Car seat advisor

When do I need which car seat?

Children should always be properly secured in the car. Unfortunately, this is not always the case in Germany. Even at low speeds, unsecured children can be seriously injured. From birth to 12 years (height of 150 cm), children need a suitable child seat.
Our guide provides you with an overview of child seats according to age and height (as well as weight), important safety criteria and tips for making the right choice.

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FAQs - We answer your questions

Here you will find answers to the most important topics in the area of child seats:

An infant car seat is the safest child seat for your baby right from the start. To provide your baby with the best possible protection in the event of an accident, infant car seats are always installed in a rear-facing position. Install the infant car seat in your car before your baby is born and follow the instructions in the user manual.

Many infant car seats can be secured in the car using either the vehicle seat belt or the Isofix base station. Installation with Isofix is considered safer because the infant car seat is firmly attached to the car. There is also less risk of incorrect installation. Once the base has been installed, you can remove the infant car seat and click it back into place in one easy step.

Depending on the model, you can use the infant car seat up to an age of approx. 12 to 18 months. The manufacturer's information on maximum height and body weight is decisive here. Many infant car seats are approved up to a height of 75 cm, others up to 85 cm. It is also important that the head still fits properly into the headrest - the feet, on the other hand, may protrude beyond the lower edge.

After 12 to 18 months, you switch from the infant car seat to the next largest child seat. The safest option is a reboarder, in which your child continues to ride backwards in the car. Forward-facing child seats in Group 1 (9-18 kg) or Group 1/2/3 (9-36 kg) may also continue to be used.

Reboarders are considered safer as they distribute the forces of a frontal impact better over the child's entire back. Experts therefore recommend transporting children in a rear-facing mode until they are at least two years old.

An i-Size child seat complies with the current safety standard UN ECE Reg. 129, also known as “i-Size”. I-Size child seats are primarily based on the child's height and no longer just their weight. In addition, all i-Size child seats are equipped with Isofix connectors. Another requirement for i-Size child seats is that children up to 15 months must be transported rear-facing. In addition to classic infant car seats, baby car seats that carry the corresponding i-Size test seal are also permitted for newborns.

Child seats from the age of 4 are installed in the direction of travel and the child is secured with the car's 3-point belt. Tests have shown that Isofix is the safest way to secure the child in the car. Install the seat as tightly as possible and only change as soon as your child meets the prescribed height and weight specifications. For an i-Size child seat from the age of 4, your child must be at least 100 or 105 cm tall; for a Group 2/3 child seat, they must weigh at least 15 kg.