Small boy raising arms while sitting in a child car-seat in the back of a car (kolotype (123RF))
Children under the height of 1.35 meters (4.43 feet) must be buckled into safety seat designed for their size.
Car seats must comply withone of two current regulations. An orange label will indicate the compliance.
• R129: Called i-Size, seat design based on child’s height.
• R44: Seat design based on child’s weight
U.S. personnel in Europe on SOFA status are usually permitted to use a U.S. DOT-approved car seat as long it complies with EU and country guidelines. This typically means adhering to R44 seat categories.
Mother fastening safety belt to her baby boy in the car seat (eggeeggjiew (123RF))
i-Size compliant seats are chosen based on your child’s height. The type of restraint (booster, seat, harness, etc.) is determined by the manufacturer and has undergone stringent testing to be approved as safe for that height.
i-Size infant seats are rear-facing until the child is 15 months old.
i-Size uses the ISOFIX latching system. ISOFIX and U.S. LATCH anchors have the same spacing.
Little girl asleep in car seat (aycanaykan (123RF))
R44 compliant seats are chosen based on your child’s age and weight.
Note that R44 is being phased out, so compliant seats are no longer for sale.
Group 0/0+ (0-18 mo.)
up to 13 kg | 28.7 lb.
Infant Carriers, rear-facing in rear seat
Group 1 (12 mo. - 4 years)
9-18 kg | 19.8- 39.7 lb.
Car seat with integrated 5-point harness
Group 2 (4-7 years)
15-25 kg | 33.1- 55.1 lbs.
Booster seat with 5-point harness
Group 3 (6+ years)
22-36 kg | 48.5 - 79.4 lb.
Booster seat
