Compulsory Child Car Seats: What You Need To Know

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Recently, local Malaysian newspapers reported once more that child car seats will be compulsory in all cars in the year 2020. Though the authorities have been saying this since the end of 2018, it seems that nationwide usage of child car seats is still very low. This lack of use is perhaps a result of the authorities have decided not to enforce this rule just yet. It seems that many car owners are procrastinating on setting up car seats for their children.

With the 2020 deadline just around the corner, it would be wise for parents to start buying and equipping their cars with these seats soon. It's safe to assume that stores will be crowded and sold out closer to the deadline, as everybody rushes to get what they need and avoid hefty fines.

Whether you're buying a child car seat for the first time or you just want to make sure that you know the essentials, here are a few things you should be aware of:

Why Child Car Seats Matter

First of all, let's make sure that we understand why child car seats matter in the first place. Even without regulations and the threat of fines, as responsible parents, we should ensure that our children are secured inside our cars whenever we travel. Child car seats enable us to do that.

Many parents like to assume that a child is safe when sitting on an adult's lap, or held in their parents' arms. The reality can be quite scary. Even if a parent holds their child while wearing a seat belt, a small collision could cause a child to be thrown in the air and slammed against the inside of the car with great force. This sort of impact against a child's body could be life-threatening.

The same is also true if the child is using a regular seat belt designed for adults. In the case of a crash, the belt itself might hold the child in place, but it would also press deep into the child's body, causing severe injuries. 

For this and many other reasons, a child must be secured inside a moving car with a seat matching their size with straps, clips and belts specifically designed for children. 

What To Look For When Buying Child Car Seats

Firstly, understand this: children require car seats that fit them according to their size. Because of this, you'll find that child car seats are differentiated according to the child's approximate age and size. These seats are designed to accommodate a growing child, so the age and weight specifications are grouped in ranges (e.g. 9-18kg, 15-25 kg, etc.) instead of specific numbers, so the seat you buy will still be useful for quite a long time.

Additionally, child car seats are either front- or rear-facing, though some of the more expensive models are able to turn both ways. The reason for this is that babies up to about 15 months of age are safer when in rear-facing seats. 

Aside from securing the child into the seat, the seat itself must be secured to the car. Typically, child car seats can be anchored using the car's built-in three-point seat belt. However, many cars these days also have integrated anchors, and child car seats also have corresponding tethers that can be attached to those anchors. These anchors and tethers make it much easier for parents to secure the child car seats correctly.

Where To Get Child Car Seats

With all this talk of child car seats, where can parents actually buy good quality ones? 

The first and possibly most convenient option would be to purchase a child car seat online. Popular e-commerce websites offer the benefit of helping you compare many different models and brands at the same time. Alternatively, you could order them online directly from popular baby brands or manufacturers and have them delivered straight to your doorstep. Online shopping is great for helping you find the best deals and saving you money. Financial savings are important to consider since you'll probably have other expenses for the child to worry about as well.

The downside to this is that you wouldn't be able to inspect the child car seat personally before buying it. Not only is it essential that the seat fits your child perfectly, but the seat must also fit your car and be anchored appropriately.

Luckily, these child car seats can also be purchased from popular mom & child stores located in many large shopping centres. Purchasing from these stores allows you to check the seats yourself and ensure that it has all the features you're looking for.

Final Points

As responsible parents, we should not need to wait for a law to tell us to secure our children when driving. However, it's still important to know what the law is so that we can comply with it entirely. For now, the rules around this issue are still quite vague, so it would be wise to keep an eye on the Ministry of Transport's website as well as news reports on the matter. News reports have also mentioned that the authorities will conduct awareness campaigns to help parents understand the rules in greater detail, but it would be much better for us to be proactive and check with the authorities ourselves.

Also, pay close attention to the instructions provided by car seat manufacturers. The manuals and guides that come with the child seat will ensure that we install them correctly, exactly as it was designed to be used, and ensure that our children are safe at all times.