In order to be legally sold here, car seats also need to be approved by the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) – you can check if a car seat is on their approved list by clicking HERE In South Africa we follow European car seat regulations, meaning that all car seats need to pass one of two safety tests: either the ECE R44/04 or the ECE R129. How do I know my child’s car seat is safe? If you are not sure if they have outgrown their car seat, use this basic rule of thumb: the top of your child’s ear should never be visible above the headrest. In forward-facing car seats the harness should sit at – or just above – the child’s shoulder.Ī harness or seatbelt should not be twisted and must fit snugly, although you should still be able to place your hand between your child’s stomach and the seat buckle. In rear-facing seats the harness should sit at – or just below – the child’s shoulder. To check if your child is in the correct size car seat, take note of where the harness and seatbelt sits. How do I know my child is in the right size car seat? There are some car seats that cover a range of ages and weights, for example, from birth until 25kg, but always check the weight, height and age limits of any seat before you buy it This is a forward-facing car seat that a child uses from the age of four until they are at least 1,5 metres tall, which usually happens at around 12 years of age. Although a child weighing over 9kg is legally allowed to be in a forward-facing seat, rear-facing seats are considered safer so parents are advised to keep children rear-facing for as long as possible.Ī booster seat. This is a forward-facing car seat for children who weigh a minimum of 9kg and a maximum of 18kg, or from when they are around 15 months old until they turn four. This is a rear-facing car seat that is suitable from birth until your child is around 15 months old or weighs 13kg.Ī toddler seat. The type of car seat you choose will depend on your child’s age, weight and height. Also take into consideration how many children you have who need car seats, who else will be sitting in the back seat (safety guidelines recommend that children under the age of 13 always be seated in the rear of the vehicle) and whether your car has Isofix anchor points. Will it fit in your car?īefore going shopping for a car seat, measure the back seat of your car so you know exactly what dimensions you have to work with. One of the most Googled questions when it comes to buying a car seat for a child is: ‘What is the best and safest inexpensive car seat?’ The answer is that you should always purchase the best car seat you can afford. In South Africa, it is illegal to travel in a car with a child under the age of three unless they are strapped into an approved child safety seat – and safety guidelines recommend that children make use of some form of car seat up until the age of 12, or when they reach 1,5 metres tall. Your child will have outgrown their car seat when they reach the specified upper height, weight or age limit, and it is dangerous to continue using the seat thereafter.Ī car seat can reduce the risk of your child dying in an accident by up to 71% and can reduce the risk of them needing hospitalisation by 69%. There are three types of car seats – rear-facing, front-facing and booster seats – and each is used at a particular stage in your child’s life, based on their height, weight and age. What are the most important factors to consider when choosing a car seat?įit is the first thing to consider when buying a car seat – does the car seat fit your child, your car and your budget? The next thing to take into consideration is which stage of development your child is in.
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