Mother & Baby Oct 19

Next-stage
car seats
Keep your child safe and comfy in the car as he grows
Working out when to move your child from
a baby car seat to one suitable for a growing
toddler can be confusing. The key thing to
remember is that a car seat ‘fits’ your child
according to his weight (or his height, in the
case of i-Size seats) – not his age. Don’t move
your child until he’s close to the maximum
weight or height limit for his current seat. Lots
of parents buy the next-stage seat too soon,
thinking the seat looks a bit snug, but it’s safer
to keep your child in the lowest group seat for
his height and weight.
For this test our panel of mums and their
babies tried out seats across various different
groups. A very affordable seat might tick all
your boxes if you’re shopping for a spare seat
for occasional use, but it might be worth
buying a more expensive seat if you need
features such as a rotating base or ISOFIX.
It’s worth spending as much as you can on
a car seat with the best safety features.
Do you need a next-stage car seat?
If you’re currently using a Group 0+ seat
(rear-facing and suitable from birth; popular
as it comes with many travel systems), you’ll
probably need a new seat once your baby
weighs about 13kg, often around 15–18
months. If you’re using an i-Size seat, you’ll
need to replace it when your baby reaches the
height limit for the seat – these vary, and are
set by the manufacturer, but it’s likely to be
when your child is somewhere between 12–15
months and four years old.
Do you need to move the seat between cars?
Unlike infant carrier car seats, which can be
used to transport your baby back and forth
between the car, next-stage car seats are
designed to stay in your vehicle. It’s best to
avoid moving them unnecessarily to minimise
the chances of re-installing it incorrectly, but
if you’re a two-car family or need to move it
into a grandparent’s car occasionally, choose
a car seat that’s straightforward to re-install.
Is your child ready for a forward-facing seat?
Rear-facing seats provide greater protection
for your baby’s head, neck and spine than
forward-facing seats. Only move your
child to a forward-facing seat once he can
sit up unaided and he has exceeded the
maximum weight for the seat or he is too
tall for the seat, usually when the top of
his head is above the top of the seat. Or,
consider using a larger (Group 1 or Group 2)
rear-facing seat. If you choose a seat that
can be both rear facing and forward facing,
check the weight limit for rear-facing use, as
some seats aren’t suitable for rear-facing use
beyond a certain weight.
SEAT
PADDING
A well-padded seat
means a more comfy
journey for your child. Is it
plush enough, and can you
wash the cover easily in the
event of a toilet-training
accident or spilled
drink?
Words Heidi Scrimgeour
This month’s testers
Emily Maskell
28, from York, is mum
to Isla, six months
‘We do lots of long trips, so
I’m looking for the comfiest
seat for when Isla’s infant
carrier is outgrown.’
Sarah Grant
29, from Portstewart,
is mum to Elijah and
Olivia, 17 months
‘I’d like an affordable seat
that’s easy to adjust after
every growth spurt!’
Uanfind Lewis
36, from Ballycastle, is
mum to Ardan, 33 months
‘I’d like a rear-facing car
seat for an older child,
that’s simple to install
and not too bulky.’
Always
remove your child’s
coat before you strap him into his
car seat, as a thick padded coat or pram
suit creates too much space between your
baby’s body and his harness, and
prevents him being properly
restrained and protected.
108 | October 2019 | motherandbaby.co.uk