Child safety seat regulations in Germany

The U.S. Armed Forces in Europe require that U.S. service members and dependents comply with host-nation child safety seat laws. According to the European Commission, member states must enforce child safety seat laws with the minimum requirements. Note that to ensure the car seat safety rule is followed, it's best to purchase EU spec car seats for EU spec cars, and U.S. Spec car seats for U.S. spec cars.  

Before traveling, ensure that your child’s safety seat fits the standard for the countries you plan to visit. 

Seat Rules 

Choose a child restraint system based on a child’s weight and not age for the best protection. All child restraints/seats used in Europe must conform to ECE 44.03, 44.04, or newer regulation models, such as i-Size. Keep your child in the smaller seat as long as possible.

In Germany, children shorter than 150 centimeters (approximately 59 inches) must be properly restrained in safety devices (child restraints or booster seats) that are approved for their size and weight.

ECE 44.04 requirements:

Infant carriers

Up to 10kg/22lb or up to13kg/29lb. Infants need additional head, neck and back support that large seats do not provide. Keep infants in rear-facing infant carriers used in rear seats.

Child seats

9-18kg/20-40lb. The child is held into the seat by an integral five-point harness and the frame is usually attached to the car by seatbelts or ISOFIX system. Check your vehicle handbook carefully to ensure your restraint system is compatible with your vehicle. 

Booster seats & cushions

15-25kg/33-55lb or 22-36kg/48-79lb. Boosters are best used when a child has completely outgrown a child seat. Some seats have backs to provide additional safety. 

i-SIZE requirements:

Introduced in 2013, the EU regulation (ECE R129), commonly known as i-Size, runs concurrently with ECE 44.04 for the next few years. i-Size requires that child seats are fitted according to height, rather than weight, and that children up to 15 months remain in rear-facing seats. Additionally, i-Size compliant safety restraints undergo side-impact crash testing.