Everything you need to know about baby car seats

You've got the nursery just right and you've stocked up on supplies, one of the next exciting things is planning how to get your baby out and about with you.

There's already lots of decisions to make when there's a little one on the way, but we're here to make it a bit easier and give you some top tips on what to think about so you'll have the perfect baby car seat in no time.

Where to start

Baby car seats are designed for children weighing up to around 13kg/100cm. You'll need an appropriate car seat to be able to drive your baby home from the hospital, so make sure you're prepared well in advance of the big day.

Baby car seats can be secured in your car using a seatbelt or ISOFIX base and help protect your baby if you're involved in a collision. Once they're a bit bigger, they can move up to a toddler car seat (from around 9-22kg/85-105cm), and then up again to a child seat or booster seat as they grow.

Alternatively, you can also invest in a multi-stage car seat which will protect your child as they grow. These can span over multiple ages/weights/heights, and there are even seats that grow with your child from birth to when they no longer require a car seat.

All car seats at Halfords are made to meet R44 or i-Size safety standards, so you can rest assured that your baby will be able to travel in safety and comfort.

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Car seat groups

There are two different safety regulations used for child car seats, R44 and i-Size (R129). R44 is the older regulation that determines sizes based on a child’s weight or age, whereas the newer i-Size uses a child’s height.

R44 (weight based) seats

You'll notice that R44 car seats are separated into groups, typically based on the approximate weight of a child.

There are two groups that will suit a new-born baby: Group 0 (birth to 10kg) and Group 0+ (birth to 13kg) - both groups are rearward facing, with some slight differences.

Group 0 car seats will often let your baby lay completely flat, which is healthier for new-born and very small babies because it puts less strain on the spine and lungs.

Group 0+ car seats are more common, mostly because they can be adapted to grow with your child so they last for longer. They still give extra support to the head, neck and spine, as well as extra side-impact protection.

R44 Size Guide

Group	Child's weight	Age of child
0	Birth up to 10kg/22lb	Birth up to 6 to 9 months
0+	Birth up to 13kg/29lb	Birth up to 12 to 15 months
0+ & 1	Birth up to 18kg/40lb	Birth up to 4 years
1	9-18kg / 20-40lb	9 months to 4 years
1 & 2	9-25kg / 20-55lb	9 months to 6 years
2	15-25kg / 33-55lb	4 to 6 years
1, 2 & 3	9-36kg / 20-79lb	9 months to 6 years
2 & 3	15-36kg / 33-79lb	4 to 12 years

R129

R129 is the latest child car seat safety standard that was introduced in 2013. The testing is more in depth than the previous R44 standard, with side impact testing to help further protect a child’s head and neck. The regulation also places more focus on the child’s height, rather than weight alone. This allows parents to more accurately assess when it’s time to upgrade their child’s car seat.

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 into the car.

i-Size seats come in three different sizes, each of which has a rough equivalent within the R44 sizing system:

• 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

For both R44 and i-Size seats it's also possible to get combination car seats (multi-stage car seats) which will cover a number of different groups. 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.

Key features

There's a lot to consider when 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.

• Seat fitting - does the seat attach using the seatbelt or ISOFIX?
• Convenience - how easy is it to secure the seat and child in place?
• Removable covers - is it important to you that if there's a little accident, you'll be able to take the covers and pop them in the wash
• 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, contact us where we can offer more advice.

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