Parents are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of children sitting correctly in an approved seat that is suitable for their weight and size, especially when they are small.
However, as their children get older, many parents begin to relax the measures , changing the position of the seat before time to travel in front of the march, resorting to the use of backless booster seats when it is not appropriate, or even opting for carrying children only secured with the seat belt when they have not yet reached the recommended height.
But when we talk about road safety, it is vitally important not to rush into adopting measures that not only do not correspond to the child’s age, weight or size, but can seriously put their life at risk.
Today we are talking about booster seats and backless booster seats : what are the differences between the two devices? From what age should one and the other be used and how to make good use of them?
Booster seats: from what age are they recommended and how are they used?
Children must travel in the opposite direction to the macha as long as possible , and at least until the age of four. If at this age it is not possible to continue maintaining the rear-facing position (although remember that there are models that allow you to continue traveling like this up to 25 kilos ), it is time to change groups and start traveling facing the road. Check out more at our site.
In the event that your child was in a group 1 seat facing forward and fastened with harnesses , you will know that you must change group when he has exceeded 18 kilos or his shoulders have reached the highest point of the harness (have a height of 105 cm, approximately).
In both situations, the child will have to move to a group 2/3 seat (from 15 to 36 kg) if it is a seat approved under the ECE R44/04 regulation , or to an i Size seat from 100 to 150 cm , which As its name indicates, it is approved under the new i-Size regulations .
These seats are placed in the rear seat of the vehicle facing forward. In them, the child is held only with the car’s seat belt.
Popularly, this type of restraint system is known by the name of booster seats , since its main function is to raise the child’s body so that the upper band of the belt falls on the shoulder and clavicle (without touching the face or neck). ), and the ventral band is on the hips and thighs (never on the stomach).
Boosters or elevators without backrest: why they do not protect enough
However, there is an important point that makes the difference between the chairs approved under one regulation and another: the backrest and the side protections.
Thus, we find that all car seats approved under the i-Size regulation for children between 100 and 150 cm have a backrest .
However, some Group 2 models homologated under the R44 standard prior to 2017 do not have a backup. It is also possible to find models that combine group 2/3 with removable backrest.
This function could lead many parents to use backless boosters with their children (popularly known as ‘ boosters ‘) as they consider them more practical, comfortable, easily transportable and also take up less space in the vehicle.
However, both the DGT and the rest of the road safety experts warn that this decision can put the child’s life at risk , since backless elevators do not offer sufficient protection in the event of a side collision , one of the most common crashes in town.
On the contrary, using a booster seat with a backrest provides the child with greater comfort and ergonomics, better guidance of the seat belt (since it has specific devices), surrounding protection in the event of an impact (since it prevents their head from hitting the window or inside the vehicle) and hip and back protection.
How long should you use an elevator?
According to the regulations , child restraint systems (SRI) must be used until the height of the child is equal to or greater than 135 cm, at which time they could travel only with the seat belt like adults.
But beyond the regulations, the DGT advises extending the use of these devices up to 150 cm , preferably using boosters with a backrest in all cases.
If this is not possible, it is recommended to use a backrest at least until the child reaches a height of 125 cm , and then use a booster seat without a backrest until reaching the recommended height to use only the seat belt.
