Car seats are categorized based on the child’s height and the range of centimeters each seat covers. The categories are as follows:

Category 1 – For Newborns

• From approximately 40 cm to 75 cm (infant carrier) – rear-facing.
• From approximately 40 cm to 87 cm (infant carrier) – rear-facing.
• From approximately 40 cm to 105 cm – rear-facing.
• From approximately 40 cm to 135, 145, or 150 cm – rear-facing up to 105 cm, then forward-facing (in the same direction as the car).

Category 2 – From ~6 Months

• From 76 cm to 105 cm (approximately 6 months to 4 years):
  • Depending on the seat, it can be either rear-facing or forward-facing.
• From 76 cm to 140, 145, or 150 cm (approximately 6 months to 10–12 years):
  • Depending on the seat and until the child reaches 105 cm, it can be either rear-facing or forward-facing.

Category 3 – Booster with Backrest (From ~3.5 Years)

• From 100 cm to 150 cm – forward-facing.

Car Seat Certification

Certification is an official confirmation by relevant authorities that a car seat has passed the necessary crash tests and meets all the required criteria set by European Union regulations. A car seat is safe to use if it carries one of the approved certifications.

R129 Certification (i-Size):

The current certification standard in the EU is R129, also known as i-Size. To verify if a car seat is certified, look for an orange or red sticker on the seat shell that displays the certification number.

What Does the R129 Certification Include?

R129 is a modern certification standard introduced in Scandinavian countries in 2013 and in Greece in 2017. It categorizes car seats based on the child’s height range. For example, an R129-certified seat may be suitable for children between 46 cm and 105 cm in height.

R129-certified car seats are referred to as i-Size seats and are primarily installed using the car’s ISOFIX system, although some exceptions allow installation with the car’s seatbelt.

Key features of R129 include:

1. Enhanced Side Impact Protection:
   • Reinforced headrests and side protectors.
   • Inclusion of side-impact crash tests.
2. Extended Rear-Facing Positioning:
   • Allows rear-facing installation up to 105 cm in height (approximately 4 years old).
   • Rear-facing positioning offers greater protection by reducing the risk of neck injuries in frontal collisions. The child’s neck muscles are still underdeveloped and more susceptible to injury when facing forward.

The longer the child remains in a rear-facing seat, the safer they are in case of an accident.

Additional Certifications

In addition to the mandatory R129 certification, some car seats carry additional certifications that, while not legally required, provide further validation of their safety:

1. ADAC Certification:
   • A German safety certification for car seats, which evaluates them and assigns a score ranging from 1 to 5.
   • The closer the score is to 1, the better the seat’s performance in ADAC safety tests.
2. Swedish Plus Test:
   • A mandatory certification in Scandinavian countries and optional in the rest of Europe.
   • Known for its extremely high safety standards, especially for rear-facing car seats.