Choice of Suitable Child Car Seat - a Matter of Priority forParents - CHOICE # 442

A Consumer Council test on child car seats has revealed a wide disparity in performance of crash protection.

Parents are urged to select with the utmost of care the child car seats that offer the best possible protection for their children in the event of a crash accident.

The advice followed the release of a comparative test report on the safety and ease of use of 27 models of child car seats, covering different weight groups from newborn up to 36 kg.

The crucial need for child car seats has drawn much public attention recently. In May, a 5-year-old was suspected to be fatally wounded by the seatbelt the child was wearing at the time of a car crash. In June, a similar accident resulted in a child being severely wounded by the seatbelt.

In both accidents, the child victims were wearing car seatbelts designed for the size of adults but not children. Not only are unfit car seatbelts unable to effectively protect children, they could pose risk of severe injuries.

Using suitable child car seats is, undoubtedly, the safest way for children to travel in cars. Choosing a car seat that best suits your child in safety and comfort should be a matter of priority for the parents.

The results of the test covering a comprehensive overview of different types of car seats available with the pros and cons, showed wide variations in performance in terms of safety and ease of use.

Prices also varied substantially from $899 to $6,580; but the more expensive models were not necessarily the better performers.

In terms of safety, the samples were put to both the frontal and side impact tests. Their performance was evaluated on a 5-point rating; the more points, the higher the rating.

On the whole, the samples scored lower rating in crash protection in the frontal impact test. The results of the frontal impact test showed 9 samples to be less satisfactory, with 2½ points or less in certain installation modes.

One sample scored a low 1½ points when installed using car seatbelts but doubled the score to 3 when installed using ISOFIX with top tether. Likewise, 1 sample with a full 5-point score was judged to offer good protection in the rear-facing position but not in the forward-facing position with only 2½ points.

The ISOFIX installation method is much less complicated than the traditional installation method of using car seatbelts. It only requires the snap connection of a child car seat to be latched onto the anchor points in the car, reducing the chance of incorrect installation.

On side impact test, 6 samples were rated with scores of 5 or 4½ points in all installation modes. Another 6 samples also performed well in certain installation modes scoring 4½ points. Only 1 sample was judged to perform less satisfactory, with 2½ points.

In terms of ease of use, the samples were assessed and rated in respect of: the chance of incorrect installation, how easy it is to install, comfort of the child passenger, space taken up in the car, size adjustment, etc.

Overall, the car seat samples were rated on the basis of safety level (50%) and ease of use (50%), on a 5-star scale. Altogether 47 overall ratings were made on the 27 samples as most could be installed in different modes, e.g. in forward-facing and rear-facing positions, and were rated separately.

None of the car seats was awarded the distinction of the top rating of 5 stars. At the top of the scale were the best performers (12) with overall rating of 4½ stars, followed by 4 stars (12), 3½ stars (9), 3 stars (11), 2½ stars (2). And at the end of the scale was 1 sample with overall rating of a mere 2 stars.

The car seats were also put to test for hazardous substances which may be harmful to the environment or health. Detected in the test were flame retardant, organotin compounds, formaldehyde, and PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons).

Samples detected with hazardous substances (among which formaldehyde could cause allergic reactions and PAHs which could be carcinogenic) were given a low rating on account of the possible risk they pose on health.

Parents should instruct or ensure their children not to put safety belt paddings or other parts of the child car seats into the mouth. Washing the car seats properly and avoiding direct skin contact of children could reduce the possible risk.

When choosing a child car seat, parents should bear in mind that body weight and build of the child - not the age - is the main criterion.

Studies have shown that rear-facing child car seats provide better protection than forward-facing models, but they should not be installed in a front passenger seat with airbag.