How To Place The Child Seat In The Car
Fortunately, over time, public and government attention to road safety has increased. One of the concerns frequently raised by new parents is how to properly position the child seat in the car.
What do you need to know to accommodate the child in the chair?
Minors with a height equal to or less than 135 cm must always use a child restraint system (CRS) in the rear seats of the car. According to the General Directorate of Traffic, the SRI must be approved and adapted to the weight and height of the child.
After the introduction of the new European regulations on child road safety, safety seats must indicate the height range and an approximate age of the child, which greatly facilitates the choice of said seat.
Groups of chairs in relation to size and age
The DGT classifies three groups of chairs according to the height, weight and age of the children:
- Group 0 and 0+ (newborns up to 13 kg). This first group of seats should always be placed in the opposite direction to the march, which increases the protection of the baby’s head, neck and spine. The DGT points out that children are attached to these chairs by means of a five-point harness.
- Group 1 (from 9 to 18 kg). They must always be installed before placing the baby in the chair. The chair is fixed to the seat using the seat belt or ISOFIX. The child must be secured to the chair with a five-point harness that is well adjusted to the body.
- Groups 2 and 3 (from 15 to 35kg). These groups correspond to the booster seats and cushions. Its function is to raise the child to the height necessary to be able to use the seat belt that is installed in the car itself. The DGT specifies that the diagonal band of the belt must be over the shoulder without touching the neck, while the horizontal must be placed as low as possible, never on the stomach.
Although it is recommended that children continue to use CRS up to 150 cm, the DGT points out that, exceptionally, those under twelve years of height equal to or greater than 135 cm may use the vehicle’s seat belts.
The key to knowing whether or not the child should continue to use a booster seat or cushion is to observe if the belt strap touches the child’s neck or passes under his chin.
How to place the child seat in the car
First of all, it is essential to read the manufacturer’s manual for the chosen chair and how to use it. After choosing the right child seat or CRS for our vehicle and evaluating its adaptability, we will proceed to install and attach the seat to the car. To do this, there are two options:
- Using the seat belt. In this case, to place the child seat in the car, the seat belt straps must be passed through the gap indicated by the slots in the seat.
- Through the ISOFIX system. According to the DGT, this method would be the most recommended and safest, since it reduces the possibility of improperly positioning the child’s seat.
ISOFIX system for placing the child seat in the car
To place the child seat in the car with ISOFIX we must first ensure that our vehicle has this system. To be able to install it in our vehicle, we must fasten it from three anchors.
The first two anchors must be located between the backrest and the seat of the vehicle, to which the chair is fitted through the back of its base. The last anchor has the function of holding the chair in such a way that it cannot rotate at any time. The DGT points out that there are two types: the so-called support leg and Top Tether.
- The support leg : this type would go from the base of the chair to the floor of the vehicle.
- Top Tether – This type attaches the back of the chair to the back of the seat back or to the trunk of the vehicle.
Without a doubt, placing the child seat in the car correctly is the most important part of ensuring children’s road safety. For this, it is also essential not to lower your guard and be alert to the new regulations and instructions on child restraint systems in vehicles.
