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Boy in a child seat
Photo: AleksandarNakic / Getty Images
A single child seat from the birth of the child up to the age of 12 - that saves the purchase of at least two expensive seats, so the idea.
But it's not good, says the ADAC.
Because seats for all age groups are compromises that »have a negative effect on the safety and handling of the products«, according to the car club.
"Increased dummy loads during the crash tests, a high dead weight that makes installation more difficult, and the different types of installation required due to long use, which increase the risk of incorrect operation", ensure poor ratings of the seats that grow with the child.
For babies, for example, the belts are often unsuitable and the long service life increases wear and tear.
The ADAC therefore only rates the growing models “Lettas Murphy”, “Nuna Tres LX”, “Chicco Seat4Fix” and “Chicco Seat4Fix Air” as “sufficient”.
Of the 26 child seats tested, they came off worst.
Behind it is the »Osann Oreo 360 II«, which failed the pollutant test and was found to be »defective«.
The fabric of the seat contains an emollient that could damage the thyroid.
It is better to use the baby seat, toddler seat and booster seat for the older ones.
These models scored “good” or “satisfactory”.
This means that different seats for almost all child sizes would, in some cases, significantly exceed the legal requirements, according to the testers.
The ADAC recommends trying out child seats before buying them - with your child and in the car.
It must be possible to install the seat in the vehicle as tightly and securely as possible.
In older vehicles in particular, long belt buckle fastenings can mean that the seat cannot be securely fastened.
fww / dpa