9 . What Your Parents Taught You About Pushchair Car Seat

What to Look For in a Pushchair Car Seat

A pushchair is an infant chair with wheels that is designed for babies as young as 6 months old. They typically have an adjustable seat that can recline and lie flat, and feature a five-point harness.

Some pushchairs can be used from birth by adding an appropriate car seat or carrycot to create an entire travel system. This allows your baby to easily move from car to pushchair without disturbing them.

Safety

There are a variety of safety features you need to look for when choosing a car seat for a pushchair. It's important that the pushchair you select is compliant with British standards and regulations, regardless of whether it's a new model or a used one.

Check that your pushchair meets BS 7409:1996 or BS EN 1888:2003 before you buy it. This will ensure it's safe for infants and children to use. This includes ensuring that it's fitted with a safe locking device and that the brakes are working properly (check these frequently).

It is worth looking for car seats that recline to a flat position when choosing a pushchair. This is particularly important for infants, since research has shown that young infants who spend a lot of time in a straight position may have difficulty breathing. This is due to the fact that their airways become restricted by the curly shape of the car seat, and they struggle to take in oxygen.

Alternatively, you can choose a car seat that clicks seamlessly onto the chassis of your pushchair as part of a travel system bundle. This allows the transition between stroller and car easier, as you won't have to wake your child up every time you need to switch between modes of transport.

A few of the top pushchair car seat models offer side impact protection as well. This is designed to lessen the force of a collision, by providing extra padding and energy-absorbing material to protect your baby's head, shoulders and chest. This kind of protection can be crucial in the case of a side-on collision, which is more dangerous for infants.

Another useful safety feature is the top tether. This stops the car seats from spinning in an accident, and can reduce the risk of head hits. This is a legal requirement for every coach-built car seat.

Ease of Use

A pushchair car seat is among the most used baby products so it's important that it has good comfort and convenience features. There are numerous options available, including a cushion that is comfortable for the baby or an adjustable handlebar to suit parents.

Some pushchairs include a carrycot which is perfect for infants. It allows them to rest in a reclining position that is recommended for their health and development. A carrycot can be exchanged for a pushchair seat when they're older, and many can work safely with the base of a car seat too.

Find a pushchair that folds easily and compactly to fit into tight spaces or the trunk of your car. Some models fold with the seat tucked in making it much simpler to use. There are a variety of brake options available depending on your preferences. A foot brake works well for everyday use, whereas an active handbrake is beneficial when you're frequently stopping and starting in traffic-filled streets. There are also jogger-style pushchairs that have three wheels that help you maintain the momentum while going uphill or downhill.

Most 'from-birth' pushchairs let you choose which direction the seat will face either the direction of the parent or the world facing. This can be changed by simply pressing the seat onto the chassis. The Doona however, is a game changer as it allows you to choose both. It is possible to plug in the infant car seat into the Doona and babiie stroller then sit it upright as a stroller or recline it to a lie-flat mode for babies. This is a fantastic feature because it can work without or with the base of your car. It can also be used on planes and trains!

If you plan to travel frequently or use ride-share vehicles A light seat that is simple to install is a necessity. Make sure that the base is easy to click into and out. Also, consider an all-in-one travel system that includes everything you need.

Style

A pushchair's style is a personal preference and it's not difficult to find something that suits both parent and baby. You can opt for sleek, sophisticated design or something that is more attractive and fun, depending on your taste and budget. Top brands offer a wide selection of choices, so you can choose from a contemporary and vibrant or traditional and modern.

You'll also need to think about how much you're willing to spend on your pushchair car seat as it's likely to be among your most expensive baby purchases. Many parents opt to purchase a travel system which includes both a car seat and the carrycot. This offers ultimate convenience and comfort right from the beginning and is perfect for families with busy schedules who need to get out and often.

A lot of pushchairs come with a lie-flat seat option, allowing newborn babies to sleep in a completely flat position, which is recommended by experts for helping with spinal and lung development. Some brands go an extra mile and offer a top-quality one-handed recline system, allowing you to simply press an option to recline the seat of your pushchair to a more comfortable sitting position.

Some pushchairs come with footrests, adjustable handlebars, and other features so that you can customize them to your child's requirements. Some models even come with a reversible seat, so that your baby can look at you for reassurance and bonding, or face the world to explore their surroundings.

Finally, some brands offer a variety of pushchair accessories including footmuffs for colder weather and sun parasols to shield your baby from the sun. A sunshade is essential as it will help to stop your baby from overheating.

The best pushchair car seats come with a 5-point harness which is designed to secure your child at their hips and shoulders, which are the most rigid points on their body. This is the most secure and most secure method of restraining your child in their pushchair and you should only ever use pushchair car seats that are fitted with this type of safety harness. There are new one-pull systems, like the Cybex Pram, which allow you to precisely adjust your child's seatbelt using only one pull. This ensures a safe and secure fitting.

Storage

It's not a secret that a pushchair car seat can be quite heavy. Therefore, the best method to ensure you have enough space is to go for one that has large storage baskets, parent tray and cup holders for your child's seat. This will allow you to keep your essentials close at fingertips when you're traveling.

Look for models that have a canopy built-in to shield your child from the weather. Other helpful features include lockable swivel front wheels to give you more manoeuvrability as well as a convenient tray for parents and a self-standing fold, so it is super-easy to store away when not in use.

Doona travel systems bundles provide the ultimate in convenience and security. You can easily transfer your child from their car seat to their pushchair without disrupting them. The Doona ISOFIX base is secured to the car seat's belt buckle, then snaps on to the pushchair frame. This innovative system means that you can be ready to go from birth, and save time on daily running errands.

Egg3 is another alternative. This award-winning 3-in-1 travel system allows you to put your baby in a car seat when they are born. You can then switch them to a pushchair unit once they reach the right age. This system is ideal for those who do not have cars, since it includes car seat adaptors that work with all major brands.

If you're looking to expand your family or have twins, the egg3 offers the capacity to convert into tandem with the egg2/3 tandem adaptors that are available. With its the intelligent SensorSafe technology the egg car seat will alert you via your phone in real-time if there are 4 potentially unsafe situations - chest clip buckle not being secured, temperature too cold or hot in the car seat or your baby is sitting for too long.

If you're looking to ensure your pushchair is in good condition for the next time you take it out, consider investing in an hood fabric refresh kit or a complete clean service. Start by vacuuming first, then wiping it down with warm soapy water or a gentle sterilising fluid. Be sure to dry the fabric in the sun.