Why the choice matters
A car seat is not an ordinary baby product. It is safety equipment meant to protect your child in a crash, and a wrong or badly installed seat can make all the difference. The good news is that every new seat on the market meets strict European safety requirements. Your job is mainly to find a seat that fits your child, your car and your family's daily life.
Two standards: R129 and the older R44
Product descriptions refer to two standards. The newer one is called R129, often marketed as i-Size. It classifies seats by the child's height and requires side impact testing. The older standard, ECE R44, is based on weight and is gradually disappearing from the market. Seats approved under R44 may still be used, but when buying new, the simple choice is an i-Size seat.
Rear facing for as long as possible
Babies and young children should travel facing backwards. A small child's head is proportionally heavy and the neck is fragile. A rear facing seat spreads the forces of a collision across the whole back instead of loading them onto the neck. This is why the Nordic recommendation is to keep children rear facing for as long as the seat allows, ideally until around the age of four. i-Size requires rear facing travel until at least fifteen months, but that is a minimum, not a target.
Seats by age and size
The first seat is an infant carrier with a handle. It always faces backwards and is used from birth until the child outgrows it, usually around their first birthday. Many parents choose one that clicks onto the stroller chassis, which makes the first months much easier.
Next comes a larger seat that stays installed in the car and lasts until at least the age of four. Choose one that lets your child stay rear facing for as long as possible.
The final stage is a booster seat, which lifts the child so the car's own seat belt sits correctly across the hips and shoulder rather than the neck and stomach. In Iceland, children must use an approved child restraint until they are 135 centimetres tall.
Isofix or seat belt?
Isofix anchor points are built into most newer cars, and the seat clicks straight into them. Installation is quick and the risk of getting it wrong is far smaller than with a seat belt installation. Always check that the seat fits your specific car. i-Size seats fit any seating position labelled i-Size; for other seats you may need to check the manufacturer's compatibility list.
Used seats: be careful
A car seat that has been in a collision can be damaged in ways you cannot see. That is why buying a used seat is only advisable when you know its full history. The plastic also ages, and manufacturers state how long a seat can safely be used. The date is usually printed on a label on the seat itself.
The winter coat problem
A thick coat or snowsuit does not belong under the harness. In a crash the padding compresses and the straps end up dangerously loose. Dress your child in a thin layer, tighten the harness snugly and lay the coat or a blanket over the top.
Checklist before you buy
- Choose an i-Size seat that matches your child's height.
- Keep your child rear facing for as long as possible.
- Confirm the seat fits your car, ideally by trying it.
- Choose Isofix if your car has the anchor points.
- The harness should sit snug and flat on the child.
- Do not buy used unless you know the seat's full history.
On barnavorur.is you can compare car seats from Icelandic stores in one place before you buy.