A baby car seat is the safest way for a baby to travel in the car. Period! It is an essential but often overlooked baby product. The numbers of cars on Indian roads are increasing every year. India has, believe it or not, one of the worst records of road accidents in the world. Unfortunately, families with kids have limited awareness about buying or using a baby car seat.
This post is to help you choose a car seat for your baby. Once you decide which type of car seat to buy, you can look at some of the popular car seat options currently available in India.
Is a baby car seat important
Yes, it is. If your child is a passenger in any car, a child car seat is the safest way to secure him in the car. Click here to read in details why a car seat is essential for the baby.
Choosing the right child car seat
The number of car seat options available in India has increased gradually in the last few years. Not just the brands but there are various options to choose from depending on baby’s age, weight, car’s compatibility with seat’s locking system, safety certification, safety features, additional features, etc..
We have created a detailed video to guide you through selecting the right baby car seat for your child. Please watch the video for details of choosing the right car seat for your child.
Best baby car seats
A car seat is useful from the first day of your child’s life until he is around 5-12 years old. Buying it is a recommended investment considering your child’s safety.
Once you have decided on the child car seat best suited for your baby, the next question is which brand or model to buy? Here is a list of 5 popular brands/models available in India.
The infant or Newborn car seats
A car seat is useful from day 1 of your child’s birth. It usually acts as a car-seat-cum-rocker-cum-carry-cot. You can install it in a car on the go or carry a baby in it when stepping out of your house.
These are rear-facing car seats. Few of the popular infant car seats are listed here.
LuvLap infant/baby car seat
source: https://goo.gl/k5KrTL
Following are some of the useful features:
- Usage – 0 -15 months
- Safety certification – Certified as per European Standard ECER44/04
- Safety belt system – adjustable 5 point harness belt
- Side protection – Yes
- Cleaning efforts -Removable and machine washable cover; metal & plastic clean with a damp cloth
- Installation/Locking system -3 point car seat belt
- Cost – Under Rs. 5000/-
- Additional features – Height adjustable headrest for a growing baby, adjustable canopy, lightweight easy to carry, multi-position handle hence useful as a car seat, carrycot, rocker & feeding chair
R for Rabbit Picaboo Infant/baby car seat
source: https://goo.gl/8AoUnX
Following are some of the useful features:
- Usage – 0 – 13 kg / 0 -15 months
- Safety certification – Certified as per European Standard ECER44/04
- Harness belt system – adjustable 3 point safety belt
- Side protection – Yes
- Cleaning efforts -Removable and machine washable cover, metal & plastic clean with a damp cloth
- Installation/Locking system -3 point car seat belt
- Cost – Under Rs. 5000/-
- Additional features – One-pull adjustment of a harness belt, Adjustable canopy, lightweight easy to carry multi-position handle hence useful as a car seat, carrycot, rocker & feeding chair
Convertible or front-facing or toddler car seats
A convertible car seat serves a dual purpose. It is useful as a rear-facing infant car seat, and once the baby outgrows that stage (by usually 12-18 months or 9-13 Kg weight), it is useful as a front-facing car seat. So a great investment if you are looking for a single car seat from 0-5 years of age. However, it is not something you can carry, and it usually remains fixed in the car.
R for Rabbit Jack N Jill convertible car seat
Source: https://goo.gl/jLpfBJ
Following are some of the useful features:
- Usage – rear-facing infant seat: 0 -24 months, front-facing toddler seat 24-48 months
- Safety certification – Certified as per EU Standard ECER44/04
- Harness belt system – adjustable 5 point safety belt
- Side protection – Yes
- Cleaning efforts -Removable and machine washable cover; metal & plastic clean with a damp cloth
- Installation/Locking system -3 point car seat belt
- Cost – Under Rs. 6000/-
- Additional features – One-pull adjustment of a harness belt, 3 position recline seat
Chicco Convertible Cosmos baby car seat
Source: https://goo.gl/jr6ftg
Following are some of the useful features:
- Usage – rear-facing infant seat: 0 -13 Kg, front-facing toddler seat 9-18 Kg
- Safety certification – Certified as per EU Standard ECER44/04
- Harness belt system – adjustable 5 point safety belt
- Side protection – Yes
- Cleaning efforts -Removable & washable cover; metal & plastic clean with a damp cloth
- Installation/Locking system – 3 point car seat belt
- Cost – Under Rs. 20000/-
- Additional features –fabric toy to entertain baby, 4 position recline seat, wider seat, colour guided easy installation for rear-facing and front-facing installation, a padded reducer to support better newborn’s legs, head and hips
Booster car seat
As your child grows older, he can switch from a front convertible seat with 5 point harness belt to a booster seat strapped with 3 point car seat belt.
Chicco Gro-up 123
source: https://goo.gl/XiMwmc
Following are some of the useful features:
- Usage – front-facing seat useful from 9 months-12 years: 5 point harness from 9-18 Kg; car seat belt from 15-36 Kg
- Safety certification – Certified as per EU Standard ECER44/04
- Safety belt system – adjustable 5 point safety belt (Group 1), 3 point car seat belt (group 2/3)
- Side protection – Yes
- Cleaning efforts -Removable & washable cover; metal & plastic clean with a damp cloth
- Installation/Locking system – 3 point car seat belt
- Cost – Under Rs. 20000/-
- Additional features – removable lining without the need of removing the seat belt
All in one baby car seats
Brands like R for Rabbit and Graco now have car seats which are useful from day 1 till the baby is 7-10 years old. So a single car seat grows with your child. So no worry about changing a car seat as the baby grows older.
Conclusion
A baby’s safety is of paramount importance during car travel. Always secure your child in a baby car seat when travelling in a car. A car seat is useful from 0-12 years of baby’s age. Choose a baby car seat that seems comfortable & safe for your baby.
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