How can I tell when my baby is ready for Group 1? There are several signs that will indicate if your baby is ready to make the transition from Group 0 - 1. As a general rule, they should fit the following criteria:
Research shows that rear-facing seats provide a greater level of protection for baby's neck, head and spine so it's important to keep them in their Group 0 car seat for as long as possible. If you're unsure about anything, get your baby weighed by your health visitor and seek advice from a professional car seat advisor. The lowdown on infant car seats A major benefit of group 1 seats is the fact that they are forward facing. After 9 months of staring at the grey hues on the back seat, your baby is likely to be mesmerised by the world passing him by on the other side of the window. The majority of Group 1's are also designed to remain in the car so you don't have to worry about seatbelt routing every time you want to go somewhere - a blessing in some respects, but not so good for the sleep factor if you're going to be taking your child in and out of the car during nap times. Comfort is essential for those who travel regularly and if longevity is a priority, you need to look carefully at the quality, structure and materials. Look for additional extras like head supports, a reclining motion and an easily adjustable one pull harness - all will help make your life easier and keep your baby more content when travelling from one place to another. Obviously safety is a top priority with car seats. Models that offer a good amount of protection against side impact and front accidents are essential so look for robust seats with re-enforced sides and extra padding that will cushion your baby in the event of a crash. You should also look at how the seatbelt is fitted and the level of security the harness provides - a lot of modern car seats come with additional seat belt tensioners that create extra pressure on the belt for a safer, firmer and more secure fit. In addition to your child's weight and height, you also need to ensure that the seat you choose is compatible with your specific car type. The majority of manufacturers now offer 'fit finder' grids on their websites or in-store so research wisely and gain as much information as possible before making a purchase. This month's panel are from Cheshire and they met during pregnancy at their local ante-natal classes. They all have babies of 9 months and since they were starting to consider their Group 1 car seats, they were more than happy to do some testing for babyworld! Our panel have been testing the seats for a month and each seat has been thoroughly reviewed by each parent panel member so you can benefit from their individual thoughts and experiences. The panel
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Welcome
to the second instalment of our car seat test. This month we're
looking at Group 1 car seats, testing six of the top models with
varying features so you can get a good idea of the safest seats
available for your growing baby. 
