Choosing a transforming car seat

The fact that without a special device a child cannot be transported in a car, everyone knows. Having rummaged fairly on the Internet, having sat on numerous forums, newly made parents often make a choice in favor of the transforming car seat. What does it consist of, what is its advantage over other models, what are its strengths and weaknesses - more and more about this and many other things.

This concept itself speaks for itself: it is a device that can be modified depending on the tasks and stated needs. It is intended for different weight categories. Today on sale there are chairs designed for the first and second years of life of children, whose weight does not exceed 18 kg. More recently, universal transportation devices could only be used for a child from 3 years old and older, weighing 9-36 kg. However, if you wish, you can find universal options that combine both of these groups.

The essence of a transformer is that such a chair has various devices that can change with the child and adapt to its parameters. In such models, the position of the backrest and head restraint changes. They can have all sorts of inserts and restraints, which give a more dense fit of the child, and, consequently, an additional degree of protection.

Child transformer chair has undoubted advantages.

• Saving. Folding car seat can significantly save the family budget. Many parents prefer to purchase a crash test before purchasing a carriage in the car. Brand models with a positive reputation are expensive. And acquiring a transformer, you can pay once and not think more about this problem.
• Availability of additional details. Universal armchairs, as a rule, have a lot of useful bonuses that make it more functional. The most common of these is a removable cover that can be washed as often as necessary. And there are also specimens with a stand for food, with a winter envelope and with a cooling cape for the summer, with a pillow for the head and other pleasant trifles.

• Some models have a carrycot in the kit. for a restful sleep of the baby, and also an opportunity to remove a back, having turned a chair into the booster.
• Ability to set the chair in different directions. It is known that babies up to a year must be properly transported against traffic, and older children face forward. Such a transformation is possible with the modern Isofix system, which serves as an additional fastening of the chair in the car.

Despite the clear benefits from the acquisition of a universal auto-folding, the transformer chair has many opponents. A universal chair must meet the standards of transportation as a one-year-old baby, and a teenager 10-12 years old. And this task is difficult. Here are the most common reasons that are not in favor of the transformer.

• Unreliable mechanism. It is believed that multifunctional devices are extremely unreliable and subject to frequent breakdowns.Since the design has the burden of multitasking, the wear mechanisms are much faster.
• High price. The presence in the assortment of folding models, multi-functional, not all manufacturers can boast. Therefore, such specimens are often very expensive, and not every family can afford such a purchase.

• Isofix system not suitable for all brands of cars. In earlier stamps there are no corresponding devices, thanks to which it would be possible to install the chair using this system.
• Not suitable for babies up to 6-9 months. While the baby has not yet learned to sit, all his movements occur exclusively horizontally. Therefore, at this stage, he needs a cradle. Today, there are models of car seats, which includes a mobile car carrier. However, their choice is not diverse, and the cost is high.
• Inconvenient sizes. Some users have noted that for small children, the back of the station wagon is too wide. And if the child is large, then his legs will rest against the front seat.

When buying any car seat, you should check the availability of a certificate of compliance with the safety requirements of the European Union (CE), which confirms that the specified product has passed all proper tests and tests and meets all the standards and requirements established in the European Union. The document should contain the following information:

• product name and model;
• information about the manufacturer or about who issued the certificate;
• name of the issuing authority;
• certificate validity period;
• numbers of research reports and the date when they were conducted;
• list of standards, based on which were tested.

Equally important is the material that is used for upholstery car seats. Many people mistakenly believe that it must be cotton. However, practice shows that such a cover may shrink during washing, and the wear resistance is not very high. And for a transformer it is very important, since it is not bought for one year. Modern synthetic materials are absolutely safe for the child. They are practical and durable. As for the hull, it is better if it is solid, and not prefabricated.

Special attention should be paid to the side protection. Having a large padded headrest and armrests would be an advantage. Their size is also important - the more they are, the more reliable. For greater convenience, the headrest can be removable.

It is best to buy a chair for transporting a child with a child. Put the baby in the chair to see how comfortable he is in the chair, and how it suits him in size. And of course, the chair should fit the size of the car itself.

See below for interesting information on crash testing.