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WHICH? REVIEWS: CHILD CAR SEATS

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We’ve found shocking differences between the best and worst child car seats. We've reviewed many child car seats, booster seats and baby car seats so you know which offer your child the best protection in a crash.

Our tests reveal big differences between child car seats. Some protect babies and children well, but others expose them to the risk of serious injury or even death.

We test the child car seats in two crash simulations: a front crash, equivalent to a head-on collision at around 40mph, and a side crash. The side crash reproduces what would happen if someone were to drive into the side of your car, simulating an impact speed of around 17.5mph.

Below, we explain more about the features of child car seats.

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Child car seats with integral harness

Group 0 and Group 1 car safety seats for younger children generally have a 3- or a 5-point harness built into the seat.

Booster seats (or group 2 and 3 seats) don't usually have this; instead they use the car's normal 3-point adult seat belt to secure the child in the seat.

In general, a 5-point harness is more effective at restraining a child because, with a 3-point belt, the shoulder belt can slip in a crash if it's not correctly positioned.

Child car seat as part of a travel system
Some child car seats can be removed from the car and placed in a travel system, such as a pram or carrycot. Group 0 and 0+ car seats are most commonly sold as part of travel systems.

Booster seats
Some child car seats have a detachable back, so you can convert them into a booster seat once the child gets older. However, most booster seats don't offer the same level of side-crash protection as full child car seats.

Isofix car seats

If you have an Isofix car safety seat and Isofix mounts in your car, you can forget about messing about with seat belts to secure your car seat.

Isofix is the standard system for all new cars and seat manufacturers, designed to make installing your child safety seat quick and easy. Many parents worry about fitting their car seat correctly, but with Isofix you simply ‘plug in’ a compatible car safety seat to mounting points in the car.

It’s more secure than the seat belt method, so your child will be better protected in a crash.

Carrycots

Based on past crash-test results, Which? can't recommend carrycots (the Britax Baby Safe Sleeper, a Best Buy, is the only exception). If you already own a carrycot, we suggest you buy an alternative 0+ category child safety seat for use in the car. But if you have a carrycot and there’s nothing else you can use, it’s better than nothing at all.

If you have to use a carrycot, place it across the back seat, as close to the middle as you can. This may use up more space, but it means the baby is less vulnerable in a crash. Place the baby’s head as far from the door as possible, to try to avoid contact with the door in a crash.

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