A child seat in a car is a must, because if you have a child under the age of 12 in your car, be prepared to be fined 3,000 r. Such tightening of the rules is entirely justified - in a traffic accident in 95% of cases the life of a small passenger was saved. This figure could well be higher if car seats for children were always installed correctly. Buying an expensive instance often inspires a deceptive feeling of reliability and safety, while its fixation is not given due attention. And the fact that the design of products is becoming more complicated only aggravates the situation. How to install a child seat and secure it so that the child is safe?
How to install a child seat in the back seat?
Fastening the seat in the back seat is considered the most secure, but on which side is it better to fasten it? WITHexperts unanimously reiterate that a seat behind the driver's seat is the best option, but at the same time, getting a chair out of there, you and the child find themselves on the roadway. Other experts are sure that it is more expedient to position the product in the center of the rear seat, since the risk of injury in this case is minimal. Of course, you can also install the product in the front seat, however, the airbag that most modern cars are equipped with can cause harm to the baby, so it should be disconnected first.
Before installing, make sure that the chair is suitable for the age and weight of the child. To do this, they are divided into several groups, which differ in design features, as well as types of fastening. In addition, the seats may vary in place of fixation. The following groups exist:
- "0+" - allow you to transport the smallest children whose weight does not exceed 13 kg, while being equipped with several support legs and locking systems.
- "1" - designed to transport small passengers aged 1-4 years with a body weight of 9-20 kg.
- Universal - perfect for children whose weight varies from 9 to 35 kg and can be used for a long time. This is possible thanks to a flexibly adjustable system for adjusting the chair for the growth of the child.
- "2/3" - used to transport older children who weigh from 18 to 35 kg.
After choosing a chair, you should pay attention to the fact that each of them has its own installation features - the group "0+" should be attached with a back in the direction of movement of the car. These are safety requirements and recommendations of all manufacturers, while the child is in a supine position. Group "1" moves sitting, besides it, as well as "2/3" can be set to face the hike of the car.
Available methods and fixing schemes
The choice of fastening depends not only on the age group of the child, but also on how often the car is used and where it is stored. If the chair will be constantly in the car, it is better if the seller installs it immediately after purchase - this guarantees the correctness and reliability of installation. However, if a car spends the night on a site that is not guarded, it is advisable to take the product home with you. As for fixation, the variety of models of child seats has led to the emergence of numerous variations of fastening - some products have special systems that are directly connected to the car body.
Regular seat belts
The method of fastening with standard seat belts is the most popular, since each car is equipped with them. Despite the fact that the procedure is simple, not everyone calls it reliable, and besides, the length of the belts may not be enough, especially if the chair of the group "0+" is installed.
NOTE. If the belts are not long enough, they can be extended, however, it is not recommended to do this yourself. The best solution would be to contact a specialist - in this case, the work will be carried out in accordance with technical standards and guarantee the safety of the child.
The installation process is not easy for all car owners, so before installation, you should study the instructions or the diagram, usually located directly on the chair. In general, the process looks like this:
If the child seat is installed in the back seat, then the front passenger is pushed forward as far as possible, which provides freedom of action and comfort. If the passenger, then it is fixed in the usual driving position. If the product is attached in the direction of movement of the machine, then the places of the opening for belts are marked in red, against movement - in blue. Immediately before installation, the belt should be pulled out all the way to make it easier to manipulate. The chair groups “0+” and “1” are fixed with a belt threaded through special holes and locked in the lock. The belt is tensioned after pressing the seat into the car seat. Chairs of the "2/3" group are fastened with straps on top of the child, which are passed in special places on the body, adjusted to the growth of the passenger. The final step is to check the reliability of the fixing by the belt - when it is pulled, a gap of 1-2 cm is allowed. If this value is exceeded, the installation process should be repeated again.
Advantages and disadvantages of the method
The main advantage is versatility - seat belts are present in all machines, without exception. With their help, it is possible to install almost all seats for children of any age, height and weight. Products installed with their help are available, besides they can be mounted both on the rear and front seats.
Along with the pros, there are downsides. The fastening process is not easy and often unreliable, because car seats do not match child seats in geometry. Products that belong to the "0+" group often simply do not have enough belt lengths.
Isofix mounts
These fasteners should be in all cars since 2011, which is regulated by European law. The system consists of two steel U-shaped hinges, which are located under the seats and are firmly attached to the car frame at a distance of 280 mm, as well as two locks located in the chair. The standard design allows you to fix any chair, while the probability of an erroneous installation is almost zero. Increased reliability is provided by the optional Top Tether strap, which is attached to the bracket located on the back of the rear seats. The process of installing a child seat is very simple:
- you need to find the U-shaped hinges, as well as fix the guides for the brackets, if they come with the product;
- the brackets slide into the brackets until they click, after which the height of the thrust rod should be adjusted, if any;
- If the manufacturer provides for the Top Tether mount, it must be fixed.
The emphasis on the floor, as well as the Top Tether mount, is designed to level the whiplash, which is possible in an accident.
Advantages and disadvantages
Reliability and ease of installation are the main advantages of fastening. Fixing is rigid and fast - the movement of the chair is completely excluded. Numerous crash tests indicate a high level of child protection in the event of an accident.
If we talk about the shortcomings, the main thing is the high cost of the seats. In addition, their weight is much greater than conventional products, in addition, installation is possible exclusively in the rear seat. One cannot call a universal solution - not all cars are equipped with Isofix.
Safety and child safety guidelines
When driving, the driver does not have the opportunity to be distracted by a small passenger who can loosen or completely unfasten his seat belt. A few simple tips will help you avoid all kinds of security breaches:
- The child’s landing in the chair should be preceded by a check of all fasteners, straps, clips, as well as their proper operation. There should be no weakening, scuffs, etc .;
- The kid is securely fixed with straps that should hold him tight, but not squeeze at the same time;
- Belts must be firmly tightened, which also applies to additional straps that are equipped with some models of seats;
- Special attention should be paid to the child’s head - it should not rush from side to side while riding.
It will be useful to take with you during the trip toys that distract the child. Ideally, if the chair is bought before the baby is born, this will allow you to spend some time studying it, practice the installation.
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