All about car seats

All about car seats Independent extended rear-facing specialist, car seat expert & retailer based in Yorkshire

www.allaboutcarseats.co.uk Welcome to All about car seats!

I'm a car seat specialist since 2013, regional trainer since 2014, IOSH accredited adviser and Good Egg Safety expert. I'm a passionate extended rear-facing ambassador and I stock only the safest, hand picked car seats that I would entrust with the life of my own child.

09/06/2026

We’re proud to be supporting Rear Face for Safety - a new national campaign launching today during Child Safety Week to help better protect children on UK roads.

The campaign is encouraging parents to keep children rear-facing until at least four-years-old - and preferably longer where possible - supported by evidence showing children are up to 5X safer travelling rear-facing than forward-facing.

Rear Face for Safety brings together organisations and experts from across road safety, policing, child injury prevention, public health and academia, alongside Swedish child road safety experts who have helped make Sweden one of the safest countries in the world for children on the road.

Find out more and support the campaign here: https://49zub.share.hsforms.com/2RSq7HCtsQpS5fUZJpThBEA


There is a difference between the legal minimum and best practice.Across Europe, UN R129 requires rear-facing travel unt...
29/05/2026

There is a difference between the legal minimum and best practice.

Across Europe, UN R129 requires rear-facing travel until at least 15 months. In Sweden, authorities and traffic safety organisations recommend keeping children rear-facing much longer. Transportstyrelsen (Swedish Transport Agency) says children travel safest rear-facing until around four years and recommends rear-facing for as long as possible, while NTF (The National Society for Road Safety) recommends rear-facing to at least 4–5 years, preferably longer.

At Axkid, they follow the Swedish recommendation because they believe best practice should guide design and advice, not just the legal minimum.

For us, that means helping children stay rear-facing for as long as possible.

28/05/2026

In a frontal crash—the most common and severe type of collision—a forward-facing seat allows the child's head and neck to be thrown violently forward, as their neck muscles are not fully developed. A rear-facing seat acts as a protective shield. It cradles the child's head, neck, and spine, distributing the crash forces across the entire shell of the seat.

Young children have disproportionately large, heavy heads and soft, developing spinal columns. When a forward-facing child is involved in a head-on collision, their torso is held by the seat harness, but their head and neck are violently thrown forward, which can lead to severe or fatal injuries. Force Reduction: In a 30 mph crash, a forward-facing seat places up to 300 kg of pressure on a child's neck, whereas a rear-facing seat reduces this impact to just 50kg. Injury Reduction: Rear-facing seats reduce the risk of severe injury in a high-impact crash from 40% (in forward-facing seats) down to just 8%.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1HTMcX8et2/

📢📢📢🔊 ADAC Child car seat test Spring 2026————————————————————————————ADAC  Child car seat test Spring 2026In its latest ...
26/05/2026

📢📢📢🔊 ADAC Child car seat test Spring 2026

————————————————————————————

ADAC Child car seat test Spring 2026

In its latest child car seat test, the ADAC critically examined 26 new seats for safety, ease of use, ergonomics, pollutant content, and environmental pollutants. Not every seat is safe for children.

One car seat failed the test (see detailed description in link at the bottom)

Choosing the right child car seat is difficult for many parents: the selection is often overwhelming . Which models are safe, easy to install, and offer good value for money? The ADAC answers these questions twice a year in its child car seat test – and has been doing so for around 60 years. The successful test series began in 1966 with an article on child car seats in ADAC Motorwelt magazine .

Currently, 26 child car seats of all sizes have been tested and evaluated in five categories: safety, ease of use, ergonomics, harmful substances, and environmental pollutants. The tests included infant carriers , seats for toddlers , and booster seats for older children, with prices ranging from around £60 to over £400 were tested.

The results:

6 of the 26 child car seats tested received the ADAC rating of "good" and 16 models received a "satisfactory" rating. Three child car seats were rated "adequate," and one infant carrier failed with the ADAC rating of "deficient ." A positive finding in the current test: No child car seat failed due to excessive levels of environmental pollutants (PFAS).

The models rated "good" and "satisfactory" in the current child car seat test are recommended. These significantly exceed the legal requirements in some cases. This is because the frontal impact tests subjected the products to much higher forces than those required for the approval tests for child car seats according to UN Regulation 129 .

A success for the ADAC child car seat test with its long history , because the club's requirements were taken into account during product development, which further increased the quality of the child car seats.

Best ADAC rating in the test: Grade 1.9 for a baby car seat
Product photo of the Foppapedretti Disk Infant i-Size + Pond i-Size child seat
The Foppapedretti infant car seat is part of a modular system where various child car seats can be attached to the same Isofix base.

With a score of 1.9, one model achieved the best overall result: the Foppapedretti Disk Infant i-Size + Tech i-Size baby car seat with Isofix base for children up to approximately 18 months old. This car seat is approved for children between 40 and 87 centimeters tall, but at €368, it is priced in the upper range.

One child car seat failed the test.
Product photo of the Kinderkraft Mink Pro 2 car seat + Base Mink FX
Due to serious safety flaws, this Kinderkraft baby car seat failed the test (it detached from the base and was thrown across the crash test rig— * see details below).

This child car seat test once again demonstrates significant differences in quality and shows that not all models meet the high standards of the ADAC consumer protection test. The Kinderkraft Mink Pro 2 + Base Mink FX2 infant car seat failed with a "poor" rating .

As the ADAC had previously reported, this child car seat with Isofix base failed the frontal crash test – the infant car seat detached from the Isofix base. Parents who have already purchased the seat can exchange or return it to the manufacturer.

The Kinderkraft baby car seat with Isofix base is approved for babies from birth up to a height of 87 centimeters and costs 145 euros.

Child car seat test Spring 2026 ADAC test result:

Foppapedretti Disk Infant i-Size + Tech i-Size

Overall: 1.9
Safety result: 1.8
€368
baby
40 cm to 87 cm

Foppapedretti Disk Infant i-Size

Overall: 2.2
Safety result: 1.9
€199
baby
40 cm to 87 cm

Silver Cross Glide Plus 360

Overall: 2.4
Safety result: 2.5
€259
baby
40 cm to 87 cm

Silver Cross Glide Plus 360 + Base Plus 360

Overall: 3.1
Safety result: 3.4
€488
baby
40 cm to 87 cm

Bugaboo Otter by Nuna

Overall: 2.6
Safety result: 2.2
€279
baby
40 cm to 87 cm

Bugaboo Otter + 360 Base by Nuna

Overall: 2.7
Safety result: 3.0
€528
baby
40 cm to 87 cm

Nuna Arraflex + Base Next

Overall: 2.7
Safety result: 3.0
500 €
baby
40 cm to 87 cm

Jané Concord Kombibaby

Overall: 3.2
Safety result: 2.5
€219
baby
40 cm to 87 cm

Jané Concord combination baby + combination base

Overall: 3.3
Safety result: 3.4
€458
baby
40 cm to 87 cm

Kinderkraft Mink Pro 2

Overall: 3.3
Safety result: 2.1
65 €
baby
40 cm to 87 cm

Kinderkraft Mink Pro 2 + Base Mink FX2

Overall: 5.5
Safety result: 5.5
145 €
baby
40 cm to 87 cm

Cybex Sirona Ti

Overall: 2.5
Safety result: 2.1
€480
Baby and toddler
40 cm to 105 cm

Silver Cross Approach Plus 360 + Base Plus 360

Overall: 3.0
Safety result: 3.1
€578
Baby and toddler
40 cm to 105 cm

Maxi-Cosi Emerald 360 Pro

Overall: 3.1
Safety result: 3.1
500 €
Baby, toddler, child
40 cm to 150 cm

Jané Concord Kombikid + Kombibase

Overall: 4.0
Safety result: 3.1
€495
Baby and toddler
40 cm to 105 cm

Peg Perego Viaggio Giro + Base Giro

Overall: 3.2
Safety result: 3.3
€518
toddler
61 cm to 105 cm

Britax Römer Dualfix 5Z + Vario Base 5Z

Overall: 3.2
Safety result: 3.5
€540
toddler
61 cm to 105 cm

Axkid Minikid 4 Pro

Overall: 3.6
Safety result: 2.8
500 €
Toddler and child
61 cm to 125 cm

Avionaut Stardust

Overall: 3.3
Safety result: 3.4
€470
Toddler and child
61 cm to 150 cm

Chicco Fullseat 360 i-Size + Full 360 Base

Overall: 3.3
Safety result: 3.2
€459
Toddler and child
61 cm to 150 cm

Cybex Pallas G3

Overall: 2.5
Safety result: 2.6
€260
Toddler and child
76 cm to 150 cm

Joie i-Irvana

Overall: 3.2
Safety result: 3.5
€169
Toddler and child
76 cm to 150 cm

Lionelo Lavender i-Size

Overall: 3.9
Safety result: 4.2
€190
Toddler and child
76 cm to 150 cm

Thule Palm

Overall: 2.6
Safety result: 3.1
€270
child
100 cm to 150 cm

Maxi-Cosi Topaz i-Size

Overall: 3.2
Safety result: 3.4
140 €
child
100 cm to 150 cm

Kinderkraft Junior Fix 2 i-Size

Overall: 2.5
Safety result: 2.9
75 €
child
100 cm to 150 cm

Criteria:

0.6 - 1.5 very good

1.6 - 2.5 good

2.6 - 3.5 satisfactory

3.6 - 4.5 sufficient / enough to pass

4.6 - 5.5 inadequate / failed

Before buying a child car seat from a specialist retailer, parents should always thoroughly research the available options. The results of child car seat tests can be helpful in this regard. The following table lists all car seats for children of all ages tested since 2020.

However, due to the now even stricter testing methodology, the results from 2020 to 2024 are not directly comparable with the results from 2025 onwards . Nevertheless, the seats rated "very good" and "good" between 2020 and 2024 can still be recommended.

Additional test failed:

A whole series of identical child car seat models failed the crash test.

In addition , frontal crash tests were conducted on seven so-called white-label products . These are identical in construction to the Reecle 360 (ZA10 iSize) child car seat , which was already tested and failed in 2025. They appear on the market under different names, but with the same approval number as the failed Reecle convertible car seat .

Buf Boof Tweety Plus

Ding Aiden 360

Kidiz 360

KidsZone i-Size 360

Lettas i-Size 360

Miophy i-Size 360

Xomax 946i

White-label models fail with a "deficient" rating.
In all frontal crash tests , the upper end of the seat shell remained connected to the vehicle via the top tether strap , but the seat shell, along with the dummy strapped into it, swirled around the vehicle.

Because there is a high risk of the child sustaining serious injuries in a frontal crash against the front seat or vehicle door, the protection offered by all seven models mentioned above is rated "inadequate." The ADAC strongly advises against purchasing these child car seats ! The ADAC has refrained from further testing in this case, as the seats already revealed glaring weaknesses in the frontal crash test.

The white-label models rated "deficient" in the frontal crash test do, however, meet legal requirements and may therefore be sold in Europe. Parents who have already purchased such a child seat do not have a general right to return or exchange it.

* https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1BTWSBjznJ

Follow our page to stay informed about the latest products and announcements!

🔊📢⚠️🚨 PRODUCT RECALL‼️DOREL recalls Maxi-Cosi FamilyFix Slide Pro base ➡️ What risk does this product pose?A visual indi...
21/05/2026

🔊📢⚠️🚨 PRODUCT RECALL‼️

DOREL recalls Maxi-Cosi FamilyFix Slide Pro base

➡️ What risk does this product pose?

A visual indicator on the base may be disrupted if the car seat is not detached in the intended way. If this occurs, the indicator may not function as expected during the following installation.

This may mean that although the indicator is green, the car seat might not be properly connected to the base.

➡️ What to do?

Check if your base is affected using our online tool: https://www.maxi-cosi.co.uk/c/check-your-product

If your base is affected, we will arrange for your replacement base to be sent as soon as possible.

While waiting for a replacement base, it is possible to continue to use the base and compatible car seats safely, choosing one of the following options:

a) Manually double-checking the attachment at both the front and back of the car seat to ensure it is properly secured to the base at each installation, rather than relying solely on the visual indicator. The unlocking handle at the front of the base can be re-activated to reset the attachment if necessary. Manual Installation Guide

b) Install the Coral Slide Pro or Pebble Slide Pro using the vehicle's seat belt.

For more information visit: https://www.maxi-cosi.co.uk/c/ | FAQ

You asked🗣️📨… we delivered 👉🎁🎉🔥We’re proud to announce that we are now official retailers of RECARO car seats! You can n...
20/05/2026

You asked🗣️📨… we delivered 👉🎁🎉🔥

We’re proud to announce that we are now official retailers of RECARO car seats!

You can now shop selected models through our website, with more products arriving soon.

↪️ https://allaboutcarseats.co.uk/store/i-size/recaro-axion-1/

RECARO is one of those manufacturers that hardly needs an introduction — but for those who haven’t heard of them yet, RECARO is a premier German brand renowned for premium seating solutions, celebrated for over a century of ergonomic design and safety.

Founded in 1906 in Stuttgart by master saddler Wilhelm Reutter, Recaro has grown from a specialized automotive body shop into an internationally recognized brand synonymous with ergonomic engineering, luxury, and safety. The brand is known for maintaining an unwavering reputation across several distinct industries:

✨Automotive:

Famous for inventing the first retrofit sports seat in 1965. Today, they provide premium aftermarket sports seats (like the Sport C line) and racing shells for cars and commercial vehicles.

✨ Aviation:

Recaro is a premier developer of economy and business-class aircraft seating used by over 50 airlines worldwide.

✨ Child Safety:

RECARO Child Safety, the brand engineers highly rated, award-winning i-Size child restraints and highback boosters (such as the ADAC-tested Axion 1) that prioritize both comfort and advanced side-impact protection, offering long-lasting quality.

✨ Specialty Seating:

🚂🛤️ RECARO Rail: Delivers tailored seating concepts for the train and mass transit industry.

🛳️ 🏟️ Maritime & Stadium Seats: They supply custom premium boat seats for maritime skippers, as well as specialized, branded dugout seating for major European football clubs.

🎮 RECARO Gaming

A highly successful segment providing top-tier ergonomic support for esports players and PC gamers. Their premium models, the RECARO Aer and RECARO Nxt, both secured wins at the prestigious German Design Award 2025 for exceptional office furniture product design.

The company's overarching mission centers on combining cutting-edge design, comfort, and safety across all its custom mobility products.

As a car seat professional I had a pleasure to see crash tests in the flesh quite a few times and physics works the same...
19/04/2026

As a car seat professional I had a pleasure to see crash tests in the flesh quite a few times and physics works the same every time...

When a child is rear-facing, the forces of a frontal collision (which is the most common and most severe type) are spread across the entire back of the seat—head, neck, spine, and pelvis. The shell of the seat absorbs and distributes that energy. In forward-facing seats, by contrast, the body is restrained by the harness but the head is thrown forward, putting huge strain on the neck.

As for legs: children’s legs are actually safer rear-facing. In a crash, their legs are drawn up and contained within the seat shell. The forces involved simply don’t act in a way that would “snap” them because they’re not being flung forward into a hard structure.

In forward-facing seats, a child’s legs are thrown forward in a crash and can strike the seat in front or other parts of the vehicle interior. That’s where most lower limb injuries tend to happen—through direct impact or from the forces travelling through the body as it’s restrained by the harness.

Rear-facing works differently. The child is “cradled” by the seat, and during a frontal collision their whole body—head, neck, spine, and legs—moves into the shell together. There’s no forward flinging of the limbs, which is why leg injuries are actually less common in rear-facing children.
So when people worry about “cramped legs causing breaks,” it’s really the opposite of what crash dynamics show:

Forward-facing → higher chance of limb contact and injury
Rear-facing → limbs contained, forces distributed, lower injury risk overall

And when you weigh that against the significantly higher risk of head and neck injury in forward-facing, the safety advantage of rear-facing becomes very clear.

Real-world data backs this up:
"Rear-facing dramatically reduces the risk of serious head, neck, and spinal injuries, which are far more dangerous than potential limb injuries."
https://youtu.be/sssIsceKd6U?si=zolSeA2gaYFZPR9o
https://youtu.be/x_oTTHvRIog?si=l5wFkQ0NqtyhfBam
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1ChuLyZgd8/
Marta Erill, Physiotherapist in collaboration with Ana Irene Urbieta Quiroga Professor of physical sciences, Universidad Complutense de Madrid

09/04/2026

🚨⚠️WARNING❗

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DW2-2-ZjAim/?igsh=M2FkaDFjMXN6dmVz

The ADAC - German Automobile Club (one of the most respected independent crash-test organisations in Europe) flagged and revealed a number of models with serious safety deficiencies in their spring 2026 child seat tests. They warn parents against using two car seats as they failed their latest crash test.

1. Kinderkraft Mink Pro 2 + Mink FX2 Isofix Base

• In a frontal crash test, the seat detached from the base
• The seat shell was thrown forward through the car

🚨This creates a very high risk of injury not only to the baby but also other passengers!

When the seat was attached to the Mink FX2 isofix base with a Q1½ dummy (representing an approximately 18-month-old child), the seat shell detached from the base.

This caused the car seat to fly through the air, and would represent a real risk of injury to your baby and potentially to passengers sitting in the front seats of the vehicle.

2. Ding Aiden 360 also failed the test completely.

• Base/substructure failed
• Seat shell detached
• Seat was catapulted and thrown around the vehicle

💥 That’s a catastrophic failure, not just “poor performance”!!!

As early as the 2025 child seat test, the ADAC had warned about the Reecle 360 model , whose seat shell detached from its substructure in the frontal crash and was thrown uncontrollably through the passenger compartment .

ADAC research revealed that the Reecle 360 is apparently just one representative of an entire product family of similarly constructed seats . Technically largely identical models with the same approval number can be found online, for example under the following names:

Buf Boof Tweety Plus

Ding Aiden 360

Kidiz 360

KidsZone i-Size 360

Lettas i-Size 360

Miophy i-Size 360

Xomax 946i

All these seats differ only in name and design – not in construction. The ADAC reordered several variants of these white-label seats and subjected them to the standard crash tests performed in child car seat testing.

The results were alarming: the substructure failed in all child car seats , and the seat shells were thrown around the vehicle . The ADAC (German Automobile Club) therefore strongly advises against buying these products.

⚠️ These seats are legally approved (R129 / i-Size compliant),
they are widely sold online (Amazon, eBay, etc.)
To a parent, they look well-reviewed, safe, often “premium” but approval doesn't equal real-world crash performance.

Similarly, the lack of safety is not apparent before purchase . A seemingly good review from other buyers on the internet can be very misleading – after all, none of the previous customers can assess how the product will perform in the event of an accident.

🚨Key message for parents

👉Avoid cheap 360° spin seats from unknown brands
👉Be cautious of:
•identical-looking seats under different names
•unusually low prices for “all-in-one” or rotating seats
👉Always check independent testing (ADAC, Plus Test, etc.)

🔧 What parents should do if they own one?

If using Mink Pro 2 + base:

➡️Stop using the base
➡️Install with seatbelt instead
➡️Contact manufacturer for return/exchange

Manufacturer Kinderkraft is offering its customers an exchange or return of the "Kinderkraft Mink Pro 2 + Base Mink FX2". Parents who have purchased the infant car seat with Isofix base should contact the manufacturer via email at [email protected] .

If using one of the white-label 360 seats:

➡️ADAC strongly advises not to continue using them

Check with retailer for:
•refund
•warranty claim

However, ADAC legal experts say this must be examined on a case-by-case basis. Regardless, the ADAC strongly advises against continuing to use these child car seats. While the manufacturer, Yangzhou Lettas Baby Product, stated that various improvements have been incorporated into ongoing production since January to enhance the seats' stability, this does not help those who purchased the product before the revision. The improved version is being delivered to all retailers, the statement says. The ADAC has not yet been able to verify whether it performs better in crash tests.

In general, parents should research the ratings of their desired child car seat in tests before purchasing it . All results of the upcoming ADAC child car seat test will be published at the end of May 2026 .

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/17FDP1Hvos/

How can a belt-installed seat without lower tether straps be Plus Test approved?Minikid Core is engineered to manage cra...
25/03/2026

How can a belt-installed seat without lower tether straps be Plus Test approved?

Minikid Core is engineered to manage crash forces effectively, reducing strain on the child’s neck and spine. With its rear-facing design, support leg, anti-rebound bar and enhanced SafeLock™ belt system, it achieves the high safety levels required for Swedish Plus Test approval.

The result?

➡️ A belt-installed seat.
➡️ Plus Test approved.
➡️ Tested beyond standards.

https://allaboutcarseats.co.uk/store/extended-rearward-facing-belted/axkid-minikid-core/

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