Rules and regulations surrounding baby seats are important for the safety of your child and others on the road, so please ensure you stick to them to avoid any calamities.
First and foremost it is crucial that you have the correct sized car seat for your child and it is installed correctly, it is estimated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Seat Check campaign that 7 out of 10 of car seats on the UK are not installed correctly, we urge you to not be another statistic.
How to travel with a baby and what to take along
Sixt prides itself as being a family run and orientated company; therefore the safety of you and your children is of paramount importance to us. To ensure that renting a car with Sixt is as carefree as possible, and without disrupting your daily routine too significantly we have compiled some suggestions to consider while travelling with babies and infants.
Flexibility: One of the most important things to consider while travelling with infants or babies is to be flexible; things may not go exactly according to plan and inevitably your child will become restless or tired. Therefore, have a back-up plan or be willing to make last-minute adjustments.
Do your research: to decrease the likelihood of having to make drastic changes to your itinerary, research the area you wish to attend to ensure it’s child friendly.
Bring treats: this will promote good behaviour; things like puzzles, toys, favourite books and colouring in the paper should keep your little one occupied for long and short journeys alike. Drinks and snack are also important, not only for treats but to avoid dehydration or a hungry and upset toddler.
Safety first: first and foremost, the clothes you dress your child in is of paramount concern; especially if your child is able to walk, dress him/her in bright colours so they don’t get lost in large crowds and you can spot them easily from the distance. Another item to bring to ensure the safety of your infant is a first aid kit; fail to prepare or you prepare to fail. A few examples of what could include in your first aid kit could be Sun cream, sterile bandages, antibiotic ointment, liquid soap etc.
Types of baby seats and benefits of each
The type of car seat you choose is dependent on both the age and weight of your child. These distinctions will determine which of the following you should purchase for your child. These guidelines are put in place to ensure the utmost safety for your infant.
- Rear-facing Child Seats
These are ideal for newborns as they are lightweight and built so the baby can lie down flat. They are recommended to be used until the child reaches the maximum height and weight of the manufacturer. Most seats suit children up to 2 years.
Group 0: from birth to 22lbs, about 6 months
Group 0 +: from birth to 12-15 months, about 29 lbs
Group 0+ & 1: from birth to 40lbs, roughly to 4 year
Group 1: babies and toddlers from 20lbs to 40lbs , roughly from 9 months up to 4 years - Forward-facing Child Seats
Babies can graduate to a forward-facing child seat when they can independently hold their own head up. For optimum safety though it is recommended keeping children in rear-facing seats until 4 years old.
Group 1: Infants weighing 20 – 40 lbs, roughly 9 months to 4 years
Has harnesses to spread the force of any impact and can be adjusted as the child grows.
Group 1, 2 and 3: Children weighing from 20 lbs to 79 lbs, roughly 9 months to 12 years
Similar to group 1 but can be adjusted further and used as a booster seat with regular seatbelts once the child is big enough. - Booster Seats
This is a viable option once your child has grown out of group 1 forward-facing child seats. Children can graduate to a normal seat belt once they are 4ft 5″ or are 12 years old.
Group 2: Children weighing 33 – 55 lbs, about 4 -6 years old
Fairly rare as can only be used for a couple of years at most.
Group 2 and 3: Children weighing 33 – 70 lbs, roughly 4 – 12 years
Much more popular as they can be adjusted for a much wider range of heights and weights over more years.
Group 1, 2 and 3 combination seat: Children weighing 20 – 79 lbs, 9 months – 12 years
These seats last the longest with the option of being able to adjust the integral harness. Be sure to follow the instructions carefully.
We strongly recommend the use of a high-back booster as these offer much more protection to the child and are a much safer option, some of the benefits to using a high-back seat are:
- Provides head support
- Usually offer the ability to position the shoulder belt properly and keep it in the correct place
- Offer a more comfortable surrounding for the child
Travelling safely and with piece of mind
To ensure that when travelling with us you can do so with complete piece of mind, Sixt offer a wide range of modern baby seats, child seats and booster seats. We currently cover three major categories for children of all ages:
- Group 0+ | Baby Seat: 0-13kg
- Group 0/1 | Child Seat: 0-18kg
- Group 1 | Child Seat: 9-18kg
- Group 2/3 | Booster Seat: 15-36kg
