Your child, your choice
If you choose the wrong child car seat or make mistakes installing it, your child could
pay a very high price if you have a crash. Our research will set you right
Buying the right car seat is the most of car seats through our rigorous test assessments on every seat, in every mode
important travel decision you’ll make for programme. We’ve also talked to people the maker claims it can be used in. And
your child. But for most parents, the array whose job it is to advise parents on we do this in a range of mass-market
of brightly coloured seats presented by choosing and using seats. And we take a family cars, from superminis to MPVs.
retailers causes a dilemma. They all meet look at why rear-facing seats for older We put To help you to understand how best to
the legal minimum standard, and they all children might be a way of keeping them every seat make sure of your child’s safety in transit,
look jazzy and cool. So how on earth are safer in cars (see p59). we also investigate current best practice
you supposed to know which one works through and the direction for future designs.
best – in normal use or, in a worst case Trust Which? the most Finally, we unravel all the flowery
scenario, protecting your child if you Our research into child car seats is second rigorous language so that parents and carers can
have a crash? to none. We put every seat we test feel confident that they will choose the
Of course, it doesn’t end there. Once through the most rigorous crash testing crash right seat for their baby or child.
you’ve purchased your child’s seat, it can regime available, including front and side testing We’ve added all our findings to our
only protect your child effectively if it’s crashes equivalent to those used in tests database of previously tested seats. Go
installed correctly. on car safety for adults.
available online to www.which.co.uk/childseats
To help you, we’ve put the latest batch We also carry out detailed ease-of-use for more information.
A FITTING MESSAGE
How we test A poorly installed seat could result in a child’s serious injury or death
We test what happens in a 40mph front crash h Have at least one go at installing In Bromley, Kent, the council’s child
or a smash from the side – this is more realistic before purchasing, preferably with car seat centre advises parents and
than the minimum legal requirements help from an expert. retailers on installing car seats. We
h Examine the seat and thoroughly visited the centre to find out more.
Our crash tests are up to record the head, read the instructions before taking ‘It’s important to make sure every
derived from Euro NCap neck, chest and pelvic it to your car. Always follow the seat is correctly installed. There
– it carries out crash loads, accurately manufacturer’s instructions and keep should be no movement,’ said Val
testing on behalf of indicating what chances them with the seat. Fuller, Child Car Seat Education
European consumers a real child would have h Carry children in a back car seat Officer. ‘The advice we offer to
and shows how well in similar circumstances. if you can. parents in the child car seat centre
cars protect occupants h Never fit a rear-facing seat in front and our Transport for London-funded
in severe accidents. Easy is essential of an active airbag. If it goes off, the training scheme for retailers is aimed
Our testing is similar Another omission from force could kill your child. at improving safety for all children
for child seats and more the legal requirements h The seat should have minimal travelling in our area.’
accurately reflects what are ease-of-use tests. forward or sideways movement. We sat in on a training session at
PHOTOGRAPHY JOHN TRENHOLM, ROBIN BECKHAM, SOLENTNEWS
happens in real crashes We check how easy the When you open the buckle of the retailer Baby Baby in West Wickham.
than the legal minimum instructions are to adult belt, the seat should spring It was training staff to a basic level of
requirement for child understand and whether upwards slightly.
seats (ECE R44/04), a seat’s easy to install and h Only the seat belt webbing should
which uses much lower adjust in a range of cars. touch the child seat frame, not the
loads and doesn’t include A seat that’s difficult to buckle. Otherwise pressure on the
a side-impact test. install is more likely to be buckle could make it fail.
We propel a Vauxhall incorrectly fitted, which h Never modify a seat in any way.
Astra car body down a could increase the risk of
track, stopping it sharply injury or even death in a Expert help
and filming the effects on crash. Go to www.which. Installing a seat for the first time is
the dummy in the seat. co.uk/childseats to see rarely straightforward and it seems A Bromley expert shows a local
Our dummies are wired film footage of our tests. even trickier once you get home. mum how to install her new seat
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56 June 2008 www.which.co.uk
1/3 GROUP 0+ 2 GROUP 0+ 4 GROUP 0+
79% Mothercare Meteor £190 77% Jané Strata £112 72% Chicco
(Isofix); 74% £90 (Belted) This infant carrier uses the adult belt to
secure it in the car, and it’s slightly more
Auto-fix Plus £100
You can buy this seat with an It’s a top performer for safety This version of the Chicco seat is less
difficult to fit than other Best Buys.
Isofix base (see ‘Try before and ease of use, but has convenient than the version with a
However, once in place, the integral
you buy’, p58, for more slightly limited visibility for base (7), as you can’t just secure the
harness can be easily adjusted as your
about Isofix) or use it the child. The belted base using the seat belt and click the
child grows. With many other seats you
on its own, secured installation isn’t quite as seat in and out. However, this
have to unthread the belts. It
by a car seat belt. effective in our safety model’s £20 cheaper and
has one minor impracticality BEST
It performs best in tests, but is still good
BEST enough to achieve Best – to avoid potential injury, BEST performs better. With the
BUY
Isofix mode, although
BUY the handle has to be folded
BUY base, performance is still
the support leg of the Buy status. It’s only acceptable but it just misses our
when the seat’s in the car. It’s
Isofix base can be used available at Mothercare. Best Buy rating. It’s cheapest online.
cheapest online.
only in cars with an WE LIKE It’s very easy to WORTH KNOWING This model has
appropriate floor design install – especially when WE LIKE Its excellent head support. a poor-quality finish.
(car-compatibility details used with an Isofix base.
Available Independents and online Suitable child weight Available Independents and online Suitable child
are on Mothercare’s website Available Mothercare Suitable child
Up to 13kg Travel system Jané Nomad, Slalom Pro, weight Up to 13kg Travel system Chicco Trio For Me,
– see ‘Contacts’, p60). weight Up to 13kg Travel system n/a Aniversario, Powertwin Pro, Twin Two and Carrera Cup For Me Stroller, Tour 4 Trio and CTO.2 Due
Val Fuller, left, trains staff at a local shop
5 GROUP 0+ 13 GROUP 1
competence to advise about weight
groups, moving babies from one 71% Hauck 70% Britax
stage to the next, airbags, harness
adjustment, Isofix and the law. Most Most local Zero Plus £45 Explorer Isofix £230
This lightweight infant carrier achieved This seat had excellent performance
child-seat retailers in Bromley display authorities first-rate front and side crash results, when used in Isofix mode (the belted
certificates, so you can ask for the
qualified person in each store.
offer with the child protected very effectively version (17) isn’t a Best Buy). It
Bromley and Essex are the only installation from the crash forces. It is secured does well in front and side
two councils we know of that have advice, but using the car’s seat belt and impacts, is easy to install BEST
these centres, and they welcome all the instructions are and adjust, and cleaning the BUY
not on the reasonably clear, but the
BEST cover is a doddle. It offers
parents. But if you don’t live nearby, BUY
contact your own local authority. scale of seat belt guides are partly good leg support for your child,
hidden by the badly fitting cover. This, although their field of vision will be
Most offer advice, either from road
safety officers or traffic police officers.
Bromley combined with having to fold the slightly restricted. At 13.4kg, it’s the
or Essex handle in the car, brings down the heaviest Best Buy and is probably
Which? says ease-of-use score. It’s cheapest online. best left permanently in one car. It is
To improve the chances of all WORTH KNOWING It has great side cheapest at John Lewis.
children in crashes, we’d like to see crash performance but is difficult to fit. WE LIKE Its very clear instructions and
schemes like Bromley’s rolled out good performance.
Available Independents and online Suitable child
across the country. weight Up to 13kg Travel system Hauck Disney and Available Halfords, John Lewis, Mothercare, Toys R Us
Shop N Drive Suitable child weight 9-18kg Travel system n/a
www.which.co.uk June 2008 57 l
Test dummy Turning things
Mamas & Papas seat
falls down in our tests DON’T around
As with all the seats on BUY
20 GROUP 2/3 test, the Mamas & Papas
Teko (19) meets the
72% Cybex current minimum legal
Solution X £110 requirements. It’s also
well made, lightweight
This is a good-quality seat that scores and has reasonably clear
highly for safety and is very easy to instructions, but these
use, with the car’s three-point seat aren’t enough to save it
belt securing both seat and from our ‘Don’t Buy’ lead to serious neck,
child. Its high back means it
BEST recommendation. chest and head injuries,
may be necessary to remove BUY For children over or even death.
the car’s head restraints to 25kg, Mamas & Papas The instructions don’t
ensure a snug installation against the recommends removing aid the relatively complex
car’s seat. But once the seat is in place, the backrest. This means belt routing, meaning
this will provide a very comfortable the Teko fails to protect incorrect installation is a
travel ride for your child. It’s cheapest the child from high front higher likelihood than
at Mothercare. and side crash loads. In a with many of the other
WE DON’T LIKE The hand-wash only serious impact, this could seats in our test. Rear-seat campaigner Helena
cover is hardly ideal for busy parents. Atkinson and Eiris, aged 14 months
Available Independents and Mothercare Suitable child
weight 15-36kg Travel system n/a
TRY BEFORE YOU BUY
FREE CAR GUIDE Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, uncle or aunt, or just a friend,
we’ll help you meet your legal obligation if you carry a child in your car
Don’t set foot in
a showroom
I need to buy a child car seat. Where Now I know the right weight category,
without it do I start? how do I find the right seat for my child?
Which? Car Choosing the right seat always starts with Try the seats you are interested in in your
2008 is the no- your child’s weight. This governs which car with your child. If it’s for an unborn
nonsense guide seat you need to buy. baby, try them anyway. Don’t wait until the birth
to buying new – unless you have a child car seat, most hospitals
and used cars – it’s free Group 0 0-10kg (from birth to about nine months) won’t discharge you if you’re driving home.
with your next issue of Which?. Group 0+ 0-13kg (from birth to about 12 months) Preferably, get expert advice to help you
This essential guide features the Group 1 9-18kg (about nine months to four years) understand how to install the seat and whether
results of our huge car reliability Group 2 15-25kg (about four to six years) it fits your car properly. You might find help at a
and satisfaction survey, plus our Group 3 22-36kg (about six to 12 years) retailer, although in our experience the level of
Best Buy cars for 2008. expertise available is very much hit and miss.
Bromley and Essex councils both offer expert
help with choosing and using seats – see ‘A
fitting message’, p56, for more, and to find out
OUR RESEARCH what to do if you don’t live near these areas.
When selecting products to test,
we consult manufacturers, market Should I buy an Isofix-mounted seat,
intelligence reports and industry rather than a belted one?
experts, then check availability on Isofix seats are generally easier to install –
the high street and online. Tested reducing the chance of misuse – as they
models include top sellers from just slot into place. If fitted correctly, they usually
the most popular brands, perform as well or better in a crash than the
products with innovative features, equivalent belt-fitted seat. But not all cars have
models from some lesser-known Isofix mounts and not all Isofix seats fit in all cars
brands and widely available Best Confused by the wide choice of seats? with Isofix mounts. Get professional advice
Buys from previous tests. Start with your child’s weight category before you buy and try the seat in the car.
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58 June 2008 www.which.co.uk
CHILD CAR SEATS
KEY
UK
Research suggests Swedish children up to five years old fare better Car injuries suffered Sweden
in car accidents than those in the UK. We explore why by children in the
UK and Sweden
In Europe, children up to 13kg (around Manufacturers won’t make them in 2000
a year old) generally travel rear facing. available and people don’t know to
Injured/100,000 children
But in Sweden, authorities recommend ask for them.’
that children are kept rear facing until We showed the graph, right, to Farid
they are at least four years old, and all Bendjellal, Technical Director at child-
seats initially have to be fitted by a seat manufacturer Britax. He said that
professional. In the UK, rear-facing it doesn’t account for potential misuse
seats are hard to find and seats don’t and that in the UK, 60 to 80 per cent
have to be professionally fitted. of seats are incorrectly installed.
The graph, right, compares injuries When we asked Farid why his
suffered in cars by children under five. company sells rear-facing Group 1
From age one, when most UK children seats in Sweden, but not the UK, he
change to forward-facing seats, said: ‘There’s an agreed European
Swedish children fare much better. standard, but Sweden has adopted
Helena Atkinson, from the campaign separate practices.’ Farid added: ‘In a Data supplied by the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute
organisation Rear Facing: The Way front impact, rear-facing seats usually
Forward, wants to encourage parents protect well. But the complexity of We’ve previously tested Swedish Group 1 rear-facing
to keep children rear facing for longer. straps and brackets required to ensure seats and found them generally safe, but difficult to install.
She said: ‘Children are clearly safer the seat is secure in rear impacts Helena said: ‘This is no reason to compromise children’s
rear facing. The problem is that UK creates a unique installation in each safety. Car seats should be installed by a professional with
parents are unaware these seats exist. model of car.’ adequate training.’
A FAMILY AFFAIR
Best Buys under scrutiny – the
Which? family try out two child
car seats
Darren and Toni Jones and their children,
Harriet (3) and Sam (5), tried two Best Buy
child car seats (see Which?, June 2007,
p70, and www.which.co.uk/carseats) and
told us what they thought of them.
The instructions for the Britax Evolva
2/3 Isofit were in a drawer at the front of
the seat – easy to find, easy to store.
But with the Britax Evolva 2/3 Ultra seat,
Bromley expert Derrick Holmes (see p56)
explains how to adjust the seat harness they couldn’t find them anywhere. ‘We
thought they were missing and struggled
Which shop should I buy my child car to install the seat from the pictorial
seat from and how much should I pay? guidance on it,’ Toni said.
Visit one or more retailers where you The instructions turned out to be
can try the seats, and ask to speak to behind a panel underneath the seat –
someone who is trained to offer advice. We not obvious, difficult to access and,
don’t generally recommend buying from online once located, hard to retrieve. Darren and Harriet try out the
shops as they don’t usually offer this service. Both seats use the belt to secure the Britax Evolva 2/3 Ultra
We list prices in our table on p60. Our child, but the Joneses liked the simplicity
cheapest Best Buy is only £45 – the Hauck of installing the Isofix version. Darren told Reclining both seats was a struggle at
Zero Plus (5). If you choose a seat that’s part of us: ‘It stays in place even when there isn’t first. In the end, almost by chance, Toni
a travel system (see p60 for more information a child strapped in.’ discovered that both recline when you tilt
on which seats go with Best Buy pushchairs), The Joneses want to be able to recline the adult seat back – simple, but probably
check whether the system is available as the children’s car seats. ‘We’d like to be not doable on the move.
individual parts or whether you’ll get a better able to do it if one of the children falls (Turn to p40 to find out how our advice
deal if you buy it all together. asleep on the move,’ Toni said. on buying a car saved the family £9,706.)
www.which.co.uk June 2008 59l
MODEL SPECIFICATION
Travel systems
FRONT CRASH
WEIGHT OF
PART OF A
SEAT (kg)
PRICE (£)
A one-stop travel package for your baby
SYSTEM
TRAVEL
TYPE
A travel system pushchair 2007 tests that match
can be used with a pushchairs. The Best Buy
GROUP 0+: BIRTH TO 13kg
compatible car seat Maxi Cosi Cabrio seat is
and/or carrycot that is compatible with a wide 1 MOTHERCARE Meteora 190 I 3.2 wwwww
designed to attach to range, including two Best 2 JANE Strata 112 B ✓ 4.4 wwwww
the pushchair. Buys – the Bugaboo Bee
3 MOTHERCARE Meteor 90 B 3.2 wwwww
They let you easily and Quinny Speedi SX.
transfer your baby The Best Buy Recaro 4 CHICCO Auto-fix Plus 100 B ✓ 3.8 wwwww
between car, pushchair Young Profi Plus is part of 5 HAUCK Zero Plus 45 B ✓ 2.9 wwwww
and home – great if you the Best Buy Maclaren
spend a lot of time on the Techno XLR travel 6 BEBE CONFORT Babycoque Streety 260 B ✓b 2.8 wwwww
move. But be aware that system.Go to www.which. 7 CHICCO Auto-fix Plusa 120 B ✓ 3.8 wwwww
babies should not spend co.uk /pushchairs and wwwww
8 SILVER CROSS Ventura Plus 100 B 3.9
long periods of time in a www.which.co.uk /child
child car seat. seats for more. 9 MAMAS & PAPAS Pro-Sleep IP 130 B ✓ 5.9 wwww
Travel systems appear 10 MAMAS & PAPAS Primo Viaggio IPa 210 B ✓ 5.1 wwwww
to be a bargain because
they are flexible, but
11 MAMAS & PAPAS Primo Viaggio IP 110 B ✓ 5.1 wwwww
the pushchairs are 12 MUTSY Safe 2 Go 100 B 4.3 wwwww
often large and GROUP 1: CHILDREN 9kg TO 18kg
heavy and you need
13 BRITAX Explora Isofix 230 I 13.4 wwww
space to store parts
you’re not using. Babies 14 MAMAS & PAPAS Pro Tec Isofix 230 I 11.8 www
will outgrow the child car www
15 BEBE CONFORT Axiss 180 B 11
seat in around 12 months.
The Mamas & Papas 16 BRITAX Explorac 230 B 13.4 www
Pro-Sleep IP (9) is the only 17 MOTHERCARE Motion 100 B 7.1 ww
seat in this test that is
GROUP 1, 2, 3: CHILDREN 9kg TO 36kg
compatible with a Best
Buy pushchair, the Ziko 18 NANIA Beline SP 50 B 5.1 www
Herbie. There are some Best Buy 19 MAMAS & PAPAS Teko 70 B 5.9 ww
Best Buy seats from our Ziko Herbie
GROUP 2, 3: CHILDREN 15kg TO 36kg
20 CYBEX Solution X 110 B 5.3 wwww
Contacts 21 SILVER CROSS Navigator 100 B 6.6 www
Bébé Confort 020 8236 0707 Silver Cross 01756 702412 22 JANE Indy Plus Team 115 I 6.7 www
www.bebeconfort.com www.silvercross.co.uk
Britax 01264 386027 23 NANIA Dreamfix SP 47 B 4.7 www
www.britax.co.uk Other useful contacts
24 RECARO Monza 95 B 5.2 ww
Chicco 01623 750870 Bromley Borough Council
www.chicco.co.uk Road Safety 020 8313 4546 wwww
25 MAMAS & PAPAS Pro-Gro 95 B 6.6
Cybex 01692 408802 www.bromley.gov.uk/transport
www.eastcoastnursery.co.uk andstreets/roadsafety a With base b Available as part of the Streety travel system only – full system price quoted c This is the same seat as the Britax
Hauck 01978 664362 Child Accident Prevention
www.hauckuk.com Trust 020 7608 3828
Jané 028 9084 9045 www.capt.org.uk
USING THE TABLE price. If we couldn’t find are a guide. Type
www.johnstonprams.co.uk Child Car Seat Advice
Mamas & Papas 0121 248 2000 We tested latest models them at major high-street B = belted; I = Isofix.
0845 268 2000 www.childcarseats.org.uk from leading brands. shops, we give the most
www.mamasandpapas.co.uk Essex County Council ‘Try The more stars the common online price. Test performance
Mothercare 0845 330 4070 before you buy’ scheme 01268
297593; www.essexcc.gov.uk better. However, we advise We consider as many
www.mothercare.com
Mutsy 01509 816444 Rear Facing: The Way Forward against buying a child car configurations as the
www.babystyle.co.uk www.rearfacing.co.uk Specification seat online, as this manufacturer instructions
Nania 0116 284 4910 Royal Society for the Price For Best Buys, we usually doesn’t allow you recommend for each
Prevention of Accidents
Recaro 01926 484111
0121 248 2000; www.rospa.com give the cheapest, widely to try the seat out first. seat. We show the
www.recaro.com
available high-street Prices for other models scores for the worst-case
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60 June 2008 www.which.co.uk
CHILD CAR SEATS
WHICH? TEST PERFORMANCE SCORE % ESSENTIAL INFO
AND COMFORT
INSTRUCTIONS
COMFORT FOR
INSTALLATION
EASE OF USE Protecting premature babies
SIDE CRASH
INCORRECT
THE CHILD
CLEANING
AVOIDING
OVERALL
EASE OF
We regularly receive queries about
FITTING
SAFETY
CRASH
IN CAR
car seats for pre-term babies.
Farid Bendjellal from Britax told
us: ‘For pre-term and newborn
babies, lying flat is ideal for comfort
wwww wwwww wwww wwww wwwww wwww wwww wwwww 79 and to reduce the chances of
wwww wwwww wwww wwww www wwww wwww wwww 77 apnia (respiratory problems). But
wwww wwww wwww wwww wwww wwww wwww wwwww 74 for crash protection, near-vertical is
ideal – however, this presents risks
www wwww wwww wwww wwww www wwww www 72 of apnia. Hence, a compromise of
wwwww wwww wwww wwww www www wwww www 71 around 45º is usually chosen for
www wwww wwww wwww www wwww wwww wwww
Group 0+ seats.’
70
In our tests we haven’t found
www wwww wwww wwww wwww www wwww www 70 any carrycots and lie-flat seats that
www wwww wwww wwww www wwww wwww www 69 protect satisfactorily. Britax is
launching one soon which it says
www wwww wwww wwww www wwww wwww wwww 66
overcomes the limitations – we’ll
www wwww wwww wwww www wwww wwww www 63 test it when it’s available.
ww www wwww wwww www wwww wwww www 57 Consult your doctor before
transporting a pre-term baby by
ww www www www www www www wwwww 51 car, and keep travel times to a
minimum for all newborns.
wwww wwww wwww wwww wwww wwww wwww wwwww 70
wwww wwww wwww wwww wwww www wwww www 69
SPECIAL OFFER
www www wwww wwww www wwww wwww www 59
Make sure your baby
www www wwww wwww www wwww wwww wwwww 52 gets the best
www www wwww wwwww www wwww wwww www 42
Written in a clear and
accessible style,
www www www www www wwww www www 51 Baby and Toddler
Essentials provides step-by-
w w www www www wwww wwww wwww 16 step advice on everything you
need, including child car seats,
wwww wwww wwwww wwwww wwww wwwww wwww wwww
feeding equipment, highchairs,
72
safety guidelines, internet
wwww wwww wwww wwwww wwww wwww wwww www 69 shopping and much more.
www www wwww wwwww wwww wwww wwww wwww 52 To order at £9.99 (normal price
£10.99) including free p&p, call
www www wwww wwwww wwww wwww wwww wwww 51
01903 828557 and quote
www www wwwww wwwww wwww www wwww wwww 48 BTW0608 and ISBN 978 1 84490
ww www wwww wwww wwww wwww wwww wwwww 46 035 0. Offer closes 30 June 2008.
Explorer Isofix (13). The results show how the seat performed when secured with a seat belt, rather than using Isofix
mode of use for each seat. stability of the child seat instructions recommend Avoiding incorrect Instructions How clear
Front crash/Side crash in the car seat, as well for each seat. We show installation How well- and comprehensible the
We simulated crashes with as front and side crash the scores for the worst- designed the seat is to instructions and labels that
forces used in Euro NCap performance. A front, side case mode of use for each avoid inadvertent misuse. come with each seat are.
car crash tests. These or overall crash score of seat. Ease of use and Incorrect installation
reflect what happens in one star limits the total test comfort Includes how could compromise seat Score
serious front and side score a model can easily the belt threads performance in a crash. This ignores price and is
crashes. Overall crash achieve. We consider as through the seat and Fitting in car How easy based on:
safety Includes seat many configurations as how easy it is to strap it is to install and adjust Safety 60%
design, head support and the manufacturer the child in securely. the seat correctly in a car. Ease of use 40%
www.which.co.uk June 2008 61l