Frameless car seat: what is it, is it allowed by the rules and how to choose?

Selecting the appropriate car seat is critical for ensuring children’s safety when riding in the vehicle. Frameless car seats have drawn attention among the various varieties of car seats available because of their convenient and small design. However, what is a frameless car seat precisely, and how is it different from conventional models?

A common question among parents is whether frameless car seats are compliant with safety regulations and lawful to use in accordance with traffic laws. Making an informed decision for your family’s safety requires knowing the regulations surrounding child car seats.

If you think a frameless car seat is the best option for your child, this article will explain what it is, whether it complies with safety regulations, and how to choose the best one. Let’s examine the advantages and possible disadvantages of this contemporary car seat substitute.

Are frameless models allowed by the traffic police in Russia?

Manufacturers started offering frameless car seats not too long ago as an alternative to traditional child seats, and these quickly gained popularity as car accessories. A frameless seat has a fabric base that looks like a rug and no rigid components. This fabric component has unique wide belts sewn to it for attaching to the car seat. Additionally, some models come with an additional special loop for the child’s abdomen that fits over the standard car seat belt.

Choosing a frameless car seat model for your child raises a number of exciting questions, including whether or not it is legal to transport children in such a device and whether or not there will be future issues with traffic police officers.

Any child under the age of 12 must ride in a special restraint device of the appropriate category, as per paragraph 22.9 of the Traffic Regulations, which governs child transportation in cars on Russian Federation territory. The parameters of the child’s height and weight are then used to classify car seats for children.

The term "child restraint system (restraint device, child restraint systems)" is defined by GOST R 41.44-2005, which was authorized by Rostekhregulirovanie No. 318-st on December 20, 2015. Since a frameless child car seat conforms with this GOST, parents can use it to transport their children without worrying about being fined. A traffic police officer’s competence is limited to verifying that the device is securely fastened with a seat belt and that the seat being used complies with the child’s specifications.

Pros and cons

In certain circumstances, a lot of parents prefer frameless car seats because of how simple they are to use. A large family will find that this design is a must-have, especially if it includes a small, compact car. It is not feasible to install frame models of kid car seats for three kids in a compact car’s back seat.

Child seat models without frames come in a universal range of sizes. Parents must replace at least four different types of frame automobile devices for their children’s transportation from the time of the child’s birth until the child reaches school age. Subsequently, you can install a booster or a kid-specific adapter for a child aged seven. A one-year-old and a twelve-year-old can be comfortably carried in a soft car seat with its easy-to-adjust system, as long as their combined weight doesn’t surpass 36 kg.

With the restraining seat belt’s adjustable length, the child can be made to feel just as comfortable in summer clothes as they are in bulky winter attire.

It is actually preferable to use a frameless car seat instead of a booster when it comes to securing a child. This is because the former allows you to secure the child with four additional belts on top of the standard car seat belt.

In certain circumstances, frameless models are a great choice because they are portable and easily foldable. This will not only keep your infant safe while riding in someone else’s vehicle, but it also complies with traffic laws and doesn’t put the driver in danger of paying a hefty fine.

Frameless seats are far less expensive than frame models because of their straightforward design. If you purchase a car seat during the promotion, the purchase will be even more advantageous.

Nonetheless, a lot of professionals and seasoned parents point out that a soft car seat can’t shield a child from harm on a journey to the same extent as a frame seat. Numerous studies and crash tests have yielded results that point to a number of significant drawbacks associated with frameless designs.

• A car seat without a rigid frame causes a lot of inconvenience to a child during long trips: the seat does not allow the body to relax, and it will be very uncomfortable for a child to sleep in it. After sitting for a long time in such a device, the child"s neck and spine get tired, and his legs become numb.
• Unlike frame devices, which in a critical situation partially absorb the impact and provide protection for the baby inside, soft seats do not protect in any way.
• Most of the frameless car seats produced today comply with the ECE R44/03 safety standard, which has long been considered obsolete. Due to the lack of rigid elements in the design, the device does not protect the child"s torso from the sides and does not provide head support.
• Usually the maximum permissible weight of a child that can be transported in a car using a frameless device is 36 kg. However, in the event of an emergency, the impact on the seat belts increases due to a sharp jerk. Therefore, if the child"s weight is close to the upper limit, then there is a high probability that the seat belts simply will not withstand the load and will tear off at the junction of the threads with the base. And the consequence of this will be the child being thrown out of the car through the front window.
• For children under 18 months, it is not recommended to use designs without a frame. Children of this age should be carried against the direction of the car, and this is due to the physiological characteristics of a small organism. The fact is that one-year-old children have a fairly large head, and the neck is not yet formed. Therefore, in the event of a frontal collision, it is safer for the baby to be with his back to the front glass of the car.

Sizes and materials

The majority of frameless child seat models are constructed from premium materials that are moisture- and child-safe. The sturdy fabric known as "Oxford," which is also used to sew backpacks, is used by domestic producers. Additionally, some models have an internal Air-mesh mesh composed of multiple layers of polyurethane. According to the manufacturers, this addition strengthens the device and enables it to support loads of up to 300 kg.

Foam rubber or holofiber fillers are used in soft models to guarantee the child’s comfort throughout the journey. Chinese models are made of lower-quality material than Russian fabrics in many areas, particularly where connecting seams are concerned.

The dimensions of the frameless models are very small when folded. Additionally, because the product weighs no more than one kilogram, it can be conveniently stored in your child’s backpack.

The folded chair has a maximum thickness of 5 cm and varies in length and width, measuring either 32×39 cm or 25×30 cm, depending on the model.

Application options

Experts continue to advise using safer and more comfortable frame models of car seats for your infant on lengthy drives in your own vehicle. However, there are instances in which having a frameless model is practically required.

Certain car models come without an Isofix system or a factory seat belt for the backseat. These systems are necessary for installing a car seat.

Of course, you could install this straightforward gadget on your own vehicle, but that would require coordinating the modifications with the traffic police, which would take a lot of time. When this occurs, parents are frequently forced to buy frameless models instead of having the option to install a standard frame device for child transportation.

With their straps, they secure the child and are fastened to the back of the rear seat. Something is preferable to nothing in this case.

Sometimes, families without a car and with children are compelled to use this mode of transportation. Because of its small size and light weight, the frameless chair is convenient to travel with along with other necessities. Another benefit is that installation is quite easy and quick. This kind of gadget will be useful when taking taxi rides or traveling in friends’ or family’ vehicles. This device is also purchased by some private taxi drivers in order to stay out of trouble with traffic cops.

You should keep this straightforward and reasonably priced chair in the trunk of other close relatives to ease your mind in the event of unanticipated circumstances where one or both parents are unable to pick up or drop off the child due to business. Grandfather will be able to comfortably and easily deliver grandchildren to the correct address in an emergency.

Remember that transporting a child without a holding device carries a fine of three thousand rubles. Therefore, rather than worrying about receiving a fine, some drivers find it more convenient to spend money on this device once.

How to choose?

Every parent wants to purchase a safe and high-quality soft car seat for their child. Selecting from the models of reputable and established manufacturers who specialize in producing child-safe products is the best option. Additionally, you should consider a few subtleties before making a purchase.

• Age of the child. For children who are under 3 years old, you should choose soft seats with a Y-shaped belt fastening system. This will protect the baby and his developing body from spinal injuries or bruises in the abdominal area.
• The size of the seat and its compliance with the parameters of the child. The overwhelming majority of frameless car seats cover several size categories at once, namely from the first to the third. This means that the soft seat is suitable for transporting passengers from 9 to 36 kg. Such a wide range in the size category is explained by the fact that the seat belts of these models are easily adjusted in length.

• Before purchasing a particular car seat model, you must check with the seller for the availability of a certificate. A high-quality seat that does not pose any danger to the life and health of the child must have the European certificate ECE R44/04. This document has been valid since 2009. It is evidence that this model has passed testing at the speed of a car of 50 km/h and with a rear collision at a speed of 30 km/h. The certificate indicates comprehensive information about the car seat, namely: the model, the method of fixing the belts, the maximum possible weight of the child, the code designation of the issuing state certificate and the presence or absence of five -point seat belts, for which the designation of symbol Y is provided.
• When choosing a model convenient for the baby, you need to pay attention to the presence of a wide fabric insert in the belt connection between the legs of the child. In the absence of this part, there is a high probability of injury, moreover, hard straps can cause considerable discomfort, especially when the child is easily dressed.

Parents can enjoy portability and convenience with a frameless car seat, which is a flexible and lightweight substitute for standard car seats. Nonetheless, given that national laws governing car seats differ, questions have been raised about both its safety and legality. It’s crucial to determine whether the frameless car seat you choose satisfies local safety requirements and provides your child with adequate protection while traveling. Its safety ratings, simplicity of installation, and appropriateness for your child’s age and weight are important considerations.

How to fasten?

Installing a child-transporting device in an unframed car won’t present any unique challenges the first time around. You can be certain that the device comes with an instruction manual if you purchase a new model at the store. However, securing the child car seat won’t be tough even if there aren’t any.

To insert the belt from front to back, start by finding the two long straps on the base of the car seat and threading them through the opening between the back and the bottom of the seat. The two short straps (that’s right, there should be two) go through the top of the seat. The headrest and the rear of the seat should be where the belt passes through.

The short and long car seat straps must be fastened behind the back of the seat. This can be accomplished by means of a unique lock built into the device’s design. Make sure the car seat fits tightly against the regular seat while you’re fixing it. Once it’s fixed, you can sit the small passenger down, making sure to reposition the other straps to fit the child’s dimensions.

The seat belt should be inserted into the designated hole in the car seat and locked into place.

A frameless car seat is a flexible and lightweight substitute for a traditional car seat that provides minimal protection for kids while they travel. It is simple to install and may be more practical in compact cars or for frequent car swaps. Parental caution is advised when selecting one, as it might not offer the same level of safety as a full car seat.

The use of frameless car seats is subject to regional and national legal variations. While some locations have more stringent guidelines for kid-safe car safety, others permit them. Verifying the local laws is essential to avoiding fines and guaranteeing your child’s safety.

Prioritize customer reviews and safety certifications when choosing a frameless car seat. Verify that the seat is suitable for your child’s age and size, and always adhere to the installation guidelines provided by the manufacturer. Although they can be a convenient option, safety should always come first with frameless seats.

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