A couple of questions about European seats

[RJB78]

I think this is the right place to post this...

I have a friend in the UK who has some questions I can't answer.

First, why do our seats have chest clips and theirs don't? Is it something about the way the seats are made that they aren't needed there?

Second, what can she do about getting a seat that harnesses to more than 40 lbs? She says US seats are illegal there. She says:

"We have two Britax seats- a combi First Class si and a group 123 called an Evolva 123-. Both harness to 40lbs, then the Evolva turns into a highback booster

http://www.britax.co.uk/index.php?option=com_britax&task=showproduct&id=7&groupid=6&Itemid=31

http://www.britax.co.uk/index.php?option=com_britax&task=showproduct&id=11&groupid=8&Itemid=31 "

Dd "is growing out the FirstClass (height wise) so we are looking for something harnessing passed 40lbs. They just don't exist here and yet USA ones are illegal here...plus we dont have tethering systems and 'Latch'."

She is 28/29 lbs right now and 3 3/4 years old.

[Adventuredad]

Hi there

Glad to hear your friend is thinking about car seat safety:thumbsup: European seats don't use chest clips in rear facing seats since they are not needed. Europeans don't use harnessed seats because researchers out of Sweden, car seat safety heaven, says boosters offer the same safety. Problem is of course that most Swedes rear face their kids until 55 lbs in their great seats and don't put their kids in boosters until age 4-5 which is fine. Rest of Europe, including UK, don't think much about car seat safety and stick their kids in boosters far earlier.

She has two options available and one of them is excellent. She can use a Swedish Britax Two-Way (http://britax.se/twoway08.htm) seat which is a popular combination seat. It's the only European seat which offers harnessing until 55 lbs (25 kg.) But wait, there is more....

The Swedish seat are certified ECE R44 and of course legal all over Europe and in many other countries. They are technically illegal in US but that doesn't stop many Americans from using them due to the excellent rear facing weight.:thumbsup:

Britax Two-Way can be used several different ways. It can be used rear facing until 55 lbs (25 kg.)which means her daugher can sit rear facing for quite a bit longer. The Two-Way has the highest seat shell of all rear facing/combo seats in Europe (same as Britax Multi Tech) and most kids can rear face until age 5-6.

In case she wants to turn her daughter forward facing, Two-Way offers harnessing until 55 lbs. Two-Way also offers forward facing as a high back booster until 55 lbs. As you can hear it's a great seat with many options available. It's a light and very safe seat which iss easy to install. Since I'm Swedish I love rearfacing and of course hope your friend would like to use it rear facing.:thumbsup:

There is also another special needs seat called Traveller plus but it's very uncommon and I don't really recommend it.

If you or your friend needs some more information or I can help her out with anything, please send me a PM or have her contact me at ad@adventuredad.com (I'm currently living in Stockholm) I keep in contact with quite a few people worldwide who love the Swedish seats.

Have a nice weekend

[southpawboston]

First, why do our seats have chest clips and theirs don't? Is it something about the way the seats are made that they aren't needed there?



ECE44 requires carseats be able to be unharnessed with one hand and have not more than one attachment point (the main buckle). thus, chest clips would be incompatible with that specification. instead of chest clips, the EU seats use grippy strap pads that are much longer than the ones in the US (which are basically just shoulder pads). the idea is that the pads help keep the straps in place.

[RJB78]

Thanks for your help - both of you! I've forwarded the information to her. I'll let you know if I have anymore questions. :)

[Adventuredad]

:thumbsup: