Help and advice when buying or mounting toddler car seats

Should the child car seat be mounted facing to the front or the rear? Should the child car seat be mounted in the front passenger seat or in the back? There is a lot to consider when buying a toddler car seat.

When the child is able to sit steadily without support, the time has come to move from an infant to a toddler car seat. Choose a toddler car seat that is approved for children weighing between nine and 25 kilos, and that is also approved for rear-facing mounting in both the front passenger seat and in the rear seat.

Om du har frågor, läs texten nedan och i vår avdelning-frågor och svar. Om du ska montera eller åka till en butik, ta med någon av våra-checklistor.

Where to mount – front or rear seat?

Toddler car seat Studies have shown that when a single adult travels with a child in the back seat, the adult becomes more distracted than when the child is placed in the front passenger seat.

If there are two adults in the car, it is best if one of the adults sits in the rear seat alongside the child, if the car seat has been mounted in the back seat. This minimizes the distraction to the driver.

It is somewhat safer to mount the child’s car seat in the rear of the car, provided there is another adult also sitting in the rear of the car, who is thus able to keep an eye on the child. If you are travelling alone in the car with the child, it is safest to have the child’s car seat mounted in the front alongside you.

Toddler car seats mounted in the front passenger seat

When the toddler car seat is placed in the passenger seat, it is essential that any passenger airbag is deactivated. If there is an airbag and you are unable to deactivate it yourself, you should turn to your authorized car dealer, who will be able to assist in deactivating the airbag.

Unlike infant car seats, toddler car seats should rest against the dashboard, but never against the windscreen. If the passenger airbag is not deactivated, the toddler (and infant) car seats should always be mounted in the rear seat.

Toddler car seats mounted in the rear seat

When the toddler car seat is mounted in the rear of the car, it should rest against the back of the front passenger seat, unless it says something different in the manual. Always read the manual first and follow its instructions carefully. If you don’t have a manual for your car seat, you can order it or download it from the manufacturer of your toddler car seat.

Toddler car seat - Remember

In order to find the toddler car seat that best fits your child and your car, it is recommended that you read the information provided on this site carefully before going to the store. It is also recommended that you print out the checklist provided on the menu to the left and take it with you to the store.

When you drive to the store, take the care that you intend to mount the toddler car seat in. When you find a suitable toddler car seat, ask the store staff to mount it in the car before you leave the store. This will ensure that the car seat actually fits your car. At the same time it also gives you the opportunity to learn how to install the car seat correctly.

A child has outgrown a toddler car seat when the child’s head is no longer fully supported by the seat, or when the child has passed the car seat’s weight limit. At this point, you should start looking at larger toddler car seats, or at car seats for older children.

Up to the age of four years, it is safest for the child to travel facing towards the rear. The child should in fact sit like this for as long as possible. It is very important not to have the child facing forwards in the car too early. Unfortunately, this is quite common, both in Europe and elsewhere, and has resulted in more children being killed or seriously injured than would have been the case if the children concerned had been sitting facing to the rear.