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#KidsCompanyPH Picks: Car Seats 101
In case you missed it, the Republic Act 11229, also known as the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act, was signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte on February 22, 2019.
In its core, the new law enforces owners of private vehicles to secure children in a child restraint system -- such
as car seats or boosters -- while in transit on any road, street, or highway in the country. Children, especially infants,
need a more size-centric system that protects them in case of a collision as relying on seatbelts alone will not protect
them against injuries. Child safety seats reduce the risk of injuries of children in vehicle collisions.
If you're looking for a car seat for your child, let this blog post from #KidsCompanyPH guide you along the way and
answer your most frequently asked questions about car seats in the Philippines!
What is a child safety seat?
A child safety seat, or most commonly known as a car seat, is a seat designed to protect children from injury or death in vehicle collisions.
Up to what age can my kid be in a car seat?
Car seats are categorized by their weight capacity in these groups:
| Group | Weight range | Approximate age range |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Up to 10kg | From birth to 11 months for boys, and 14 months for girls. |
| 0+ | Up to 13kg | From birth to around 12 months to 15 months. |
| 1 | 9kg-18kg | Nine months to around four and a half years. |
| 2 | 15kg-25kg | About three years to seven years. Group 2 seats are booster seats so that the car's seat belt can be used. |
| 3 | 22kg-36kg | About six years to 12 years. |
The groups only serve as a guide for you to choose the car seat for your needs but it is best when you take into account your child's weight and height and for how long you would want your child to use the seat.
Groups can also overlap in one seat. For example, the Joie Every Stage is a Group 0+/1/2/3 car seat which means it can accommodate newborns until they reach 12 y/o. Chicco KidFit is a Group 2/3 car seat which means it caters to older children while the Nuna Pipa Lite is a Group 0+ car seat which means it's specifically designed for newborns.
If you chose to use different car seats as your child grows, the best indication for you to change seats is when the top of your child's head is level with the top of the seat.
Why do car seats offer rear and forward facing options? What's the difference?
Rear-facing car seats are intended for infants while they can switch to forward-facing as they grow up. A rear-facing seat will pull your baby towards the chair if the vehicle is involved in a frontal collision. In this scenario, the baby's head, neck, and spinal column are supported by the child restraint. Forward-facing car seats, on the other hand, don't have this support in place for the child's head or neck. The force of the crash is distributed to the strongest parts of the body such as the shoulders and the hips.
What is ISOFIX? Do the non-ISOFIX car seats offer the same level of protection?
ISOfix are the attachment points for car seats in cars. Most cars already have a built-in ISOfix anchorage points which
you can easily fit a car seat to. By fitting the car seat with ISOfix, it provides a more robust connection between the
car seat and the car body. For non-ISOfix car seats, these are fitted using the seat belt of the car. It provides more
flexibility when you switch between cars. It's safe to use however, the car seat must be installed properly. Manuals
are provided every purchase and you can ask for assistance in installation.
In KidsCompanyPH, we can assist you in installing your car seat with experts from our company when you choose to
pick-up your order.
Now that you know the key factors to look out for, it's time to canvass and search for options until you found the
best choice for you and your child. Check out some KidsCompanyPH recommended car seats below!
If you're looking for a lightweight infant car seat, then the Nuna Pipa Lite is the one for you.
This tough yet lightweight car seat only weighs 2.3kg by itself! It's travel-friendly and comes with a removable, full coverage UPF 50+ canopy with flip out eyeshade. With its steel reinforced True lock base installation, it makes set up fast and safe. It's also made of Aeroflex foam that is resilient and minimizes force transferred to the baby by absorbing and diffusing energy.
If you're looking for an infant car seat that can cater to smaller babies, the Chicco KeyFit car seat is your best choice.
For smaller babies, an ergonomic infant insert in the Chicco KeyFit car seat provides extra support for your baby. It has a ReclineSure® Leveling Foot that adjusts to fit vehicle seat angle and the RideRight® Bubble-level Indicators show when a proper fit has been achieved. You can install it using a seat belt or purchase the base (available separately or as a bundle) to easily fit it into your car.
If you're looking for an economical infant car seat that you can use until your kid is a toddler, the Joie Tilt car seat fits your needs.
This Group 0+/1 car seat comes with an easy and stable base for secure installation. It has a low profile base for tight install and low center of gravity and well marked, color-coded installation paths. Its 5-point harness system is easily adjustable into 3 positions. If you have a taller child, you can opt for the Joie Steadi as it has more height-adjustment positions than Tilt.
If you're looking for a car seat for your toddler that converts into a Booster, the Chicco MyFit Harness is the one for you.
This car seat grows with your child as it can transform from a five-point harness to a vehicle seat belt. The harness can be tucked to create a belt-positioning booster with shoulder and lap belt guides for big kids four years and up. Nine headrest positions accommodate growth throughout both modes and LATCH connectors and a LockSure belt- tightening system with wide routing make it easy to achieve a tight and secure fit with LATCH or the vehicle seat belt.
If you're looking for toddler car seat that's affordable and high-quality, the Joie Elevate car seat is the best pick.
It's Group 1/2/3 car seat that has a 10 position height adjustable headrest. You can easily install it with a lock-off device with well-marked, color-coded installation paths. The Guard Surround SafetyTM panels shield your little one's head, body, and hips.
If you're looking for a one size fits all car seat, the Joie Every Stage is the answer to your needs.
This Group 0+/1/2/3 car seat is suitable from birth to 12 years. It's rearward facing from birth to 4 years and forward facing from 4 years to 12 years. It has 5 recline positions and 10 position height adjustable headrest. The Custom Harness Hideaway compartments store the 5-point harness when using as a Group 2 booster and the AutoAdjustTM side wings widen as headrest is raised to accommodate growing children. It's also available with an ISOfix ready version, the Joie Every Stage FX.
If you're looking for a light and portable booster, the Mifold Booster is the one for you.
The most advanced, compact, and portable booster seat designed for kids aged 4 and up is the Mifold Booster. It folds up to fit into a child's backpack, glove compartment or bag and is 10x smaller than a regular booster seat. Despite its size, it's safe to use as a booster seat for your little one.
If you need more personalized recommendations for your car seat, you can email us at [email protected] so we can help you find your perfect car seat.
You can find all these and more here.
See you on our next list!