Car seats for transporting children: how to choose the safest and most appropriate one

How to choose the ideal car seat for the child?

The car seat must be chosen based on the child's height (according to the European i-Size / R129 standard), be compatible with your vehicle's attachment system, and allow the child to be transported rear-facing for as long as possible (preferably until at least 4 years of age).

To simplify the choice, consider these 3 essential pillars of safety:

• Homologação: Currently, you can only buy seats approved according to the European R129 (i-Size) standard, the latest and most demanding in terms of safety. However, if you still have seats approved by the previous regulation, R44/04, you can continue to use them for some more time.
• Installation: The ISOFIX system significantly reduces the risk of installation errors and improves the stability of the seat in the car.
• Direction of travel: Traveling rear-facing is up to 5 times safer in the event of a frontal impact, according to road safety studies.

Brief guide: what is the right car seat for each stage?

As the child grows, the car seat must accompany this evolution. This guide helps to quickly identify the most suitable type of seat at each stage.

1. Infant carrier: ideal for babies from 40 cm to 75–87 cm. It must be placed rear-facing (mandatory). Guarantees maximum protection for the head and neck. Essential for newborns.
2. Car seat: for babies and children up to 105 cm (approx. 4 years). Preference should be given to models that allow rear-facing installation (recommended).
3. Booster seat: for children from 100 cm and up to 125 cm, 135 cm, or 150 cm. It is placed forward-facing and uses the car's seat belt. Having a backrest is essential for lateral protection and to improve the adaptation of the seat belt to the child's body.

Zippy Tip: if you still have doubts about the best car seat for your baby, visit a Zippy store. Our team can help choose the safest and most suitable model for your family.

Why is traveling rear-facing safer?

Until 4 years of age, it is recommended that you always transport children in the car rear-facing. The explanation for this recommendation is anatomical: a baby's head represents about 25% of their total body weight, and the vertebrae and neck muscles are still developing. Therefore, in a frontal impact, if the child is facing forward, the neck withstands a very high force. When traveling rear-facing, the impact energy is absorbed by the seat shell and the child's back, better protecting the cervical spine and the head.

How to install the car seat correctly?

Even the safest car seat can fail if it is not installed properly. Before starting each trip, confirm this safety checklist:

1. The finger rule: tighten the harness until you can insert only one finger between the belt and the child's shoulder (collarbone area), avoiding slack.
2. Avoid thick coats: never place the baby in the seat wearing bulky or feather coats. The padding creates dangerous slack in the event of an impact. Prefer heating the car or using a blanket over the already tightened harness (internal seat belts).
3. Correct harness position: Rear-facing: the belt should exit at shoulder height or slightly below. Forward-facing: the belt should exit at shoulder height or slightly above.
4. ISOFIX Indicators: If the seat uses an ISOFIX base, confirm that all attachment or support indicators are green, including the support leg.
5. In car seats installed with the car's seat belt, regularly check that there is no slack or twisting in the belt straps.

Frequently asked questions about car seats

Can I use a second-hand car seat?

 Safety authorities advise against it. The materials and components of the seat, namely those for impact absorption or child restraint, may suffer invisible wear and tear and have micro-fissures resulting from previous use or caused by accidents. These can compromise or reduce the child's protection.

When should I switch to a booster seat?

 The change can only happen when the child reaches 100 cm in height, and always when the shoulders exceed the maximum harness adjustment, or the child exceeds the maximum weight, or the head is no
longer well supported in the previous seat.

R44 vs R129 (i-Size): what is the difference?

a. R129 (i-Size): It is the latest European standard. It classifies seats by the child's height, includes mandatory side impact tests, and uses more advanced test dummies. Only seats approved by this regulation are available for sale.

b. R44: Seats are classified based on the child's weight. Since September 2024, the sale of new models approved by this regulation has been discontinued in the European Union, although the use of existing seats remains legal.

Do I have to stop using an R44 seat?

No. If the seat is in good condition and has never been in an accident, you can continue to use it. Only the sale of new models is no longer permitted.

Can the baby travel in the front seat?

In some situations yes, however, transporting children in the back seat of the car is considered safer and more highly recommended. Legally, the Highway Code allows transport in the front seat up to 3 years old, provided it is done rear-facing and the frontal airbag is deactivated/turned off.

Why is traveling rear-facing safer?

To simplify: in this position, the car seat acts like a shield. Since a baby's head is disproportionately heavy (about 25% of their body weight) and their neck is still fragile, traveling rear-facing allows the car seat's structure to absorb the energy of a frontal collision. It is the most effective way to protect the
cervical spine and prevent the neck from enduring extreme forces.

Quick checklist review to ensure the car seat is properly installed before driving off

• The finger rule: Check that there is just one finger’s width of space between the harness and the child’s
  shoulder (collarbone area)
• Avoid thick coats; instead, warm up the car beforehand or use a blanket over the harness once it has been fastened.
• Check that all the ISOFIX indicators are green, including the support leg. If using the car seat belt, check for slack or twisting in the straps.
• Check the correct position of the harness (slightly above or below the shoulder depending on whether the baby is facing forwards or backwards)