Child seat basics - buying the right child seat; is it safe to buy used?
Arvind · Sep 16, 2021 11:00 AM
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Your child is the most precious cargo you will ever transport in a car. Therefore, it makes sense to give them the best protection possible when in a vehicle, and the best way to do that is to correctly strap them in a child seat.
Child seats are designed to take advantage of the car’s normal anchorage points (like seat belts and ISOFIX points) and cradle the child in the correct position within a reinforced shell to give them the best protection, and therefore, best chance of survival in the event of a crash.
Yes, but to simplify we can narrow it down to just three:
Infant seat
Convertible (Non-ISOFIX and ISOFIX type)
Booster seat
Infant car seat: Designed to cradle and protect the smallest children, from newborn up. They’re often designed with a base that is installed using the seatbelt or ISOFIX points.
The infant seat then can be snapped in for travel or removed and used as a carrier.
This car seat should be facing the rear of the vehicle at all times. Your baby’s head must fit under the top rim of the seat, with at least an inch to spare. Once the child has reached the maximum weight or height limit (typically after one year), it’s time to move to a convertible seat.
Convertible (Non-ISOFIX) These are called convertible car seats because they can be either face forward or rearwards within the vehicle.
Non-ISOFIX car seats used the car’s 3-point seat belt to anchor the child seat to the car. These are typically the cheapest child seats you can buy; moreover, they are also lightweight and can be used in older cars that do not have ISOFIX points.
On the downside, there is a higher chance of incorrect installation. Without correctly strapping in the seat, the seat can still be thrown around in a crash.
ISOFIX child seat: These are designed to anchor the child seat onto the uniform ISOFIX mounting points at the base of the car's seat. These points are attached directly to the vehicle’s chassis.
ISOFIX child seats have anchoring rails that slide out from the seat base and clamp onto these anchor points, thereby, removing any chance of incorrect assembly.
Certain ISOFIX child seats are also equipped with a Top Tether (or US standard 'LATCH' interface) that hooks up to an additional point behind or above the rear seat.
ISOFIX seats are typically more expensive and heavier than non-ISOFIX seats, and cannot be used in older vehicles that are not equipped with the feature.
Booster seat: Once your child outgrows the forward-facing child seat, they can transition to a booster seat, but the child should remain seated at the rear.
Depending on the model, booster seats can be mounted using seat belts or ISOFIX points, much like child seats.
As the name suggests, these seats boost or raise the child’s body so that they can safely use the car’s seat belts as they grow older.
A properly installed non-ISOFIX or child seat is just as safe as an ISOFIX seat. The key phrase however is "properly installed".
Your car's seat belts are designed to restrain a full-sized adult in a crash, so they're more than capable of restraining a child seat in the same situation.
When installing a non-ISOFIX seat, read the owners manual carefully and ensure that both the lap and torso belts are passed through the seat correctly and pre-tensioned so they're snug and tight.
How tight? After installation, tug the seat front to back and side to side; a properly installed car seat should not move more than an inch in either direction after installation.
Remember that ISOFIX seats are simply meant to take the guesswork out of installation and make it easier to move between vehicles.
The safety performance of a seat more precisely comes down to the seat construction, design, materials, padding, and harness system.
When are seats meant to be forward-facing or rearward-facing?
This depends on your child’s age and weight and can vary depending on the seat manufacturer, but here’s a simple guide:
Child seat installation guide
Age (Years)
Type of seat
Orientation
0 - 1
Infant seat
rear facing
1 – 2
Infant seat / convertible seat
rear facing
2 – 4
Convertible seat
front facing
4 – 8+
Booster seat (rear)
front facing
How many child seats do I need?
Ultimately, this boils down to your budget, application, and the type of vehicle you have.
Start with an infant child seat in the first year. The first trip your child will ever take is that ride back from the hospital, therefore an infant seat is an absolute necessity. You can purchase either one of the convertible seat types later on.
Certain child seats typically called 3-in-1, or 4-in-1 child seats can adapt to become an infant seat right up to a booster seat.
These types of seats are the most expensive, but it also means you don't have to buy multiple seats as your child grows older.
Of course, prices can vary widely depending on the type of seat and manufacturer, but here is a handy price range:
Child seat prices
Type
Lower range (RM)
Upper range (RM)
Infant seat
350
700
Child seat (Non-ISO FIX)
250
600
Child seat (ISO FIX)
400
1,500
Booster seat
220
1,400
When can my child transition to normal seatbelts?
Keep your child in a booster seat until they are big enough to fit in a seat belt properly, the recommended height is 145 cm.
The lap belt must lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach. The shoulder belt should lie snug across the shoulder and chest and not across the neck or face.
Can I buy a used car seat?
Yes, you can, but there are a few things you need to be mindful of to ensure the seat is not compromised in any way.
Firstly, you need to verify that the seat has not been involved in a crash. The best way to do this is to check the overall condition of the seat; i.e.: are there deep gashes, scratches, or cracks on the seat shell. Also, check for torn belts/harnesses, bent ISOFIX rails, and damaged locking mechanisms.
Just as important, is to check the seat’s expiration date. Look at the back or underside of the seat, the manufacturer sticker should tell you when the seat was made and when it expires. In general, car seats expire between 6 and 10 years after the date of manufacture.
The seat sticker should also tell you the make and model of the seat; check if the seat has been recalled by the manufacturer. Any seat you plan to buy should be sold with original harnesses, accessories, and the owner’s manual.
Never use a car seat if you’re unfamiliar with its history. Buying a used seat should be a last resort, if possible, buy a new one.
Where is the safest place in the car to install the child seat?
Cars like the Ford S-Max have three independent rear seats equipped with ISOFIX points
The rear middle seat is the safest in the event of a crash because it is furthest away from windows and airbags.
However, you also need to consider if other children or passengers are riding in the car, vehicle space constraints, and if your vehicle has ISOFIX or LATCH anchors (if required) in the centre position.
How often should I buy a new car seat?
You will only need to buy a new child seat in the following cases:
Your child has reached the maximum height or weight allowable by the child seat.
The seat has passed its expiration date
The seat has been recalled
The seat has been involved in a crash (airbags deployed, physical damage to the seat)
The seats show signs of wear and tear – worn harness, seat padding, and jammed locking mechanism
How do I know if I am buying a good child seat?
The best way to determine the quality of the child seat is to cross-reference its safety ratings. This info is usually readily available from the manufacturer.
Road safety agencies from around the world regularly test the crash safety of child seats and award safety ratings just like cars. For example, if the seat has a good NHTSA (USA), or Euro NCAP rating – then you can be assured of its quality and safety.
If it doesn’t, then enquire if the child seat has been rated by any other safety regulatory body. Besides that, a well-designed seat should be easy to install and buckle your child up.
Conclusion
The most important takeaway is understanding how important a child seat is to securing your child whilst in a car.
The forces exerted in a crash are immense and often cause serious injuries to adults let alone a newborn or young child.
No matter how tight or securely you think you can hold your child, it is virtually impossible to restrain them in a crash.
No parent would ever put a price on their child's life, therefore we shouldn't put a price on the lifesaving devices that best ensure their safety.
Arvind can't remember a time when he didn't wheel around a HotWheels car. This love evolved into an interest in Tamiya and RC cars and finally the real deal 1:1 scale stuff. Passion finally lead to formal training in Mechanical Engineering. Instead of the bigger picture, he obsesses with the final drive ratio and spring rates of cars and spends the weekends wondering why a Perodua Myvi is so fast.
