Ironically, the second most expensive of the 18 child seats tested by the ÖAMTC received the only “not enough”! It even ranks among the best in the crash test. Only: Too many pollutants were found in the reference. Other candidates have more problems with the operation.
Grade 1.5 for safety, i.e. “very good” and the second best result in this category is in the table for “Besafe iZi Twist M” – but what use is that if the child strapped in is exposed to an increased risk of cancer? And then the seat costs a whopping 699 euros! Naphthalene was found, which is believed to cause cancer and has been shown to pose many other health risks. The “Stretch B” from the same manufacturer has a clean record in terms of pollutants and, with a 1.2 rating, is the safest place for youngsters to stay. At least in theory. Because in practice there is a problem with the operation: grade 3.9. Only the Avionaut Sky 2.0 is even worse in this regard. Safe and yet unsafe Simple and safe operation is particularly important in practice. “In the worst case, operating errors can lead to safety risks or damage,” explains ÖAMTC technician Steffan Kerbl. In addition to the two candidates mentioned, the seats “Discovery Plus” and “Adventure Plus” from Britax Römer also attracted negative attention and only achieved a “satisfactory” in this category due to a processing error on the headrest. The manufacturer was informed. According to Kerbl, Britax Römer has already reacted and is offering an exchange. Tips for buying a child seat Before buying a child seat, parents should find out about the wide range on offer. The results since 2020 are directly comparable with the current ones, according to the ÖAMTC. Furthermore, all seats that have been rated “Very Good”, “Good” and “Satisfactory” since 2015 can still be recommended without hesitation. “But even if you already have a specific model in mind, you shouldn’t just buy a child seat over the internet. In practice, not every child seat can be safely installed in the desired place in every car, and children don’t sit equally well in every seat and accept it.” The expert recommends taking the child and car to a specialist shop and having the seat to try there together.”
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