July 2000
SECOND STAGE CAR SEATS ON TEST
What is a second stage car seat?A second stage car seat is a safety seat used to secure your growing child when travelling in the car. The first stage car seat is usually known as an infant carrier (see infant carriers on test) and can only be used until your baby weighs around 13kg. The second stage car seat follows on from this and can generally be used from when your baby weighs 9kg (at around nine months) and right through his or her early years. Some second stage car seats are suitable from birth which may be more appropriate if you don’t want to buy an infant carrier as well. Do I need one?If you intend taking your child in a car, then the answer is definitely yes. It is illegal for a child under the age of three to travel in the front passenger seat without an appropriate child restraint and in the back seat an appropriate child restraint must be used if available. Second stage car seats are designed to hold a child safely in place in an accident. Using adult seat belts alone on a young child can cause serious injury in an accident. Lap belts must fit across a child’s leg – not across the stomach – and diagonal belts must be secured across the chest, not across the neck. What to look forAll car seats should conform to British Standard 44.03. Buy a seat designed for a child of your child’s weight. Do not go on using the seat when your child’s weight increases above this level – even if the child is still comfortable in it, it is not safe. Buy a car seat which fits correctly in your car. Research by The British Standards Institution found that eight out of ten car seats were fitted incorrectly and were potentially dangerous. If possible ask the retailer to fit it for you. If you are going to use the seat in several different cars ensure it fits correctly in each of them and choose a seat with a less complex securing system. Styles vary. Some second stage car seats – those suitable from birth – are rearward and forward-facing, some only forward-facing. Some have a recline option which is good for young babies, and some will convert to a booster-style seat which is suitable for an older child. Some have a removable harness so they can be used with the adult seat belt. Consider the child’s comfort and the seat’s ease of use. Do not buy a second hand seat unless you can be certain it is safe and has never been involved in any kind of accident. Although it may appear undamaged the stresses of any collision mean it would not protect your child as well as it should in a subsequent accident. View test results in briefSuitable birth to 18kg (about four years): Suitable 9kg to 18kg (about six months to four years): Suitable 9kg to 36kg (about six months to 11 years): |
