Are Car Seats With Travel Systems Safe?

A travel system is essential for transporting your child from birth to toddlerhood, ensuring their safety and comfort. It consists of an infant carrier, base, and compatible stroller, allowing a seamless transition from the vehicle to the sidewalk. When choosing a travel system, prioritize infant car seat safety, as strollers add convenience but not necessarily safety.

The Uppababy Vista V2 Stroller with the Mesa Infant Car Seat is considered the best travel system by parents who find it versatile and easy to use. The Britax B-Lively with B-Safe car seat is considered the best safe high-quality system for children.

To find the best travel systems, 23 highly rated models were tested in a lab and at home with children. Dr. Erich Batra found that car seats are generally safe when securely strapped in the car, especially for newborns. While strollers add convenience, the car seat is the primary safety component, especially for newborns.

BeSafe chooses to test baby car seats together with popular stroller models and get the combination approved according to EN1888. The car seat capsule can be removable with a click of a button and can be transferred to the pram, helping keep your baby asleep.

In summary, a travel system is essential for transporting your child from birth to toddlerhood, with safety being a top priority. Choose a system that is easy to install, easy to use daily, easy to clean, and comfortable for your baby.

How long can you use a travel system for?

A travel system is essential for your child’s safety until they are around three years old. The longevity of a travel system depends on its brand, quality, and maintenance. Robust brands like JANE can last a decade or more. If you own a car, a travel system is the best option for economical reasons. However, if you already have a compatible baby car seat, you don’t need a travel system. The choice depends on your lifestyle and home space, with compact systems being ideal for those with limited space.

Are convertible car seats safe for infants?

Convertible car seats are a cost-effective solution for traveling from day one for many years, accommodating newborn passengers and providing protection for the smallest infants. Manufacturers like Diono Radian® All-in-One Convertible Car Seats offer varying lifespans, from birth to booster, ranging from 5 lb to 120 lb, or birth to approximately age 10. These seats come with removable and washable covers and can be replaced if needed.

Convertible car seats are not bulky and take up much room, as they are known for their slim-fit design, which fits 3-across in most vehicles. Parents can trust that their children can put their car seat through various challenges, and they can be found in various sizes and designs.

Is ISOFIX safer than a seatbelt?

ISOFIX is safer than a seatbelt due to two main reasons. Firstly, ISOFIX reduces the risk of improperly installing a child seat by providing a ‘click’ when secured and a green indicator on the seat when securely attached. Secondly, there is no slack in a seatbelt securing the seat to the car, which can be overcome in a collision. It has been a legal requirement since 2014 for all cars with four or more seats sold from new, and all new models launched in 2012, although many car makers were fitting ISOFIX points well before these dates.

What is the safest type of car seat?

Rear-facing car seats are typically regarded as a safer option for children due to their ability to provide support for the child’s head and delicate neck and spine in the event of a frontal collision, which is not a feature of forward-facing seats. If the seat is appropriate for the child’s dimensions, their feet may come into contact with the posterior aspect of the seat.

What is the least safe car seat?

The safest seat in a car is not in the front passenger seat, as it is not considered the safest seat. Research shows that sitting in the backseat during an accident is far safer than occupying the front seats. The back-middle seat is the safest seat in the car, with back seat riders being anywhere from 59-86 safer than front seat occupants. Passengers riding in the middle are 25 safer than other backseat riders.

This is because the middle seat provides more space for the crumple zones, which are designed to absorb some of the impact in an accident. Cars are built with specific spots on the car’s frame designed to crumble and crush to absorb some of the impact.

When to switch from travel system to stroller?

In the event that one possesses a travel system and desires to transfer one’s infant from a carrycot to a seat attachment, the aforementioned regulations shall remain in effect. A child may be transferred from a carrycot to a stroller seat when they are able to sit upright without assistance and control their head independently.

Do strollers expire like car seats?

Strollers are a reliable and long-lasting companion for families, as they don’t come with an expiration date like car seats. They adapt to a child’s growth, accommodating their changing needs and becoming a constant. As your child grows, the stroller becomes less frequent, reserving it for special occasions like theme parks.

The quality of the stroller is crucial, as a well-crafted, high-quality one can withstand the test of time and the rigors of active, growing children. Strollers are common to last through the early years and multiple children, making them a wise investment for families planning to grow.

The type of stroller is also important. Travel systems may have an expiration date due to safety standards, but quality strollers can last much longer. Frame carriers, designed for infant car seats, have a more limited usage window as they don’t come with a built-in seat for older children.

Is car seat safer behind driver or passenger?

It is recommended by Maxi-Cosi that the car seat be placed in the back seat, preferably in the middle, in order to ensure the safety and comfort of the entire family during their journey. Nevertheless, this positioning is less secure than the rear passenger seat, given the elevated risk of impact. In the event that one has multiple car seats or if one’s vehicle is not suitable for center installation, it may be necessary to consider alternative options. The objective of this document is to assist the reader in determining the optimal position for a car seat.

Are babies safe in car seats?

Infants and toddlers should ride in a rear-facing car safety seat until they reach the maximum weight or height allowed by their seat. Most convertible seats have limits that allow children to ride rear-facing for two years or more. Babies are at greater risk of injury in crashes due to their developing spines and large heads. Forward-facing car seats may stretch the spinal cord, causing serious injury or death.

However, when riding rear-facing in a child safety seat, the upper body is cradled by the seat’s back in frontal crashes. Research shows that children up to 2 years old in forward-facing child safety seats are more likely to be seriously injured in a crash than those in rear-facing seats.

Is a travel system safe?

Travel systems are a safe and convenient way to transport a baby, often featuring a car seat that attaches seamlessly to a stroller. These systems meet strict safety standards, including a five-point harness and side-impact protection. They offer convenience in motion, allowing parents to transition their baby from the car to the stroller without disturbing their sleep. The car seat can be easily inserted onto the stroller frame, making daily routines smoother.

Investing in a travel system is an economical choice, as it can adapt to your baby’s changing needs as they grow. Some models can even convert into traditional strollers, making them a practical and cost-effective option.

What are the cons of convertible car seats?

Convertible car seats are heavier and bulkier than rear-facing infant car seats, making them difficult to move between vehicles and taking up more space. When choosing a car seat for a newborn baby, parents have two options: rear-facing infant car seats and convertible car seats that can be used both rear-facing and forward-facing. The safest and most effective car seat depends on the baby’s size and weight.

Proper installation is more important than the type of car seat purchased, but it’s still crucial to make the best choice for your newborn. Infant-only car seats face the rear of the vehicle and are intended for the smallest babies. They generally range from 4 to 5 pounds at the minimum and have weight limits of up to 35 pounds.