Child car seats are an essential requirement for families who use cars in their everyday lives so as experts in baby products, we offer an extensive choice of car seats for children, from birth to 12 years old. We are proud to have been keeping children safe in Graco car seats for over 60 years as we know that safety in the car is the top priority for 87% of parents.
Alongside popular parenting media sites like Mother & Baby, First Time Mums and The Mum Club, we have talked to a lot of parents about car seat safety standards and their experience of travelling by car with their children.
Only a quarter of readers of Mother & Baby are confident they know what the different car seat safety standards mean, but two-thirds of parents plan to buy new a new car seat as their child grows. 81% of followers of First Time Mums, admitted to feeling nervous taking the very first car journey with their baby, and not just that, 40% of them felt anxious. A group of mums who are members at The Mum Club feel standards are so confusing they rely on retailers to reassure them that the car seat they are using is up to date. They also rely on the reputation of the leading manufacturers to feel reassured they are choosing the very best protection for their little one.
We’re here to help cut through the confusion. These pages explain the differences in car seat standards, what to look for, when to purchase and where to look for more personalised advice.
As you would expect, car seat safety testing is rigorous. Currently, there are two main safety standards to be aware of: R44 and R129.
- R44 is based on your child's weight and car seats are divided into ‘groups’ based on weight, with some covering multiple groups.
- R129 is a newer standard that simplifies the selection process. The correct car seat is based on your child’s height. In addition, all kids must sit rearward facing until they reach 75cm and minimum of 15 months of age.
- R129 car seats must also undergo extensive side impact testing. While Graco already takes the initiative to test for side impact on all our car seats, this new measure will ensure the standard is met industry wide.
