If in the two previous posts we have already pointed out many errors that are made in the installation and use of car seats (child restraint systems, CRS), in this third post we are going to continue along the same lines. In the end it is true that not all errors have the same significance in terms of safety if there is an accident, but it is also true that whatever the error, they all lead to a decrease in safety in the use of the car seat. We are going to summarize some more that we have observed throughout our extensive experience in the field of security.
-
LOCK THE CAR SEAT WITH THE FRONT SEAT WHEN CHILDREN TRAVEL REAR-FEARING. Many parents who find the car seat to have excessive movement decide to block the car seat in CM with the front seat, to limit precisely that, movement. It is a mistake that in the event of a frontal or rear-end accident can have undesired consequences. Keep in mind that the chair, whether it is anchored with isofix (and third point of support) or with a belt, must have some mobility, it must have space to flex and cushion the impact, and then return to its original position. If the front seat blocks it, the risk of hyperflexion or whiplash is much greater and the possibility of internal injuries due to the sudden impact on a rigid body is greater. The function of the car seat is retention, and there should be no elements that hit it, as in this case the front seat would do.
-
LOCK THE CAR SEAT WITH THE HEADREST WHEN CHILDREN TRAVEL FRONT-FRONT. Like the previous one, this error is also very common. The parents' intention is for the chair to have less movement, due to the false idea that the less it moves, the safer the child is. Keep in mind that the seats are designed in such a way that in frontal or impact impacts, they have some movement to accompany the child, it is not about seating the child on a rigid block. You should also not remove the headrest for no reason, only in case the installation of the seat is impossible, or you can even change its position (some car models allow it).
-
USE AN ISOFIX SYSTEM THAT IS NOT OWN TO THE CAR. We notice with some frequency that there are parents who buy an isofix anchoring system and screw it to the vehicle to be able to install the seat with said system. Forgive our frankness, but this is simply nonsense. The isofix system can be installed in the car even if your vehicle does not have it from the factory, but as long as the car has pre-installation. To find out, all you have to do is go to a dealer of your brand and verify it. In that case, you can purchase the manufacturer's isofix system or a certified universal one, and pass an MOT, since you have modified a safety element. But if your car does not come with pre-installation, you cannot install the anchoring system, and everything you buy on the internet with guarantees of universality, without the need for pre-installation, etc. It is detrimental to the safety of your baby. You will think that by having “isofix” the child is safer, and the opposite is true. Install the car seat with the seat belt: it is not the end of the world if your car does not have isofix!
-
CARRY LOOSE OBJECTS IN THE INTERIOR COMPARTMENT OF THE CAR AND NOT IN THE TRUNK RACK. Especially when vacations arrive and the trips we make are for a greater number of days, there is a very common problem and it is the following: where do I put everything I have to take with me? We have insisted on numerous occasions how important it is to take into account the size and folding of the stroller or light chair so that it fits in the suitcase rack. Indirectly, this influences the safety of your little one when he travels in his car seat, because many parents put both the strollers and the folded seats (it is very common to put, for example, folding cane-shaped seats on the floor at the back of the car) in the same cabin in which you travel, due to lack of space behind. All loose objects can be thrown in the event of an accident, and are no longer common objects but become projectiles. We do not want to overwhelm you with physical data, but to give you an idea we will tell you that an impact at 60 km/h, the mass of an object acquires a weight more than 50 times the same. Imagine how much that would be for a stroller! Therefore, avoid all loose objects in the vicinity of the child, but especially heavy objects such as chairs or car chassis.
-
HAVE THE CAR IN MOTION WITH THE CHAIR ORIENTED TOWARDS THE SIDES. Fortunately, it is rare but we wanted to remember it: car seats can only go rear-facing or forward-facing in a moving car.
-
USE COVERS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR CAR SEATS. To avoid heat or simply protect the seat from dirt, there are parents who buy car seat covers. In principle there is no objection, but it is important that you know that a cover that does not fit well on a chair is an element of insecurity because it can mean, for example, that the harnesses are not where they should be, that you cannot tighten it enough or that you cannot adjust the headrest properly. Most car seats are removable and washable and do not need extra protection.
With this post and the previous two, we believe we have made a fairly exhaustive list of the errors that are made in the installation and use of car seats. Many of these errors can be avoided by carefully reading the instruction manual for the chair itself. Never be left with doubts because we are talking about something serious. At Asalvo, we always want to help you and remember: the more information you have, the better choice you will make.
