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Buying a car seat can feel like a daunting task – especially if it’s your first time.
With so much choice out there, and so many rules and regulations to get your head around, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. You want to ensure your child is as safe as possible on every car journey no matter what age they are, so it's vital to find a car seat that's suitable for their height and is the correct choice for your vehicle. Silver Cross’ Car Safety Technologist, Kat Gemmell is back on The Edit with her advice on choosing the perfect car seat for your little passenger.
UK law
By law, all children under 135cm in height or under 12 years old must use a car seat. Babies must also stay rear facing until at least 15 months old due to the child’s body being particularly vulnerable to forceful impacts until this age. A rear-facing seat is better suited to offer maximum protection for your little one during this period.
Safety standards
All Silver Cross car seats are approved to the latest R129 regulation, which is the European standard for testing car seats. R129 approved car seats undergo more stringent testing procedures than the previous R44-04 regulation, including side impact testing.
Vehicle compatibility
When purchasing a car seat, it’s important to ensure it will fit into the vehicle(s) you intend on using it in. If you’re purchasing in-store, our specialist retailers are fully trained in Silver Cross car safety and will guide you through the process – as well as helping you test the car seat in your vehicle. Alternatively, you can head to the Silver Cross Car Safety Centre and use our Vehicle Compatibility Checker to view which seats are the best fit for your car.
Installation
You should consider how the car seat will be installed into your vehicle. Car seats can usually be fitted using either the adult seatbelt or an ISOFIX system. ISOFIX is generally considered easier and more secure, as there is less room for error when fitting the car seat. If the car seat you’re considering is an ISOFIX seat, make sure your car has the compatible mounting points. ISOFIX has been a legal requirement on all new cars in the EU since 2006, but you’ll also find mounting points in older models too.
The Silver Cross car safety collection features a variety of seats suitable from newborn right through to 12 years old. All of which have been designed with innovative features to ensure your child is travelling in the safest way possible and tested above and beyond regulation for added peace of mind.
Shop: Motion 2 All Size 360
All-stage: Motion 2 All Size 360
Motion 2 All Size 360 is the only car seat you need. Our 360° rotating, all-stage car seat is the ultimate car safety investment with some brand-new features, keeping your little one safe and secure from newborn to approximately 12 years old thanks to its adjustable design.
The Hydro Protect liner is a market-leading addition to the car seat. With one side crafted from hypoallergenic bamboo soft-touch fabric and a leakproof reverse, the liner acts as an extra layer of protection to the car seat fabrics underneath – perfect for the potty-training years or after days of adventure.
A sprung harness system has also been integrated into the seat, which is designed to make fastening your little one into their seat easier – as the sprung design prevents the harness from getting lost underneath your wriggling toddler.
Honeycomb side impact protection is always active and offers complete head to hip protection through each stage of your child’s growth and development.
Shop: Dream i-Size
Newborn: Dream i-Size
Dream i-Size was awarded the best-ever rating by independent testing body ADAC when used with the ISOFIX base, making it the safest choice for your newborn.
The infant carrier is suitable from their first ride home from the hospital up to approximately 15 months, with a 5-point safety harness and adjustable newborn inserts crafted form natural bamboo offering the most secure fit as they grow. Dream i-Size can be installed into your vehicle using the compatible ISOFIX base with support leg or using the adult seatbelt.
Dream i-Size is also compatible with a range of Silver Cross pushchairs and strollers, so you can create a convenient newborn travel system for parenting on the go.
Shop: Balance i-Size
Toddler: Balance i-Size
Balance i-Size is usually purchased as a second car seat once your child has outgrown their infant carrier. Suitable from 15 months until approximately 12 years old, Balance i-Size will take your little one from toddler to beyond with its secure and versatile design.
The seat features four recline positions, nine headrest heights and removable energy-absorbing inserts and is super easy to install with the integrated ISOFIX connectors and top tether.
The forward-facing car seat features an extended harness limit of 21kg, keeping the majority of children in their safety harness until 4-5 years old, before the seat can be converted into a high-back booster seat using the adult seatbelt.
Shop: Discover i-Size
Child: Discover i-Size
Suitable from 4 to 12 years old, Discover i-Size is our premium high-back booster seat. With its ergonomic reclining seat, adjustable headrest and pull-out thigh support, Discover i-Size offers the most comfortable ride.
Featuring a built-in Side Impact Protection system, you can rest assured your little one will be safe on every ride. With Discover i-Size’s slimline design, you can fit up to three car seats on your back row – perfect if you’re transporting siblings – and the seat can be easily installed with or without the integrated ISOFIX connectors.
Kat Gemmell joined our car safety team with over a decade of experience supporting parents to choose, fit and use their child car seats safely. She has worked for a national child seat campaign, provided product training for child seat manufacturers, and ran online information websites to support parents in making a truly informed choice. As well as her background in car safety, Kat also spent many years as a breastfeeding peer supporter, having worked for a local feeding charity as well as the maternity ward her children were born in.
