Car seat from 9 to 25 kg with a sleeping position: advantages and selection rules

The child car seat was invented in America more than 80 years ago. Since then, thousands of small passengers who have been in emergency situations have been saved with the help of this device. According to the rules of the road in the Russian Federation, the presence of a car seat when transporting young children is a prerequisite. During the collision, light small passengers fly out of the windows of cars or hit the walls of the cabin.

Convenient designs, developed by Russian and foreign manufacturers, help save the lives of kids in difficult situations.

Car seats category from 9 to 25 kg are designed for children from three to seven years. Groups of models 1 and 2 have their own characteristics. Models with a lying position (for sleep) are absent. According to European standards, this is considered dangerous, since there is a possibility of a child slipping under a standard seat belt. For convenience, the backrest reclines at an angle of 5–45 degrees; many children manage to sleep in such conditions.

The safer options include designs, where the table serves as an anchor. In critical situations, it reduces the load on the neck. A transforming chair with the expectation of a small and large child often creates problems for both. For kids, for example, tall headrest. But in a situation where a child travels rarely, and grows quickly, or when a constrained budget, the purchase of a transformer is fully justified.

Car seats for each age category have their advantages and disadvantages.

• Category 1. Car seats are pretty high security. They are able to adopt provisions favorable for sleep and rest. In this chair you can travel for a long time and without damage to health.
• Category 2. Models of this type do a good job with security features. You can choose the design in a moderate price range without a special impact on reliability and quality. The disadvantage is the lack of a comfortable sleeping position and the complexity of individual design selection.

In car seats categories 1–2, the angle of inclination varies between 5 and 45 degrees, it all depends on the weight category and model. Fully lying down can only be a cradle for the smallest, but it is overall and takes up a lot of space in the backseat of the car. To fold back the chair installed in the standard position, the seat has to be pushed forward as much as possible, while leaving room for the baby’s feet. Therefore, in the sleeping position, a chair installed in the direction of travel has a maximum angle of 35 degrees.

The lack of a full reversal of the seat is also associated with a dangerous load on the baby’s pelvis in the event of a frontal collision. The five-point safety belt has a buckle in the groin area. With a large tilt of the chair, the center of gravity shifts down, which is dangerous for the health of the child. Many models have from two to eight options for tilting the back, which helps parents to set the chair in a comfortable position for the baby.

Transportation of children under 10 years old in a car must be carried out with the participation of specialized car seats. Given the changes in the weight of the child as they grow, manufacturers have divided their products into several categories. For the little ones are autolyolls of category 0. The older the baby, the larger the product. For babies weighing from 9 to 25 kg, cross 1 and 2 categories have been developed.

It is designed for children from 1.5 to 3-4 years old with a weight not exceeding 19 kg. Car seats in this category are installed in the direction of the car, they are arranged in a sitting position. The design resembles adult models; it is convenient for the kid to observe what is happening in the cabin while traveling. Seat belts have five fixation points. The chair can be lowered by 15 degrees for a comfortable stay.

This type of structure is not intended for horizontal position. Maximum inclination can be dangerous in a collision, as the seat is located in the direction of travel. Category 1 models can have in their equipment the Isofix protection system (with fixation in the floor), an adjustable headrest, side protection elements, a retractable footboard, a safety table that protects the child during an emergency situation.

This category is intended for children weighing from 19 to 25 kg, which corresponds to the age of 3-7 years. Such models have external seat belts, allow you to adjust the back of the product and even remove it if necessary. The simplicity of the product (back, seat and headrest) does not make the model less secure. Constructions of even the middle price category are absolutely reliable. The more expensive the chair, the stronger the material and the higher the quality of the product. The price is also affected by the availability of additional functions.

The lying position in such categories is absent. When the chair is tilted, there is the possibility of a child slipping under the outer belt. The back has no fixation of stiffness and easily reclines with a little effort, but it is very dangerous to lower the seat with the back in order to arrange sleep for the baby. A backrest angle of five degrees is sufficient for a comfortable journey. Fastening of the Isofix system in this category fixes only the chair, protecting it from lateral displacements.

There is another type of car seats for children - this is the transformers. Such models are transformed under the weight and height of the child, which makes it possible not to acquire products in stages for different age categories. The disadvantages include a reduced level of security.

It is worth more to dwell on information about the most popular models of children's car seats for 2018.

• Inglesina Marco Polo - This is the Italian model of the latest generation of car seats in the weight category up to 18 kg. It is made in a convenient form, has a tilt adjustment, is equipped with side protection (SHP) for a child’s head.

• Concord Transformer XT - This is a German car seat, designed for children from 3 to 11 years. Ergonomic, multifunctional model attracts the attention of good design. Every little thing is thought out for safety and convenience.

• Classic British car seat Mima iZi Go Flair - this is the embodiment of elegance and taste. It is made of leather, the manufacture takes place manually. The chair is harmoniously combined with the interiors of English cars.

When choosing a model, the weight of the child is primarily taken into account. Manufacturers have divided designs by weight categories of small passengers.

• Category 1. Passengers of these seats are kids from one and a half to three years old with a body weight from 10 to 20 kg. To make the right choice of model in this weight category, you should decide for yourself: how often and how far will be traveling with the child, whether additional functions are needed, and how much they are willing to spend.For rare spontaneous trips, you can get by with inexpensive options, but for regular trips, it is better to choose models from durable materials of European assembly.

• Category 2. When choosing a model of this category, one should take into account not only the weight, but also the height of the passenger. This product already uses standard seat belts and is suitable for children whose height exceeds 1 m. A full child, suitable by weight, but with non-standard growth will not be protected in such a chair, since the belts will fall on his neck and stomach. Seat belts designed to fix the shoulder section should not be above or below this area. The width and depth of the design plays an important role in the safety of the small passenger, so when buying it is better to try on the seat still in the store.

Reliability of attachment directly affects the threat to the health and life of the child in a collision, so they should be given special attention. Car seats for children have two options for fixation: standard fastening seat belts and with the participation of the Isofix system. The second option is more reliable, as it provides a stable baby fixation density and does not allow displacement. Legs of the child are in a free condition, besides the Isofix system is easy in operation.

U-shaped armchairs with a metal frame are much stronger than plastic ones. The most shock-resistant plastic is inferior to metal, which is not deformed during service and is a durable material. In addition to strength, you should pay attention to the composition of the chair and give preference to environmentally friendly and pleasant to the touch materials. A strong base should have a “breathable” soft outer coating.

The locking system in the form of seat belts should be strong, reliable, conveniently located near the child's body, have anti-traumatic linings and metal locks. Fixed belts at three or five points. For more security, you should choose a five-point model.

The back leans back at different angles, giving the opportunity for a pleasant rest of the child. This is one of the most important parts of the chair, so it must be anatomically shaped and equally comfortable when sitting and lying down. The correct model of the car seat contributes to the positive mood of the small passenger and guarantees a relaxing journey for the child and his family. This design will save the life and health of the child in critical situations on the road.

On how to install the car seat in the car, you will learn in the next video.