The importance of child car seats

There isn't anybody or anything that can guarantee absolute safety in cars. In view of the fact that unrestrained children run seven times the risk of serious injury or death compared to children who are properly secured, one thing is very clear: a child car seat offers something children are entitled to - protection of their lives and safe travel at all times.

Over the last few years, awareness of parental responsibility over such matters has become increasingly widespread. Both legal regulations and campaigns by safety institutions have played their part in ensuring that most small children today are securely fastened into child car seats as a matter of course when travelling in a car.

However, the best possible protection is only provided if the right safety system is chosen, all regulations and instructions for fitting the child car seats are properly complied with and the child itself is fastened into the seat correctly. A study by the German Institute for Vehicle Safety shows that in two out of three cases mistakes are made when using child car seats, both when the seat is fitted and when the child is fastened in. Carelessness can have serious consequences.

As a result of these findings, parents always need to do two things: first of all, carefully select a suitable child restraint system and secondly comply with all regulations and instructions at all times with regard to fitting the seat and securing the child, no matter how short a car journey may be.

What the law says

Since May 2006, it is compulsory to use safety belts and child restraint systems in all vehicles in Europe. It is also mandatory to use child car seats within the EU for children up to the heights of 1.35m or 1.5m - depending upon the member state.

Child Safety Standard - ECE label

All car seats must display an ECE R44/04 certification label to indicate they comply with standard safety requirement.

Year after year, our child car seats exceed the European Test Standard for Child Restraints ECE R 44 introduced in 1982. The constantly upgraded requirements of the standard clearly show the change which has taken place in child safety.

From April 2008, all child car seats that were manufactured before 1995 and approved to the ECE R Standard Regulations 44/01 and 44/02 are no longer legal and must not be used.

Please make sure:

• The seat is suitable for the weight of your child.
• The height of the child and other dimensions (form, seat height and seat width) are taken into account.
• The seat is tested to the ECE R 44/04 European Standard (look for the orange approval label).
• The seat is suitable for your car (not every seat fits properly in every car).
• Try to install the seat in your car before you buy it.
• Your child feels comfortable in the seat, otherwise she/he will complain and can distract the driver. Take your child along when you buy the seat.
• The child can get in and out easily. That saves trouble and nerves.
• The installation is simple and existing seat belts in the car can be used.
• The seat is used every time regardless of how long or how short the journey.

A correctly used child safety system serves three purposes:

• It avoids or reduces injuries in an accident.
• It enables the child to sit in a posture which is appropriate for the age of the child.
• The child is well protected and does not distract the driver.

To be absolutely certain your car seat fits correctly we recommend you bring your car when buying the seat and ask trained staff to demonstrate the fitting procedure. Even though user manuals describe the correct installation step by step, nearly 70% of parents still don't realise that their child seat may be fitted incorrectly.

Remember, the best seat is one that fits your child, fits your car(s) and is easy to install

With the confusingly big variety of child restraints you should trust in branded products. You will then soon find out that the selection is not quite that big. On the contrary: If you attach great importance to a long manufacturing experience, on the latest state of the art and a highest possible comfort with optimal ease of use, you will bound to come across car child seats by BRITAX.