Choosing the car seat

Baby car seats belong to the so called child restraints on vehicles since a child is not able to sit on the seat of the car firmly and steadily like an adult does: as a consequence, car seats the most safest instruments to transport our little one in the car in order for him/her to seat on the back seat in total safety.

It is essential, when we choose a car seat, to make sure that it is homologated according to the current laws, to be more precise it must be made of resistant materils, sprayed with non toxic paint and it doesn’t have to have sharp corners that may represent a danger for your child’s safety.
A car seat structure, normally includes: anatomic backrest, comfortable seat and 5 point safety harness.

Car seat groups

Considering all the different types and car seats and brands like Chicco, Inglesina and Peg perego that, nowadays, you can find on the market, there are many, many other things to take into consideration before deciding which car seat suits your child's age, size and weight as one of the most important jobs you have as a parent is keeping your child safe when riding in a vehicle.
For this reason, we would like to help you deciding with this small guide to show you the different typologies and groups:

-Group 0
From birth up to 10 kg (9 months)
It is actually the carry cot fitted on the seat thanks to the special kit that allows you to keep your baby in a horizontal position without the need of using the car seat for the first few months. It must be fitted on the rear seat.

- Group 0+
From birth up to 13 kg (12 months)
Like a proper cot, they can be used in the front or rear of the car. It is safer to put them in the rear. Do not put them in the front passenger seat if there is a passenger airbag. Rearward-facing seats provide greater protection for the baby's head, neck and spine than forward-facing seats. So, it is best to keep your baby in a rearward-facing seat for as long as possible. Only move them to a forward-facing seat once they have exceeded the maximum weight for the baby seat, or the top of their head is higher than the top of the seat.

- Group 0/1
From birth up to 18 kg (4 years)
This type of car seat has a spacious and comfortable seat; it can be fitted either front or rear facing: up to 13 kg it must be fitted rear facing, from 13 kg onwards it can be fitted front facing on the back seat much safer than the front seat as your child is now growing and it can be dangerous.

- Group 1
From 9 kg to 18 kg (from 9 months to 4 years)
Once children have outgrown a rearwards facing seat, the best option is to use a Group 1 seat with an integral harness, the large area of the harness helps to reduce the risk of injury if there is a crash. The bottom attachment between the legs will also prevent the child from sliding under, and out of, the harness. They can be used in the front or rear of the car, but it is safer to put them in the rear, especially if there is a passenger airbag in the front.

- Group 1/2/3
From 9 kg to 36kg ( from 9 months to 12 years)
This car seat is equipped with a practical adjustable headrest that prefectly adapt to your child’s body. It must be fitted on the rear seat front facing. The backrest cannot be reclined but it is removable to be used as booster seat when the child reaches 22 kg.

- Group 2/3
From 15 kg to 36 kg (from 3 years to 12 years)
For this type of car seats, you can choose between the ones equipped with backrest and the ones with just the seat (booster seat). It must be positioned front facing on the rear seat.

- Isofix car seats
Isofix car seats are equipped with the most innovative and safest way to anchor the car seat in the car. The Isofix system has been designed to make the car a children safe environment, even if they are not able to use the cars main restraints or seats. The Isofix system is a system of anchorage locations fitted to the seats of a vehicle to which a child’s seat or booster cushion affixes. The ISOFIX system has two anchorage points at the rear of a standard seat to which a ISOFIX enabled child seat affixes. Before buying an Isofix car seat, make sure that your car is equipped with Isofix anchorage points.

Drive carefully

Before any further information or advice on car seats, always remember to drive carefully and to pay lots of attention to other drivers’ because often, they are the cause of unpleasant accidents. Furthermore, when you drive and your child is in the car, make sure that the all the fitting systems work properly and never leave your child in the car seat without fastening the seat belt.