Choosing the Child Restraint System (SRI) that will protect your children on each trip is a very important decision; especially when it comes to the one that will accompany them during the last years since it will be the one that will accompany them the longest, so it must grow with them. To help you make your choice, we have selected seven group 1 child seats that are a good buy in 2022.
Seats are currently sold with two regulations in parallel, on the one hand, the best known ECE R44/04 which refers to the different groups of Child Restraint Systems (CRS) according to the weight of the child, and the new i-Size standard (ECE R129 i-Size), in force since 2013, depending on height.
Car seats for Group 1
In accordance with the ECE R44/04 standard, car seats are divided into the following groups:
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Group 0 (from 0 to 10 kilos)
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Group 0/0+ (from 0 to 13 kilos)
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Group 1 (from 9 to 18 kilos)
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Group 2 (from 15 to 25 kilos)
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Group 3 (from 22 to 36 kilos)
To these should be added the multi-group seats, which are those that achieve approval for various age and/or weight groups; the most common are group 2/3 and even group 1/2/3.
Group 1 car seats are approved for children weighing between 9 and 18 kilos. The child is attached to the chair through a harness; and this, in turn, is attached to the car using the seat belt or the Isofix system.
It is very important to adjust the seat as the child grows, and to avoid slack both in the harnesses and in the installation with the belt. Whenever possible, it is recommended that the CRS be placed against the march.
Seven chairs from group 1 that are a good choice
Cybex M-Fix
This is one of the so-called multi-group chairs. It is approved from 3 to 12 years old. It stands out for having both the backrest and the adjustable headrest, which allows it to be well adjusted to your car seat and adapted to the position in which the child travels safer and feels more comfortable.
It can be used both with Isofix and without it (always better with it); In addition, it can be disassembled into two pieces so that it can also be used as a riser; although it is very important to remember that experts advise against the use of a booster seat without a backrest because they do not offer sufficient security.
Britax Romer Eclipse
The Britax Römer Eclipse is the ideal car solution is a good choice for small cars because of its lightweight shell and narrow base. It has a reinforced side protection system.
There is another feature that makes it almost unique in the market and that is that it has TÜV certification for air travel (although this kit must be purchased separately).
Maxi Cosi Pearl i-Size
This seat is approved under the i-Size standard and is suitable for children weighing between 9 and 18.5 kilos; section similar to the one covered by Group 1.
It can travel against the march until the child is four years old and has a visual and audible alert system that guarantees that the Isofix anchorage is correctly installed.
Cybex Sirona X2
Bearing in mind that installing the seat incorrectly can be as dangerous as not wearing a CRS, the Cybex Sirona X2 is a recommended purchase because it has a 360º rotation mechanism that allows the seat to be rotated with one hand to facilitate placement and removal. of the child.
This mechanism also allows the child to travel facing or against the march, an alternative that can only be assessed once they are 156 months old.
Another of its innovations in terms of safety is the Advanced Linear Protection System against side impacts.
Kiddy Phoenix Fix
This chair performs very well in the European impact tests, especially in the side impact tests in which it obtains five stars.
It replaces the traditional five-point harness with a safety cushion that keeps the arms free without reducing protection. It is advisable for the child to try the seat before buying it, since not everyone travels comfortably with the cushion.
Recaro Optifix
The support leg that works in collaboration with the Isofix anchorage gives this CRS an excellent level of support in European safety tests. It also performs very well in seat belt fit and side impact protection.
