Baby Car Seat Buyers Guide (up to 13kg/100cm)
With so many decisions to make when a little one is on the way, choosing the right car seat can feel overwhelming, but it’s one of the most important things to think about, which is why we’re here to make it simpler.
In this article, we will answer the following questions to help you make the right choice when it’s time to buy your baby's first car seat:
- What is a baby car seat?
- What is the R129 safety standard?
- What is a multi-stage seat?
- What key features should I consider when buying a car seat?
What is a baby car seat?
Baby car seats are designed for children weighing up to around 13kg or measuring up to 100cm. You’ll need a suitable car seat to bring your baby home from the hospital, so it’s important to have one ready well before the big day.
Baby car seats can be installed using either a seatbelt or an ISOFIX base, and they help protect your baby in the event of a collision. As your child grows, they can move up to a toddler car seat (typically from around 9–22kg or 85–105cm), and later to a child seat or booster seat.
You can also choose a multi‑stage car seat, which adapts as your child grows.
All car seats at Halfords meet i‑Size safety standards, so you can feel confident that your baby will be travelling safely and comfortably.
Free Child Seat Consultation
Book your free, dedicated in-store child seat consultation.
Our experts will help you choose the perfect seat from our full range and answer any safety-related questions.
What is the R129 safety standard?
R129 is the current child car seat safety standard that was introduced in 2013.
R129 testing is more in-depth than old standards, with side impact testing to help further protect a child’s head and neck.
You may also come across i-size car seats, which is an enhancement of the R129 regulation.
i-Size seats are usually compatible with ISOFIX systems, making them easier to attach to the car.
i-Size seats come in three different sizes:
0-85cm (approximately G0+ in weight-based system) – rear-facing baby carrier or baby seat using a harness
- 0-105cm (approximately G0/1/2) – rear-facing baby seat until your child is at least 76cm, then forward facing
- 100-135cm (UK)/150cm (ROI) (approximately G2/3) – forward-facing child seat
What is a multi-stage car seat?
For i-Size seats, it's also possible to get combination car seats (multi-stage car seats).
A multi-stage car seat which will cover a number of different height ranges, aimed to grow with your child.
Some go all the way up to Group 3, so you're able to use the same seat from birth right up until your child is around 25kg.
What are the key features to consider when buying a car seat?
There's a lot to think about when you’re deciding what car seat is right for you and your baby, but there are some key considerations to have at the front of your mind to help guide you.
- ISOFIX Fitting – aimed to keep your child safe and secure
- Removable and washable covers – helping to keep your car seat fresh in the event of a little accident
- Swivelling base - some car seats can swivel in place, making it much easier to get your baby in and out.
- No re-thread harness - car seats with this feature enable you to adjust the seat to your child's growth, without removing the harness completely
Baby car seats at Halfords
Hopefully, you now feel a bit more clued up on the best baby seat for you. However, we have lots of fully trained staff members throughout our stores who will be more than happy to guide you through this big decision.
To make it really easy for you to choose the right car seat for your little one, we have also broken down all the features of our car seat range into the following categories:
Simply look out for these icons when choosing your car seat to ensure you're getting all of the features that are important to you.
If you’re still unsure and would prefer to talk this through with one of our experts in-store, or contact us , and we can offer more advice.
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