Buying your car seat – the different types

The array of car seats, boosters, travel systems and accessories
out there is mind-boggling. We guide you through the maze to help you
choose the right car seat for maximum comfort and security for your baby.


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Infant Carrier

Newborn baby to 10kg or 13kg (depending on make) from
birth – 6/9 months
These are also known as baby car seats, but usually called infant carriers
because they have collapsible carry handles for transporting a sleeping
baby out of the car.

  • The baby always faces rearward
  • The baby is strapped in with an integral, adjustable safety harness;
    the carrier is secured to the car seat with the car’s adult seat
    belt
  • The carrier may fit on the car’s back seat, but is more likely
    to fit better on the front passenger seat where the adult seat belt
    has the most extension. When using the front seat, ensure there’s no
    airbag fitted,
    and move the front seat as far back as possible
  • Out of the car the carrier can be used as a baby’s low chair;
    some have the facility to rock, or they may have a storage box under
    the seat
  • Infant carriers are usually made of sturdy, hard-wearing plastic but
    lightweight polystyrene versions are also available. These are usually
    cheaper and much lighter to carry but they don’t rock, and have
    soft fabric straps for carry handles which may not make carrying as
    easy
  • Infant carriers are now also available from some manufacturers as
    part of a travel system. These are compatible with a pushchair/chassis
    combination, enabling you to take your sleeping baby from the car and
    into a pushchair. However, new babies shouldn’t be left to sleep
    in them for long periods in their seat especially if they can’t lie
    flat. ( see Health issues for babies in car seats)
  • Rearward facing searts provide greater protection for your baby’s
    head, neck and spine than forward-facing seats so it’s best to keep
    them in it for as long as possible. Only change to a forward-facing
    seat when they have exceeded the maximum weight for the seat or their
    head has reached the top.
  • Some modern seats have a full recline mechanism which allows your
    baby to sleep lying flat whilst on the move. This is ideal for long
    journeys, especially for newborns.

Safety note

Never put a baby or young child on the front seat of a car where an airbag
is fitted; if the bag inflates the pressure may crush the seat and child.
Your car dealer may be able to deactivate it if necessary, but check with
your insurers first, as this may affect your cover.

Carrycot with fixing kit

Newborn baby to 10kg
This is a pram carrycot which has an integral harness designed to restrain
the baby in the car. It is sold with a special fixing kit to secure it
on the back seat of the car.

  • Useful for very young babies as they can lie flat in the car and remain
    undisturbed as the carrycot is lifted from the car to pram chassis or
    indoors
  • The carrycot is anchored by adult seat belts from both sides and takes
    up a lot of space on the back seat, which is a problem when there are
    other passengers. You will also still need a car seat quite quickly
    as the carrycot is not suitable for use in the car once the baby is
    beginning to sit up (from around six months)
  • Most experts agree that, while these carrycots comply with current
    safety standards, they do not offer the same level of protection as
    a rear-facing infant carrier

Two-way or combination seat (Combined Group 0,
0+, 1)

Newborn baby to 18kg (newborn – around 4 years)
This allows the baby to face rearward from birth to 13kg (on the front
passenger seat unless there is an airbag
fitted) and then face forwards up to 18kg (on the car back seat)

  • More versatile in the car and longer lasting than an infant carrier,
    but not designed to be taken in and out of the car all the time, and
    not suitable for carrying the baby in
  • The baby is restrained in the seat by an integral safety harness;
    the seat is fixed on the car’s seat by an adult seat belt
  • Some models have adjustable seat reclining positions when forward
    facing
  • Because the seat is bigger than a standard infant carrier, most are
    equipped with extra protection, for example a head-hugger, to ensure
    newborns fit snugly in the seat

Forward-facing car seat (Group 1)

From 9kg to 18kg or 25kg (depending on the make) roughly
from 9 months – 4 years
The child faces forwards only, and the seat is normally used on the back
seat, but can be used in the front unless there is an airbag
fitted.

  • The child is secured by an integral harness and the car seat is held
    in place by the adult car seat belt (on one make the integral harness
    is removed when outgrown and the car seat can continue to be used with
    the adult seat belt securing both child and car seat, therefore extending
    its use)
  • One-way seats may be able to recline
  • One-way lightweight polystyrene seats are also available which use
    the car’s diagonal seat belt to secure the child in the seat and
    the seat in the car. Though they are designed for children of around
    9 months plus, they are quite upright and don’t recline, which
    means that they are better suited to older children from around 2 up
    to 6 years

Two-part seat

From 9kg to 36kg (Group 1 and 2 combined) roughly
4-6 years
This can be used up to 25kg as a traditional car seat with the child facing
forwards. It is normally used on the back seat, but can be used in the
front unless there is an airbag
fitted.

  • The adult seat belt or Isofix fitting is used to secure both child
    and seat. The removable back to the seat gives younger children comfort
    and support if they fall asleep
  • From 15kg the back rest can be removed to give a booster seat which
    raises the child up to the correct height for the adult seat belt. The
    seat includes guides to ensure the belt fits correctly across the chest
    and thighs and many new models have adjustable seat widths and back
    rests.

Booster seat (Group 2)

From 15kg up to 36kg (if adaptable to a booster cushion)
Booster seats are also sold separately, without the back rest, and are
suitable from 15kg to 36kg (depending on the model). They normally have
guides to ensure the belt fits correctly.

  • Quick and easy to move around the car or from car to car
  • Some booster seats are designed to be connected into a booster cushion
    by detaching the back rest.

Booster cushion (Group 3 )

From 22-36kg 6- 11 years

  • Can be used in front or rear of car but they are safer on the back
    seat, especially if an airbag is fitted.
  • Booster seats and cushions do not have an intergral harness to secure
    the child
  • The adult seat belt fits around the child and the seat so it’s important
    the seat belt is fitted correctly.

Multi Group car seat (Groups 1,2,3)

From 15 – 36kg 9 months-12 years or 2&3

  • Width and height adjustable car seats that adjust to fit your growing
    child
  • On many models as the backrest is adjusted to size, the harness moves
    into the correct position.
  • Secured with cars own seat belt or with an Isofix fitting.

Travel system

These systems include a range of units which you buy depending
on what you need at the time.

  • A collapsible chassis with fixed shopping tray or basket
  • A reclining pushchair or carrycot that locks onto the chassis
  • A first-stage infant carrier car seat with carry handle which locks
    onto the chassis. The seat may also be used at home as a low baby seat
    with reclining or rocking options
  • The car seat is usually suitable from birth to around 13kg, depending
    on the make. The pushchair is suitable from birth to around 3 years
  • The big advantage of travel systems is that they allow you to take
    your sleeping baby in his seat out of the car and fix the seat into
    the chassis without waking him
  • As the items are usually sold separately it helps to spread the cost
    over time
  • The car seat isn’t suitable as a long-term sleeping place; babies
    need to lie flat for proper spinal development
  • The most important consideration is whether the car seat fits safely
    in your car. If you’re not happy with the fit, don’t buy it,
    however much you like the idea of the system

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