Only by strictly complying with these rules can you guarantee their safety every time they travel. Children’s car seats: models for newborns As soon as it leaves the hospital, your baby (up to 13 kg in weight or 75 cm long) should travel in a suitable car seat. The seat should be approved by type approval regulations R44/04 or R129 i-Size (see the information on the approval labels). New car seats are preferable, as seats that have already been used by other children will have suffered natural wear and tear of their components (plastics, fittings, etc.), which can reduce the protection afforded. How should the child be put in the car seat? Once the child has been placed in the car seat, you should: Always tighten the strap (the seat belt inside the car seat): you should be able to fit just one finger between the strap and the child’s shoulder; Do not place coats or blankets under the baby or between the baby and the harness, as they can cause the straps to become dangerously slack in the event of an accident. Safety recommendations The first car seat to be used by the baby when travelling in the car must always be fixed in a backwards-facing position , using the car’s own seat belt (or the ISOFIX system sockets if they are included as part of the vehicle’s equipment). Attaching the car seat to the Isofix system is not mandatory , but it does have the advantage of making it easier to position the seat. In addition, it reduces the likelihood of slackness and errors that can occur more frequently when using a seat belt. This increases the child’s protection. You should use the first car seat until the baby reaches the maximum permitted weight to travel in this seat - and provided the baby's head is well-supported , with the straps set at or just below shoulder height. In some models of car seats, it is possible to raise the headrest and the straps. Don't worry if the baby's feet touch the back of the car seat in front, or if the child has to travel with its legs crossed, curled up or bent. The most important thing is to protect the baby's neck and spine . Children’s car seats: 12 months to 4 years of age European organisations recommend that up to the age of 3 or 4, children should have their own backwards-facing seats when travelling by car. Approved car seats (Regulations R44-04 up to 18 kg or 25 kg and R129 up to 105 cm) are available on the market. These enable children to sit with their back to the direction of travel until they reach this age, thereby ensuring greater protection of the head and neck. As a rule, these seats are larger, have more space for the child's legs and have a support that rests on the floor of the car or a tether strap. This makes it possible to attach it to the back seat of the car, as there are models with and without the Isofix system. Before acquiring a car seat, it is essential to try it out in the cars it is going to be used in. Only then will you be sure that you can install the chair in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Children’s car seats: children aged over 4 When the child reaches 15 kg, and if it is over 3 or 4 years of age, it is time to move to a group 2/3 car seat , approved by Regulation R44-04 for children weighing between 15 and 36 kg. These seats consist of a booster seat with a back and are usually adjustable in height. They use the 3-point seatbelt system to secure both the child and the car seat at the same time. What can be done to maximise safety? The belt has to pass through the slots marked in red and should be fitted tightly over the child's body. In this way, in the event of sudden braking or an accident, the force of the impact will be distributed to the main bone areas of the body , as happens with adults. Seats with a guide, usually inserted into the headrest , are preferred, as these allow the safety-belt to be adjusted to the height of the child's shoulder. The height of the headrest should be adjusted to prevent the strap from being too low on the arm or too high at the neck. Some people have a tendency to place the diagonal strap under the child’s arm in order to prevent it from causing discomfort during the journey. However, this can cause very serious injury in the event of sudden braking or accident. Until the child is aged 8 or 9, it is not advisable to use a booster seat on its own. In addition to the fact this can cause the seat belt to be too high at the neck, the seat does not provide lateral protection for the child’s torso and head in the event it falls asleep. Their use should also be avoided in cars that do not have headrests on the rear seats. The seat belt must always be tightly fitted to the child's body and must never be twisted. Remember : only a well-placed belt will protect the child in the event of an accident. Children’s car seats: children with special needs It is not always easy to travel safely with children with special needs. Portuguese legislation allows the use of non-approved restraint systems for disabled children who have serious conditions originating in the following disorders: Neuromotor; Metabolic; Degenerative; Congenital; Other: provided that their seats, chairs or other restraint systems take their specific needs into account and are prescribed by a doctor specialising in their condition. The Institute for Mobility and Transport has the authority to approve such restraint systems. Are there any models available in Portugal? Although there is still a very small supply available on the market, there are already brands of car seat that can provide approved retention systems for children with special needs. One example of transportation of children with special needs is that of children with developmental hip dysplasia (formerly called congenital hip dislocation). These children need to keep their legs fully apart while they are going through the treatment process. In Portugal, an adapted and specially designed car seat for babies with this condition is already available. Why is it safer for a baby to sit with its back to the direction of travel? In the event of an accident. sitting with its back to the direction of travel reduces the impact on the baby’s neck and head , which are more vulnerable than an adult’s. It is safer to keep your child in a backwards-facing position for as long as possible, even when it is moving up to the next car seat. The baby's head is proportionally bigger and heavier than the rest of its body. The bones and muscles in the neck are not yet sufficiently developed to withstand the weight of the head in the event of a frontal collision. If the baby travels in a forwards-facing position and there is a frontal collision, its proportionately heavy head will be thrown violently forwards, causing serious neck and head injuries. Placing the baby with its back to the direction of travel protects the baby's head and neck, distributing the impact around a larger area of the body. What does legislation state? Legislation does not refer to the position in which the seat is installed in the car , except for the circumstances where a child under the age of three is transported in the front seat. In this case, the child has to be transported backwards and the airbag for the front passenger seat has to be deactivated. In the case of chairs approved by the R129 i-Size standard, it is compulsory for children up to 15 months of age to be seated with their back to the direction of travel. In any case, it is generally considered safer to continue seating children facing backwards until they are 4 years old. Follow this advice and travel safely. Have a good trip. *Text drafted with the cooperation of Dorel. The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
