January 2014

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LIFE&FAMILY
126 January14
Or Try:
There are various car seats which turn into a version
of a stroller, such as the Sit’n’Stroll, (newborn to
18kg). It’s bulky and weighs 10kg, but it’s versatile
– you can use it as a car seat, a booster seat, in
planes and as a stroller. They are not available in
Singapore, but you can buy them online from the
Sit’n’Stroll Malaysia website, ,
and other online stores.
Pros:
• One of the least bulky safety devices, the Ride Safer Travel
Vest weighs less than 500g and is easily portable.
• It’s great for holidays, especially in taxis or when renting
cars for short trips. Check the local child restraint laws first.
• Unlike booster seats, which elevate the child, the Ride Safer
Travel Vest allows him or her to sit directly on the car seat,
which has a lower centre of gravity, making the head less
vulnerable in a car crash.
• Version 2 is “self-certified” by the Safe Traffic System to meet
US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213. Version 3
is not certified, as it cannot be tested with the lap-only belt,
which is the test’s (some say outdated) requirement: this
version must be used with a lap-shoulder belt. However, it
has the same design as Version 2 except for lacking the
tether.
• Version 2 is more versatile than a booster seat as it can be
used with a lap-shoulder belt or a lap-only belt if you buy
the tether attachment; so it is handy for middle seats, which
often don’t have shoulder belts.
Cons
• The Ride Safer travel vest offers no side-impact protection;
nor does a backless booster seat, however. Protection from
side impact – for both children and adults – relies on vehicle
technology such as the presence of side-impact airbags
and the strength of the pillars in the frame of the car.
• It takes a few extra minutes to install once you’re seated in
the cab. Tips:
• Put the vest on your child before you get into the cab to
minimise installation time – it does take longer to buckle up
than a regular seatbelt, as you need to thread the seatbelt
through the clips. You may need to ask the taxi uncle to be
patient before he zooms off.
• While it’s not officially recommend by the manufacturer,
if you’re in the grey zone between a Maxi-Cosi and the
three-year minimum age for most safety devices, and if
you choose to use this vest, it’s wise to have someone sit
next to the child at all times to be sure that they stay in the
correct, upright position.
• The safest spot for your child is the middle seat, with
a shoulder-lap belt. If there is only a lap belt in the
centre seat, then a side seat with a shoulder-lap
belt offers much better protection, even in side-
impact crashes.
Buy It
Now here’s the big question: Where can
you get one? They’re not yet available in
Singapore, but watch this space. Until
they are, you can order directly from
; prices
start from US$125. Delivery time to
Singapore is seven to 10 business days
and postage costs roughly US$40 if you
choose USPS Priority Mail.