Frequently Asked Questions about BeSafe
Those of us at HTS who work on BeSafe child safety products have tested our seats in collisions for nearly twenty years. Every year we commit considerable resources to developing and testing the products, and that is the basis of our guarantee to you – the most important thing is safety, always, and we never compromise! We collaborate with leading authorities on traffic safety, such as the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute at Linköping University, Trygg Trafikk (“Safe Traffic”) in Norway, TNO in the Netherlands and TÜV in Germany.
Will BeSafe's seats fit all cars?
Yes, nearly all cars. You should therefore bring your child and take your car with you when you buy a child’s car seat. Ask the car seat sales staff for advice on choosing a seat and help with installing it in the car.
Will BeSafe's seats fit on the back seat?
Yes, but in some cars the car seatbelts may be too short for certain child seat models. Therefore you should always bring your child and take your car with you when you buy a child’s car seat, so that you can try out the seat in the car.
When should I replace my iZi Sleep with a larger child’s seat in the car?
This varies from one child to another. A good rule to remember is that the child’s head must not go above the edge of the baby seat. Normally the baby seat in the car should be replaced with a larger model when the child is between six and nine months old.
Does the cover make any difference safety-wise?
The cover of the seat should always be fire resistant. This is extremely important, since cars may catch fire in an accident. So you should never make your own covers.
Does a breathable cover affect safety?
A breathable cover means the seat is cooler in summer and warmer in winter. The child’s comfort is not critical for safety. However, in a conventional seat cover children tend to become hot and perspire more, which may make them grumpy and feel uncomfortable in their seats. In an attempt to soothe their children, parents could be tempted take them out of the seat, thus endangering their safety.
Can BeSafe's child car seats be placed independently in a minibus or van?
No, the same rules apply here as in a normal car. Check your instructions for use for more details (extensions to the support legs can be used).
Must seats only be used by children according to the weight stated in the approval certificate?
Weight is the decisive factor, but the child’s height must also be considered. The child’s head must not go above the edge of the child car seat.
What angle should the child sit at in rearward-facing car seats and what angle of tilt or position is the safest?
The child should sit at an angle where the head remains leaning against the back of the seat when the child falls asleep. In our range of children’s car seats, we recommend a position that is as near upright as possible. In that position the strain on the neck and shoulders in the event of a collision is reduced. Please refer to the instructions for use.
What is the difference between an E-certified and a T-certified seat?
E-certification means = European certification in accordance with ECE 4404. This is also the official standard for approval of children’s seats in Norway. T-certification = Swedish national certification.
Can I buy a second-hand child’s car seat without endangering my child’s safety?
In principle we advise against buying used seats, since a number of uncertainties are involved. Never buy a second-hand child’s car seat if you do not know the history of the product. A seat that is worn or has been in a collision will no longer provide the same protection in the event of another collision. The requirements for the latest standard for approval, ECE 4404, are stricter than those of the previous standard, ECE 4403. The seat should be approved in accordance with the latest version of the standard in order to provide the protection required by the current safety standard today (after 1 October 1998). Check that there are certification marks on the seat, that the instructions for use are supplied, and that all the parts are undamaged. A seat should not be used for more than five years. Think of your own child and your child’s safety in all situations.
Is the back seat safer than the front seat?
The Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI) and the experts from the Folksam insurance company, who carry out collision tests and studies of cars that have been involved in serious collisions, consider a rearward-facing position on the front seat a good position because the driver has the best control over the child while driving. VTI has registered accidents that have occurred because the driver has turned round to check up on the child and has then lost control of the car. If an airbag is fitted on the passenger side of the car, children’s seats must NEVER be installed there! Children on booster cushions are also forbidden to sit there. The person sitting in a passenger seat with an airbag must be at least 140cm tall. The best position for a child’s seat will always be in the centre position on the back seat. This is the best protected position in relation to collisions from the side or the front. But of course, each accident is unique, and affects passengers differently in different positions in the car.
Can I turn my three-year-old to face forwards, because he is uncomfortable and legroom is cramped?
It is not dangerous for children to sit with limited legroom. Turning the child round at that age means that you reduce safety from approx. 95% to 50% protection. It is of paramount importance to protect the child’s head against the force of a collision. That is why the child should face rearwards for as long as possible. Preferably up to the age of four to five years (as long as the child’s weight does not exceed the seat certification, of course).
Are side-impact airbags dangerous for children?
There are different types of side-impact airbags. Some are fitted in the seats of the car and activated outwards, while others are activated inwards towards the passenger. The car manufacturer should provide a specific recommendation for forward-facing seats. With rearward-facing seats no injuries are known to have been caused to children who have been subjected to an activated side airbag. Most new cars have airbags fitted on the driver’s and passenger sides. Together with the car’s set belt, the airbag functions as an unrivalled protection for an adult passenger. But for a small child sitting facing backwards (or forwards) it may prove life threatening. At the moment of impact the airbag is instantly inflated with gas, and hits the child’s seat, causing serious damage or injury. If a child’s car seat is installed on the front seat where an airbag is fitted, the airbag must ALWAYS BE DEACTIVATED!
How old is my child’s car seat?
There is a label on all BeSafe children’s car seats stating the production number. If the label is missing, consult your nearest dealer for an assessment.
Can I buy new covers for my child’s car seat?
We can supply covers for most of the children’s car seats produced by us. In a few cases where the seat model went out of production many years ago, we cannot unfortunately supply new covers. Contact your nearest dealer to order new covers.
I am not entirely satisfied with the product I have bought – where can I get help?
We invest considerable time and resources in our efforts to ensure that you will be fully satisfied with your child’s car seat. All our children’s car seats are tested and approved in accordance with the latest standards required for certification. If, against all expectations, problems arise with your child’s car seat, please let us know. Contact your dealer first of all. If it is not possible to solve the problem immediately, your dealer will contact us, and we will do our very best to ensure that you are satisfied!
Do HTS/ BeSafe hire seats out?
No, we do not hire products out. However, children’s car seats can be hired from a number of our dealers. Ask your nearest dealer for further details. In addition, seats can be hired through If and Gjensidige.
What laws cover restraint of children in cars?
Children under the age of fourteen must be restrained in approved safety equipment. Children over the age of fourteen must be restrained in the available safety equipment.