How to install a child seat

A child seat in a car is a must, because if you have a child under 12 years of age in the car with you, be prepared to be fined 3,000 rubles. Such tightening of the rules is entirely justified - in 95% of cases in a traffic accident, the life of a small passenger was saved. This figure could well be higher if child car seats were always installed correctly. Buying an expensive item often inspires a deceptive sense of reliability and safety, while proper attention is not paid to fixing it. And the fact that the design of products is becoming more and more complex 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?

Securing the seat in the back seat is considered the safest, but which side is best to secure it on? WITHExperts unanimously say that the seat behind the driver’s seat is the best option, but at the same time, when you take the seat out, you and your child find yourself on the roadway. Other experts are confident that it is more advisable to place the product in the center of the rear seat, since the risk of injury in this case is minimal.Of course, you can install the product in the front seat, however, the airbag, which most modern cars are equipped with, can cause harm to the baby, so it should be disabled first.

Before installation, you must make sure that the seat 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, chairs may differ in the location of fixation. The following groups exist:

• “0+” - allow you to transport the smallest children, whose weight does not exceed 13 kg, and are equipped with several supporting supports and fixation systems.
• “1” - intended for transporting 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 to the child’s height.
• “2/3” - used for transporting older children who weigh from 18 to 35 kg.

After choosing a seat, you should pay attention to the fact that each of them has its own installation features - the “0+” group should be attached with the backrest 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 while sitting, moreover, it, as well as “2/3”, can be installed facing the movement of the car.

Available fixation methods and schemes

The choice of mount 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 seat will always be in the car, it is better if the seller installs it immediately after purchase - this will guarantee correct and reliable installation. However, if the car spends the night in an area 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 body of the car.

Standard seat belts

The method of fastening with standard seat belts is the most popular, since every car is equipped with them. Despite the fact that the procedure is simple, not everyone calls it reliable, and besides, the belts may not be long enough, especially if a chair of group “0+” is installed.

NOTE. If the length of the belts is not enough, they can be extended, however, it is not recommended to do this yourself. The best solution would be to contact specialists - in this case, the work will be performed 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 diagram, usually located directly on the seat. In general, the process looks like this:

If a child seat is installed in the rear seat, then the front passenger seat is moved as far forward as possible, which provides freedom of action and comfort. If it’s on the passenger side, then it is fixed in the usual driving position. If the product is fastened in the direction of travel of the car, then the openings for the belts are marked in red, while in the direction of movement – ​​in blue.Immediately before installation, you should extend the belt to its full length to make it easier to manipulate. Groups of seats “0+” and “1” are secured with a belt threaded through special holes and secured in the lock. The belt is tightened after the chair is firmly pressed into the car seat. Group 2/3 seats are secured with belts over the child, which are passed through special places on the body that are adjusted to the height of the passenger. The final stage is to check the reliability of the fastening with the belt - when tightening it, a play of 1-2 cm is allowed. If this value is exceeded, then the installation process should be repeated again.

Advantages and disadvantages of the method

The main advantage is versatility - seat belts are present in all cars, without exception. With their help, it is possible to install almost all chairs for children of any age, height and weight. Products installed with their help are available, and they can be mounted on both the rear and front seats.

Along with the advantages, there are also disadvantages. The fastening process is not simple and often unreliable, since car seats do not match the geometry of child seats. Products that belong to the “0+” group often simply do not have enough belt length.

Isofix fastenings

These fasteners must be in all cars starting from 2011, which is regulated by European legislation. The system consists of two steel U-shaped hinges, which are located under the seats and rigidly attached to the car frame at a distance of 280 mm, as well as two locks located in the seat. The standard design allows you to fix any chair, while the likelihood of incorrect installation is almost zero. Increased reliability is provided by an additional Top Tether, which is attached to a bracket located on the back of the rear seats. The process of installing a child seat is very simple:

• you need to find U-shaped hinges, and also fix the guides for the brackets, if they are included with the product;
• the brackets are pushed into the brackets until a click appears, after which the height of the thrust rod, if any, should be adjusted;
• If the manufacturer provides a Top Tether fastening, it must be secured.

The floor support, as well as the Top Tether mount, is designed to level out the whiplash that is possible in an accident.

Advantages and disadvantages

Reliability and ease of installation are the main advantages of the fastening. The fixation is rigid and fast – movement of the chair is completely eliminated. Numerous crash tests indicate a high level of protection for children in the event of an accident.

If we talk about the disadvantages, the main one is the high cost of the chairs. In addition, their weight is significantly greater than conventional products, and installation is possible only in the back seat. The solution cannot be called a universal solution - not all cars are equipped with Isofix.

Recommendations for safety and placing a child in a seat

When driving, the driver does not have the opportunity to be distracted by a small passenger, who can loosen or completely unfasten the seat belts. A few simple tips will help you avoid all kinds of security violations:

1. Placing a child in a seat should be preceded by checking all fasteners, straps, clamps, as well as their proper operation. There should be no weakening, abrasions, etc.;
2. The baby is securely secured with straps that should hold him tightly, but not squeeze him;
3. The straps must be tightly tightened, which also applies to the additional straps that are equipped with some models of chairs;
4. Special attention should be paid to the child's head - it should not rush from side to side when driving.

It would be a good idea to take toys with you during the trip that will distract the child. Ideally, if the chair is purchased before the birth of the child, this will allow you to spend some time studying it and practicing installation.