What to choose: a seat belt adapter for children or a car seat?

According to the amendments to the traffic rules adopted in 2007 , which concern the transportation of children under 12 years of age, the child must be securely fastened. This ensures maximum safety for children when traveling. Also, the amendments regulate the use of restraints for the smallest and other ways of fixing the child in the car seat, which include the child seat belt adapter.

Types of retention devices

Standard seat belts, which are installed in the car, are designed for an adult with a height of at least 150 cm. Children under 12 years are in most cases less than tall. It was in connection with this that an amendment came into force that obliges parents to purchase special child restraints or to use other ways of ensuring safety while moving the car.

These devices include the following:

• child car seats;
• Booster;
• Adapter for seatbelt for children.

Each has its pros and cons during operation. When choosing a restraint device, the weight and height of the child should be taken into account . It should provide maximum safety and comfort. If the car seat is not chosen to fit, the child may be tired during a long trip.

Overview of traditional security devices

Today, children's car seats occupy a leading position as a means of ensuring safety. They have a lot of advantages:

• Excellent fix child under three years in the car seat. In this case, the baby will stay in place with any sharp movements of the car.
• Protect the child from slipping to the side or forward.
• They have side cushions, relying on which, the baby can get some sleep.

Essential disadvantages of car seats are the following: high cost and bulky dimensions.

Many parents for a child over the age of three buy small boosters.
They are small stools made of plastic. The main purpose of these devices is to increase the height of the child so that it can be fastened with an ordinary seat belt.

The merits include the following:

• ease;
• Low cost;
• Convenience in use.

But there are drawbacks. For example, such a product will not be able to keep the child from sliding side by side.

Adapter Description

The child seat belt adapter is designed to change the direction of the diagonal belt so that it does not press against the child's neck. In this case, children can be placed on a standard car seat without any restrictions. This method is suitable for children over the age of four. Adapter for the safety belt for children is a device of a triangular shape with Velcro or buttons.

The main advantages are as follows:

• Have no restrictions on the weight and height of the child;
• Compact, can be stored in a glove box or carried around;
• Installation takes a little time;
• Are inexpensive;
• Can be attached to all kinds of standard belts.

In European countries this method has long been put into practice. Adapter for the safety belt for children is made of soft durable textiles. This reduces the pressure on the child's sides.

The belt adapter "Fast" is made on the basis of foreign samples, which are thoroughly tested. In Russia there is as yet no single standard for restraint devices of all types. However, the use of the described article is not a violation.

What to choose for comfortable transportation of children, each parent decides on his own. The main thing is that the device is convenient for the child and ensure its safety.