The Ultimate Guide for Buying a Child Car Seat in India – Part 1

Baby car seat

Car Seat: a critical responsibility of all parents

Road crashes are one of the top causes of child deaths in India. One major cause is because most parents do not use the appropriate safety methods for their child’s protection.

When it comes to car crashes, holding a child in your lap is just as dangerous as having children stick their heads out of sunroofs.

Children need a dedicated safety device. While child helmets and harnesses are usually sufficient for two-wheelers, children in cars require a dedicated device for safety. A child car seat is that device.

As someone who works in road safety, I understand the importance of choosing the correct safety device for your needs. You simply cannot choose any car seat and be done with it.

That is why, instead of creating a listicle, I have created a two-article series on car seats to explain them in detail.

In this two-article series, I have answered questions such as “What is a car seat?”, “Does my child really need a car seat?” “Which car seat should I get?”

Let’s begin!!!

Quick Links:

What is a child car seat?

“Car Seat” or “Child Restraint Seat” or “Child Car Seat” is a passive safety device designed specifically to keep your child safe in a car crash.

Does my child really need a car seat?

Yes, absolutely. There are multiple reasons why children need car seats.

I am a Road Crash Investigator and Researcher. I have studied thousands of Indian road crashes and have made an alarming observation. The survival rate of children involved in car crashes is abysmal. It is much worse than adult occupants. One primary reason for the low survival rate is how children travel in cars.

Your lap is not safe

Children travel by sitting on an adult’s lap, or they are left unrestrained in the rear seats. Both these methods are highly risky.

Having the child sit in your lap may make you feel that the child will be safe in your arms. Or you may feel that you will be able to protect the child in a crash. However, in reality, this will never work. A road crash takes place in less than a second. There is simply not enough time for you to react and protect your child. Any unrestrained child will be thrown around inside the car or sometimes even out of the car’s window. And in the scenario that you do manage to hold on to your child before the crash, thanks to the tremendous forces of a crash, the child will either simply fly out of your arms or be crushed under your own weight.

Using only a seat belt is not a good idea either

What about buckling the child with a seat belt? Seat belts are supposed to be safe, right? Well, yes. Seat belts are very safe. Even after the introduction plethora of safety features such as Airbags, the seat belt is perhaps the greatest car safety equipment ever made. However, seat belts are for adults. If you have tried buckling a child with a seat belt, you may notice the mismatch. In most cases, the shoulder belt usually goes over the chin or even the head of the child and the lap belt might hang loose. In the event of a crash, the belt will not be able to restrain the child. Another problem is that the belt strap material is too tough for a child. This may also cause injuries.

Car seats provide ride comfort

An additional benefit of car seats is the ride comfort they provide to the child. All of us are aware of the condition of Indian roads. However, you can be assured that your child will have a comfortable ride as car seats will absorb most of the bumps and jerks.

Getting a car seat is simply non-negotiable if you want your child to travel safely and comfortably in a car. A car seat is one of the essential road safety items for a car.

Can I buy any car seat?

No!

Children grow very quickly within the first 10 years. It is not possible and safe to have a one-size-fits-all approach for car seat design.

That is why car seats are categorized and designed according to the different stages of the child’s growth. Car seats are categorized as per the child’s height and weight. Not their age.

Technically, car seats are broadly categorized into 4 groups:

  • Rear-facing infant seats (Group 0)
  • Front-facing seats with a harness (Group 1)
  • Booster seats with back support (Group 2)
  • Backless booster seats (Group 3)

Car seat manufacturers also design ‘Convertible’ and ‘Combination’ seats for multiple uses.

Understanding the different types of car seats, their purpose, and their limitations can get a bit complicated. To simplify this, I have condensed the information on each child car seat type in the table below.

Car seat types

The table below can help you choose the right seat based on the child’s age. Remember that your child’s height and weight should also match the seat specifications.

Some additional tips for choosing a seat for newborns

1. If you plan to travel a lot with your child within the first year of birth it is better to get an infant seat. These seats can be detached from the base and double-up as a child carrier or can be used in strollers. However, once the child grows out of the infant seat, you will need to buy two more seats: a convertible seat and a high-back booster seat.

2. If you do not plan to travel with your child till the child is older (older than 8 months or so), you can either go for a convertible seat + booster seat combination or buy an All-in-one seat (my recommendation).

How do I use the car seat?

Getting a car seat is the first step. But, just using the seat without proper fitment will render the car seat useless. In fact, Multiple studies show that car seats are not properly installed. Car seats need to be attached to the vehicle for optimum safety.

Fortunately, car seats are very easy to install. For installation, you can refer to the owner’s manual provided by the seat manufacturer or even refer to videos like this one.

Car seat fitment methods

Car seat fitment is done by one of two methods: Using an ISOFIX/LATCH system or using a seatbelt

Using an ISOFIX or LATCH system.

The ISOFIX system is designed specifically for attaching the car seat directly to your car’s chassis. This ensures that the car seat does not remain loosely attached. The system involves top tethers and lower anchors which secure the car seat.

Using an ISOFIX makes installation easy and straightforward. However, ISOFIX has the following drawbacks:

a. Universality: ISOFIX is not provided in all cars. Check the owner’s manual for confirmation. You can also check out this page for reference.

b. Weight limit: Since ISOFIX systems use fixed anchors, they are subjected to weight limits. Most ISOFIX can only be used up to Group 1 seats (convertible seats). Do not use ISOFIX for booster seats.

Cars sold in the US have a similar system called LATCH. Although both LATCH and ISOFIX serve the same purpose i.e. providing an easier and more secure installation method, their attachments are different. A seat with LATCH support may not fit in your car’s ISOFIX system. It’s better to check the installation before buying.

Using a three-point seat belt

The humble seat belt also plays an important role in restraining car seats. The biggest advantage of seat belts is their universality. All car seats support a belt fitment. Try to get a child seat where the seat belt passes under the seat base instead of over the base. The former seats make it easier to move the child in and out of the seat.

Some important points regarding car seat attachment:

  • After the attachment, try and move the car seat. Secure car seats will not move more than an inch in both ISOFIX and seat belt mechanisms.
  • Forward-facing seats have a top tether that provides additional stability.
  • Both ISOFIX and seat belts are equally safe. The only difference is that seat belt installation requires some additional steps. Pay attention to the manufacturer’s guidelines.
  • Car seats without ISOFIX support tend to be a bit cheaper. Do not spend more for ISOFIX seats if your car does not have the support.
  • Lap belts or two-point seat belts can also be used to secure car seats. However, lap belts should only be used for car seats having a 5-point harness. Booster seats should always be used with a lap-and-shoulder belt.

End of Part one

The first part is a guide on choosing the correct car seat type. In the next part, I have provided details on the brands and models you can consider. You can continue reading Part Two here.

Last Updated on February 3, 2023 by RohanG