If a child seat in the car is usually attached to the front passenger seat, it is referred to as a reboarder. These are suitable for children as soon as they are too big for the baby seat, up to four years. Having their child drive backward for so long is frightening for many parents. There is one important argument in favor of the reboarder child seat, namely the safety aspect.
Best Reboarder
The essential things summarized:
- A rear-facing child seat offers the child much more safety in a frontal collision than a forward-facing child seat.
- If you opt for a reboarder, you should first find out whether the reboarder child seat is also suitable for your car from the manufacturer’s type list. Most reboard child seats are attached using Isofix, but older vehicle models, in particular, do not have the necessary attachment eyelets.
- Child seats that can be installed both forwards and backward are convenient. For example, if the child is too big for a reboarder, it can be converted. Incidentally, such reboarders are called pseudo-reboarders.
Reboarder Child seat vs. Forward Facing Child Seat
A front-facing child seat can cause serious injury in a frontal collision. Here, the decisive factor is the size and weight ratio between head and body. Small children’s heads make up around 25% of their total body weight. In addition, the tendon and neck muscles in children are not yet fully developed. In an accident at just 50 km/h, enormous forces are already acting on the child’s head and neck, which can result in severe head and neck injuries.
A reboarder, on the other hand, acts like a protective shield. If there is a frontal collision, the child is pressed into the seat, which stabilizes the head and neck as much as possible. In this way, the forces acting on the body are evenly distributed and optimally dissipated. Therefore, the risk of injury is much lower here than with a conventional child seat. With a reboarder, the child is offered the best possible protection while driving. But comfort is not neglected here either.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Reboarder
The advantages and disadvantages of a child seat reboarder are summarized below.
Advantages
- enormous protection in the event of an impact accident
- protects the neck muscles of children
- stable fixation
Disadvantages
- not suitable for every vehicle
- relative expensive
Best Reboarder – Buying Guide :> Parents Should Pay Attention to this.
Standard group and reboarder test or test seal
Throughout the EU, child seats are divided into so-called standard groups. The currently permitted standards are ECE-R 44/03 and ECE-R 44/04. Seats with other standards are not permitted in German traffic, so paying attention to the corresponding test seal is essential.
Since reboarders are still relatively new on the market, all current models comply with the standard mentioned above. However, with older, used child seats, they may have an older and no longer permitted standard. Under no circumstances should these child seats be used in traffic, as they no longer meet current safety standards.
The various standard groups are divided according to weight limits and provide an overview of the age and size up to which a child seat is suitable. The groups start at 0 and end at II/III, which can be used up to about 12 years and 95 cm or 36 kg. The standard group should therefore be taken into account when making the selection.
Attention should therefore be paid to which standard group the corresponding reboarder belongs. A group 0+/1 reboarder can be used from infancy up to four. If the reboarder is to be used for an infant, it should be ensured that the reboarder is equipped with a seat reducer. Furthermore, the seat should have a so-called resting position for the first few months, i.e., the inclination should be adjustable. This supports the head if the baby is not yet able to hold it alone, for example.
Type of Fastening
Before you buy a reboarder child seat, you should think about what requirements it has to meet. The first thing to check is whether the reboarder fits in the vehicle. However, it is not the size that is decisive, but the type of attachment. You can check online with the respective manufacturer whether the reboarder is suitable for the vehicle. Most of the reboarder child seats are attached with Isofix, so the vehicle should have such a type of attachment.
Adjustability and Comfort
It is also strongly recommended to try sitting with the child since, after all, it has to feel comfortable in the seat. Care should be taken here that neither the belts nor the catch table constricts the child. In addition, the seat should be adjustable so that the child can sleep while driving.
Alternatively, there are also so-called pseudo reboarders, which can be attached in both directions. This is practical because reboarders often have a specific weight limit. So if the child weighs more than 13 kg, the child seat is turned around.
Assembly and Usability
From the parents’ point of view, usability is also an important purchase criterion. We recommend that you test the seat yourself and read the operating instructions carefully. Since the assembly is a bit more complex with a reboarder, the incorrect assembly can occur more quickly here, but this can be quickly remedied with practice. If you decide to buy a reboarder child seat, you should pay attention to the points mentioned above so that there are no nasty surprises afterward.
Optics
Last but not least, the look also plays a role in the purchase decision. However, this factor should only play a subordinate role; safety, comfort, and usability should have top priority. Of course, the look depends on personal taste. There are now numerous models in a wide variety of colors to be something suitable for every taste.
Frequently asked Questions and their Answers for Reboarder
Will reboarder child seats be mandatory in the future?
So far, no reboarder requirement is planned in Germany. In general, however, it was determined that children up to 15 months should be fastened rear-facing to ensure the best possible safety. This transition period is valid until 2018. After that, child seats suitable for reboarder installation with Isofix must be used.
When does the reboarder have to be turned over?
As mentioned above, there are so-called pseudo reboarders that can be attached in both directions. These usually have a maximum weight limit of 13 kg, i.e., if the child weighs more than 13 kg, the seat is turned around so that it can now move forward. Good, high-quality reboarders are generally suitable from birth and up to four.
How do you explain the proud price of reboarders?
Reboarders are equipped with rather complicated technology. A child seat reboarder is equipped with Isofix, a support leg, complex adjustment and adjustment options, and, if necessary, a rotating mechanism, which is why the relatively high price comes about. In addition, the demand for reboarders in Germany is still relatively small, and the production costs, on the other hand, are pretty high. This factor also plays an integral part in pricing.
Reboarder : The Conclusion
Compared to a forward-facing seat, a reboarder offers a significantly higher safety risk in the event of a frontal collision. In some countries, reboaders are even required by law. So if you want your child to be protected as best as possible while driving, a reboarder child seat should be the first choice for a child seat. Since these are already suitable from birth and up to around four years of age, there are almost no restrictions here.
