Car Seats Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose a Car Seat

Choosing the right car seat for your child is one of the most important decisions you'll make as a parent. It not only accompanies you and your newborn from the first moment you leave the hospital but also ensures their safety on countless journeys as they grow.

The right car seat provides safetycomfortand protection for your child while offering complete peace of mind to you as a parentfrom initial installation to daily use.

In this car seat buying guidewe'll cover the different car seat typesadvanced features like ISOFIX baseswhy rearward facing is always the better choiceand what you need to keep in mind if you’re thinking about buying a second-hand car seat.

Choosing a car seat system offers safety and convenience to both parents and children. Designed to accommodate your child from infancy through toddlerhooda car seat system grows with your childensuring they receive the best protection on every journey.

The adaptability of a car seat system means you can easily transition from a infant car seat to a toddler car seatusing one base. And with matching car seat and stroller accessoriesyou can turn your car seat system into a convenient travel system from home to car to stroller. This reduces the time and effort involved in moving a sleeping infantas well as makes sure your children are safe across different modes of transportation.

These seats are designed specifically for newborns and smaller infants. They face the rear of the carwhich is the safest position for your child. They provide the necessary support for your baby's head and neck. They can be installed with the 3-point harness of the vehicle but are even safer when installed on a matching ISOFIX base.

Age range: From birth until approximately 15 months.
Weight: For babies weighing up to 13 kg.
Height: Typically from 40 to 75 cm.

*Always check the local law and specifications for a particular seat and brand before purchasing.

Good to know: Safety starts at installation so make sure you choose a car seat with a base that makes it easy for you to install correctly. You might also appreciate an infant car seat that rotatescan easily be taken in and out of the carand smoothly attaches to a compatible stroller.

These seats are designed to grow with your child and can be either rear-facing or convertible to forward-facing. They're meant for toddlers who have outgrown their infant seat but aren't yet ready for a booster seat. With thesea 5-point harness is often usedserving a different function than in infant seats.

Age range: From 6 months to 4 yearsdepending on the seat's specifications and how it's being used (rear-facing or forward-facing).
Weight: Up to 18 kg.
Height: Typically from 67 to 105 cm.

*Always check the local law and specifications for a particular seat and brand before purchasing.

Good to know: Shop with a brand where you will be able to use the same base for the toddler seat as the infant car seat to save money. While these seats can initially be more expensivetheir long-term usability offers great value. They are not as portable as infant car seats meaning your child cannot be carried in it.



The main function of the booster seat is to ensure the seat belt is routed perfectly across the child’s bone structureproviding maximum protection. By elevating the child’s seating positionthe booster seat also enables the child to take full advantage of the car’s built-in safety features for optimal safety.

Age range: From 4-12 years or 150 cmdepending on local law.
Weight: Starting at around 18 kg.
Height: Up to 135 cm or 150 cmaccording to local EU law.

*Always check the local law and specifications for a particular seat and brand before purchasing.

Good to know: Booster seats are available both with and without headrests. By lawthe backless version of the booster seat can only be used for children taller than 125 cmas it offers no protection in case of a side collision. We strongly recommend using a high-back booster seat with a headrest to provide the best possible protection for your child.

It's time to upgrade your child to the next seat when they exceed the maximum height or weight limit of their current seat. Make sure to check the label specifying these limits on each car seat when purchasing.

ISOFIXwhich is short for "ISO-FIXation"is a standardized system for attaching child seats to vehicles without using seat belts. It makes installation of car seats simplerleads to less misuseand connects the seat with the car in a stablerigid way.

ISOFIX involves three critical connection points: two metal bar anchor pointswhich you find between the car's seat back and cushionas well as a supporting load leg or top tether that prevents tilting.

The main benefits of ISOFIX are safety for children and convenience for parents. A base installed using ISOFIX instead of seatbelts is safer because it reduces the chance of installing the car seat incorrectly. And another reason is that it makes the car seat more stable and less likely to move during a crash.

ISOFIX systems are more convenient for parents because they make car seat installation easier with "click-in" mechanismsthat allow quick attachment and detachment. This is much simpler and faster than the complex (and often done wrong) process of securing car seats with seatbelts.

INFOBOX: A car seat can only protect when installed correctly and fitted properly. A study by the German Insurers Association (GDV) in 2018 found that 47.6% of all examined children's seats were NOT correctly secured.

i-Sizealso known as R129is the European car seat safety standardintroduced in 2013. The main benefits include improved protection in front and side-impact collisionsrear-facing travel up to at least 15 monthsand ISOFIX installation to minimize the risk of incorrect fitting.

The main difference between i-Size compared to the older ECE R44/04 norm is that i-Size uses the child’s height as the main criterion instead of weight. This makes it easier for parents to choose the right car seat and ensures a better for for the child. i-Size is also tested more rigorously so it has higher standards for certifications.

Learn more about how Thule crash tests car seats

Rear-facing car seats are the safest way for infants and toddlers to travel in a carespecially in the event of a frontal collision (which is the most common type of crash).

Children's bodies are still developingand their heads are proportionally larger and heavier compared to the rest of their bodies. In a rearward-facing seatthe force from the crash is distributed more evenly across the shell of the car seat than in a forward-facing car seatsignificantly reducing the impact on the child's vulnerable headneckand spine.

Even in rear-impact collisionsa rear-facing car seat is still safer for your childwhich is supported by physics and car crash research. With the car seat facing rearwardsthe child gets pushed into the car seatinstead of out of it when faced forward. This waythe forces are more evenly spread over the back areaprotecting the head and neck area better in both front or rear-impact collisions.

Whether it's a quick trip to the grocery store or a longer journeychoose a stroller that can handle any adventure you and your baby wish to embark on. From robustall-terrain models to the more compactcity-friendly options that make navigating urban environments a breezeyou’ll find there's a stroller to suit every family's life.

We hope this car seat guide was helpful and that choosing the right car seat for your child is now a little easier. Remember that safety starts at installation and a good car seat will not only ensure your child’s safety and comfortbut also your peace of mind. Whether you're gearing up for another family outing or preparing for the arrival of your first childwe wish you the best on this incredible journey.