Can I put a baby car seat on the passenger seat if it has an airbag?

Baby car seats Group 0 or 0+ should always be positioned facing backwards and should not be used on a seat with a frontal airbag that is switched on. On some cars there is the option to switch the airbag off or to have it switched off. Note, however, that this has been found to be not without risk. If the airbag is switched on, when positioned on the front seat the car seat is right next to the point where the airbag explodes with an explosive force that is life threatening. This does not apply to side or curtain airbags. Pay careful attention to the warnings and instructions in the car seat user manual and the manual of the car in question.

You often hear that a baby should lie for a maximum of 2 hours in a baby car seat. Is this true?

There are many misconceptions regarding this. This is generally said and written out of concern for babies and in short it comes down to the fact that a baby car seat such as Maxi-Cosi Cabrio (Fix) should not be used excessively. Children should not lie in a fixed position for too long unnecessarily. They should have the opportunity to develop their motor skills and their arm, back and neck muscles. Do not put a baby in a car seat for the whole day for convenience, but give him/her the opportunity to develop. This also applies to baby carriers and all other products in which a baby sits, hangs or lies in a fixed position. However, if you have to make a longer car journey or travel on holiday once in a while, this is no problem at all. We recommend that you stop every 2 hours. After all, a baby has to eat and be changed regularly anyway.

Why is it necessary to put children older than 4 years of age on a booster seat?

Because, these children are still too small for the use of the normal seat belt. A booster seat, although superseded in the meantime, provides a better guide for the seat belt. The seat belt is held low over the hips and in front of the pelvis and prevents the "submarining" effect (sliding under the belt in the direction of travel).This reduces the likelihood of dangerous internal injuries to the stomach area. A child has then much more protection during an accident. The modern booster seats are even safer as they have a backrest with a head support. They provide a higher level of protection in the case of sideways impacts. Moreover, the diagonal or shoulder belt is passed more safely over the shoulder by means of belt guides and not along the neck of the child. Examples of this type of booster are the Jane Indy Plus and the Maxi-Cosi Rodi XR.

Is it safe to use second-hand car seats?

No, this is not safe. You often do not know the history of a second-hand car seat. Therefore you never know what has happened to it; it may have been involved in a previous accident, damaged in some other way or no longer be complete. The lack of user instructions is sufficient reason not to use a car seat. How do you fit it in the car or use it? For this reason we seriously recommend that second-hand seats should not be used.

Why should I have my child in a child restraint? Why do I need a seatbelt?

Motor vehicle crashes are the #1 killer of children from ages 1 to 14. About 50% of these deaths to children under 5 involved children that were unrestrained. Of those that were restrained, misuse is reported in 80-95% of cases. Injuries requiring hospitalization are even more common, and many involve the head, neck and spine. Some of these injuries are permanent. Child restraints are VERY effective for reducing deaths and injuries

Isn't it safer to hold my baby? Won't I be safer if I don't use a seatbelt and can be thrown from the car? Won't it be harder to escape after a crash if I use a seatbelt?

No. No. No. These are three of many myths used by people to avoid proper use of child restraints or seatbelts. Statistics prove that those ejected in a crash are four times more likely to die. The forces in a crash can be hundreds of pounds or much more, too great for someone to hold a child safely. Plus, the reaction time needed in a crash makes it virtually impossible to restrain another passenger. It is far easier to escape a vehicle if you don't suffer the serious head and chest injuries associated with crashes where seatbelts aren't used.

How long should a child remain rear facing?

Rear-facing IS safest. It is best to remain rear-facing to the weight and height limits of the Carseat. Some convertible carseats have 30 or 35 pound rear-facing limits. In all cases, infants should be rear-facing until they are able to sit unaided AND twenty pounds at the very minimum. It is recommended that babies be kept in rear-facing seats for as long as possible

When should a child be put into a booster?

Most convertible and front-facing seats have 40 pound weight limits when using the harness. A convertible or front-facing seat with a 5-point harness is the safest option for children from 30-40 pounds who are not too tall for their front-facing Carseat. If a child's shoulders are above the level of the top slots in their regular Carseat, or the tops of their ears are above the top of the shell, then they may be able to move to a booster or another forward-facing seat which accommodates taller children. Usually a child can be moved to a booster when they are too big for a harnessed Carseat, and once they are able to sit properly in a seatbelt.

What is the safest Carseat?

There is no single safest child safety seat for all children and vehicles. The safest seat is one that fits your child, fits your vehicle and one you will use correctly each and every time.