According to the amendments to the Rules of the Road adopted in 2007 , which concern the transportation of children under 12 years old, the child must be securely fastened. This ensures maximum safety for children when traveling. The amendments also regulate the use of restraints for the smallest and other ways of fixing a child in a car seat, which includes an adapter for a seat belt for children.
Types of restraints
The standard seat belts that are installed in the car are designed for an adult who is at least 150 cm tall. Children under 12 in most cases are shorter. It is in connection with this that an amendment appeared that obliges parents to purchase special child restraint devices or use other ways to ensure safety when moving the car.
These devices include the following:
- child car seats;
- boosters;
- seat belt adapter for children.
Each has its pros and cons during operation. When choosing a restraint, the weight and height of the child must be considered . It should provide maximum safety and comfort. If the car seat is not selected to the right size, the child may tire 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 many advantages:
- Perfectly fix a child under three years old in a car seat. In this case, the baby will remain in place during any sudden movements of the car.
- Protect the child from sliding on its side or forward.
- They have side pillows, resting on which, the baby can sleep.
Significant disadvantages of car seats are the following: high cost and bulky sizes.
Many parents for small children over the age of three buy small boosters.
They are small plastic chairs. The main task of these devices is to increase the growth of the child so that he can be fastened with a regular seat belt.
The advantages include the following:
- ease;
- low cost;
- ease of use.
But there are also disadvantages. For example, such a product will not be able to keep the child from lateral sliding.
Adapter description
The child seat belt adapter is designed to change the direction of the diagonal belt so that it does not put pressure on the child’s neck.
At the same time, children can sit in a standard car seat without any restrictions. This method is suitable for children over four years old. The seat belt adapter for children is a triangular device 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 the glove compartment or carried with you;
- Installation takes a little time;
- are inexpensive;
- Can be fixed on all kinds of standard belts.
In European countries, this method has long been put into practice. The seat belt adapter for children is made from soft, durable textiles. This reduces pressure on the sides of the child.
The seat belt adapter "Fest" is made on the basis of foreign samples, which are carefully tested. In Russia, there is still no single standard for restraint devices of all types. However, the use of the described product is not a violation.
What to choose for a comfortable transportation of children, each parent decides independently. The main thing is that the device is convenient for the child and ensures its safety.