Group 1 From 9kg to 18kg or 25kg (approximately 4-6 years) depending on the make…

In a rearward facing car seat the child faces backwards
only, with the car seat usually fitted to the back seat. The child is
restrained in the seat by an integral safety harness, with the seat being
held in place by the adult car seat belt, or by ISOFIX fittings which
are offered by some rear facing car seats. As a Group 1 car seat, most
rearward facing baby car seats have a good recline facility.

As advised by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents,
babies and young children should always be in a rearward facing car seat
as it supports the neck and spine in an impact and is by far the safest
way to travel. Indeed, it is a legal requirement in Scandinavia to have
all children up to the age of 4 rearward facing in cars. The UK is therefore
a considerable way behind other countries in terms of child safety requirements.

The Recaro
Polaric Group 1 Rear Facing car seat offers maximum safety for children
between 9-18kg. The unique Recaro Polaric
fixing system enables firm and safe installation on the back seat of a
vehicle. It uses ISOFIX points, a foot prop, back brace and a bottom tether,
allowing the car seat to be firmly attached to the car.

Safety: It is illegal to use a rear facing child
car seat in the front of a vehicle protected by a frontal airbag, unless
it has been manually or electronically de-activated, in which case your
car insurance may be invalidated.

Click
here view the Recaro Polaric Group 1 Rear Facing car seat in the Babyworld
shop

• Forward facing Car Seat (Group 1)

From 9kg to 18kg (approximately 4 years) depending on
the size of your child.

When reaching an absolute minimum of 20lbs (9kg) and sitting
unaided, a toddler can go into a forward facing car seat. The child faces
forwards only, and the car seat is normally used on the back seat, yet
can be used legally in the front seat providing there is no airbag fitted.
We would always recommend using the back seats of your car.

An integral harness secures the child, and the car seat
is held in place by the adult car seat belt. There are a growing number
of isofix group 1 car seats that can be fitted either with a 3 point lap
and diagonal seat belt or directly onto the isofix points in your car.
The isofix system generally makes a car seat much easier to fit but seatbelts
are still a very secure way of fitting a car seat to your car. A typical
example of a group 1 car seat would be the Maxi
Cosi Tobi.

Children
aged one and over (or over 20lbs) are stronger, and therefore a front
facing car seat is likely to be more appropriate. However, as advised
by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and the Government
Road Safety Team, the safest way for children to travel in the car is
in a rear facing car seat, with this position minimising the impact on
a child should a crash occur.

Further advice from the Road Safety Team for forward facing
car seats is:

• Check the vehicle handbook to see what the guidance is on the size/age
  children must be before sitting in the front with an active front airbag.
  Airbags are very effective safety devices for protecting adults, but
  their explosive force can seriously injure children.

Click
here to find forward facing car seats in the Babyworld shop

• Multi Group Car Seat (Groups 1,2 and 3)

From 9 kg to 36kg (approximately 4 years to 12 years)

With multi group car seats the width and height are easily adjustable
to fit your growing child. On many models as the backrest is adjusted
to size the harness moves into the correct position. Multi group car seats
can be secured with the cars own seat belt. Group 123 car seats offer
superb value for money as they cover a wide age range. As a
group 1 car seat there can sometimes be an issue with the fitting. Babyworld
recommends that you get any car seat fit checked before you purchase.

Both the Britax
Evolva car seat the Kiddy
Guardian Pro and the Recaro
Young Sport car seat are suitable for groups 1, 2 and 3, making them
excellent value for money. The integral harness is removed when outgrown,
continuing the use of the car seat, with the adult seat belt being then
used to secure both child and car seat. Whilst they are designed for children
of approximately 9 months and upwards, they are quite upright and do not
recline very far, meaning that they are better suited for older children
from around the age of 1 through to 12 years or more realistically 1.35
meters tall.