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| A simple guide to car seats |
By:
bythesea |
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When it comes to choosing a car seat for your baby or toddler, the sheer volume of options available can make narrowing them down into a single choice seem like an impossible task. There are a number of ways in which you can slowly start to eliminate certain seats from your search, though - so with a little bit of research you'll be well on your way.
The first thing you'll want to do is work out which size of car seat you need; they're categorised into five different groups depending on your child's weight. If you'll be driving a newborn around then you'll want to go either for a Group 0 or a Group 0+ seat. The former is suitable for babies of up to 10kg (generally suitable for your baby between from when it's born up until the age of nine months), while the latter will be fine for babies of up to 13kg (suitable from newborn to around 18 months).
The next step up is a Group 1 seat, which are designed for children weighing between 9kg and 18kg (nine months to four-years-old), while bigger toddlers may be able to progress to a Group 2 seat, which can take weights between 15kg and 25kg, which should see your child right until the age of around six. Finally, there are Group 3 seats, which are suitable for children weighing between 22kg and 36kg - once your child is big enough to use one of these they'll be all set up to the age of 12 or so.
The other big decision to make is whether you're going to go with a set that is fastened to your car via a traditional seatbelt system or the more modern ISOFIX method. As the name suggests, seatbelt fastened seats rely on your car's three-point seatbelt to keep the seat in place should you get caught up in an accident, while ISOFIX seats lock into two anchor points which are connected to the car's chassis as well as a top tether anchor.
The big advantage of the ISOFIX system is that the seats are incredibly easy to install and remove. They simply lock into place with a sturdy ‘click', while removal just requires the user to depress a button and lift the seat away from the anchors.
Seatbelt fastened seats, on the other hand can be frustratingly fiddly to get to grips with at first - to the extent that research shows that the vast majority of seatbelt-secured child seats are installed incorrectly. There's no such danger with ISOFIX seats; there really are the definition of foolproof. The downside, of course, is that ISOFIX models are generally more expensive than the alternative, but many find the extra expense justifiable when they consider the benefits offered.
Whichever car seat you go for, make sure you have comprehensive breakdown cover if you're going to be driving with a child on board. Breaking down in your car can be stressful enough at the best of times, but adding a screaming child into the mix can truly take things to the next level. Shop around for the best deal for your needs; one option is to buy your motor insurance from a provider that offers roadside recovery as part of a comprehensive policy.
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Visit http://www.directline.com to find out more about motor insurance. |
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