 months). However, it is safest for toddlers to remain rear facing until 4 years (approximately 18kg)
INFANT CAR SEATS
Infant seats are often better suited to newborns, as they are generally more reclined which reduces the risk of their heads falling to their chests, which can restrict their breathing.
Infant seats are easier to strap a newborn in safely and securely. Infant seats are also convenient for quick trips to the shop, where you can click the car seat into the pram without having to wake your baby.
SAFETY TIP!
It is not safe to leave babies under 4 weeks in car seats for longer than 30 minutes or children under 2 years for longer than 2 hours due to the increased risk of positional asphyxiation.
Positional asphyxiation occurs when a baby’s head falls forward to their chest, and they do not have sufficient head control to lift their heads back up. This restricts the airway and the lack of oxygen to the brain can result in brain damage and eventual death.
It is also not safe to place a baby in the car seat on the floor/bed/couch/table/shopping trolley for risk of asphyxiation, especially when the harness is loosened, as well as the risk of falling.
Extended Rear Facing Car Seats
If you do decide to buy a multistage seat (most are not recommended), an extended rear-facing seat that can rear face to 18kg is better than a multistage seat that can only rear face to 10 or 13kg.
The following car seats can be used rear facing from birth to 18kg/105cm (approx 4 years), score well for safety and do achieve a safe fit and recline for newborns:
Axkid One + (rear faces to 23kg/125cm so is a very good option if your baby is likely to be bigger than average)
A modular car seat would be better than a Multistage seat. Besafe, Maxi Cosi and Cybex make modular systems, where one isofix base is used for the infant seat and later their extended rear facing toddler seat. This allows optimal support in an infant seat when your baby is small and optimal safety later on in an extended rear facing toddler seat too. These modular sets are:
Tip#2 - Don't buy second hand, if possible
Preparing for a baby is an expensive exercise. Buying secondhand prams, compactums and clothes is a great way to save money.
A car seat, however, is a life saving device. Of coarse, a second hand car seat is better than no car seat. If at all possible, try to buy a new car seat rather than second hand.
THE RISKS OF BUYING A SECOND HAND CAR SEAT
The main concern with a used car seat is that you cannot be certain of its history unless you buy from someone you know and trust.
A car seat that has been in an accident or dropped may not show obvious damage, but its safety may be compromised and it may not protect your baby sufficiently if it were to be involved in another crash.
Photo credit: Goodeggcarsafety
Crash damage is not always visible to the naked eye. There are some scans and X-rays that can find hidden damage, but the cost of these tests is usually greater than the cost of the most expensive new car seat. Without this type of test, no one can inspect your car seat and certify it as safe after a crash."
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)Second Hand Car Seat Safety Checklist
- Has it been in any crashes or dropped?
- When was the seat manufactured? Most infant seats shouldn’t be used for more than 5-7 years.
- Are all parts present and intact?
- Is a manual available? Many can be found online or you can request it from the distributor.
- Are there any signs of white stress marks, damage, rusting or fraying?
- Has it been checked for any recalls?
- Has it been checked in on an airplane? If so, was it properly padded AND boxed? Bubble wrap alone will not have protected it during loading
Tip#3 - Isofix or belted bases
Car Seats are fastened into a car using one of two methods:
1) Isofix
Isofix refers to connection points manufactured in cars as an alternative to securing a car seat with a seat belt.
To check if your car has ISOFIX, check your vehicle manual to find where the isofix brackets may be located. stick your hand in the join between the passenger seat base and the backrest and run your hand along it until you feel two D-shaped metal rings.
If your car has ISOFIX this opens more options available for you to consider. ISOFIX bases are more expensive but are easier to install and less prone to human error.
2) 3 Point Seat Belt
If your car does not have isofix, most infant car seats can be installed without a base using only the 3-point seatbelt.
A car seat installed with the seatbelt is not necessarily less safe than an isofix installation, provided it is installed correctly.
SAFETY TIP!
All rear facing isofix bases should not be installed with the seatbelt as well. Refer to your manual on the correct installation method.
Tip#4 - Do your research
Before making a purchase, it is always a good idea to check that a car seat has the required ECE approval and that it is on the NRCS list of car seats approved for sale in South Africa.
If it is not on the NRCS homologated list, it may be a fake or illegal car seat. We have recently found many illegal or fake car seats being sold on large online stores. The ECE results are not published so the public has no way of knowing how these car seats fared during crash testing.
Some seats are selected for additional independent crash testing in Europe. These testing conditions are more stringent and at higher speeds. The results are published.
For more on Crash Testing and the criteria used to judge a car seat, check out our blog article: Crash Test Ratings and Reviews Explained
Independent Crash Testing
Not all car seats have been independently crash tested, and in these cases there is no way of knowing if they offer a good level of safety or not.
All the infant car seats we sell at Precious Cargo have been independently crash tested and score well for safety. Read through all the available safety reviews, which can be found on Car Seat Support South Africa. These are all the available safety reviews of the car seats sold legally in South Africa.
If the seat you are looking for is not in the album, it’s fairly certain that it has not been independently crash tested. Narrow your list down to 2-3 high scoring car seats that fit your budget.
Tip#5 - CHECK YOUR CAR'S COMPATIBILITY
If possible, fit a few car seats before buying. Not all car seats fit all cars optimally. You should check if your vehicle is on the manufacturer's approved fit list.
Once you have fitted a few car seats, you will be able to compare their features and which installs most securely in your particular vehicle/s.
If you are unable to come through to our showroom in Johannesburg, we offer video consultations to help you narrow down your options of suitable options.
SAFETY TIP!
Unfortunately, many car seat salesmen are not adequately trained and do not know how to install car seats properly.
Be sure to read the manuals and watch the official online installation videos, so that you have a good idea of the correct installation.
Key points to check for a safe car seat installation:
CHECK 1 Appropriate for age, weight and height. For an infant, the seat must be Group 0 (from birth to 10kg) or preferably Group 0+ (from birth to 13kg)
CHECK 2 There should not be more than an inch of movement when shaken at the belt path/isofix points with your non-dominant hand. A loose installation cannot offer optimal protection in a crash.
CHECK 3 The seatbelt should be long enough to route around the car seat as per the manual, OR the isofix points reach the isofix brackets to secure the car seat
CHECK 4 There must be a sufficient recline angle. For a newborn, this should be approx 45’ and for an older baby with head control (6 months+) it should be approx 37’.
The recline angle is influenced by the angle of your vehicle seat.
A car seat that does not recline sufficiently can cause head slump and resultant risk of positional asphyxiation.
CHECK 5 There should be no buckle crunch. This is when the seatbelt buckle goes into the beltpath of the car seat. In a crash, this can put tremendous strain on the buckle and cause it to break.
CHECK 6 There should not be too much overhang. Each car seat has its own rules as to what is allowed. In most cases, it is not permitted for more than a 1/3 of the base to hang over the vehicle seat, if there is a load leg on the base. Please refer to the manual or contact the manufacturer to check how much overhang is permitted for a particular model.
CHECK 7 There must be enough space for the front passenger to travel safely. In most cases, you should be able to fit your hand between the front seat and the car seat. Please refer to your manual.
For the person in front's safety, their knees should not be touching the dashboard, and the driver should be arms length away from the steering wheel and/or airbag.
CHECK 8 If the car seat uses a base, check that all the indicators are green.
Professional Fittings and Advice
If you are in Gauteng and are looking for expert advice based on European best practice guidelines, you are welcome to come to Precious Cargo for a professional consultation and fitting. If you are unable to come for a fitting, please contact us to arrange a video consult, to go through our comprehensive checklists to help you select the best car seat for your car.
If you are looking for online assistance join our Facebook group Car Seat Support South Africa where we offer free advice!
Tip#6 - Don’t use aftermarket accessories
It is not recommended that you use any additional accessories that are not made by your car seat’s manufacturer. These items include infant head or body pillows and supports, padded harness covers, pool noodles (unless explicitly approved by your manufacturer), custom made covers, chest clips, sleeping bags or car seat blankets.
Photo credit: The Car Seat Lady
These products will not have been crash tested with your particular car seat and may interfere with the car seat’s harness or your seatbelt, and can cause the car seat to fail in a crash. It is also not safe to use any hard toys, tablets or DVD players, as they may become projectiles in a crash and cause severe injuries.
A baby mirror that has been crash tested and that can be strapped securely to the headrest is a good investment, as you will be able to check on your baby to ensure he/she is ok. Many crashes have occurred when parents look back at their children while driving, so only check the mirror when you are stationery and it is safe to do so.
Conclusion
Choosing the best car seat can be overwhelming. If you follow these guidelines, we hope that you will be empowered and equipped with the correct information to choose the most suitable car seat for your family.
At Precious Cargo, we only sell car seats that have been independently crash tested and receive the highest safety ratings. We provide expert advice based on European best practice guidelines and the latest research.
We offer a thorough assessment and professional installations at our showroom or via video consultations, to help you choose the safest seat for your child’s age, weight and height and that installs most securely in your particular vehicle.
