Living / 29 November, 2018 / Ellie Thompson

ADVANSAFIX IV R: The Car Seat That Grows-Up with Your Child

The ADVANSAFIX IV R car seat is the first product to launch from Britax Römer’s new ADVANSAFIX range. I’m a huge fan of the brand, so I was interested to get hold of one to check out the car seats credentials for myself.

Multistage group 1/2/3 car seat

The ADVANSAFIX IV R is classified as a multistage group 1/2/3 ISOFIX car seat suitable for children aged 9 months to 12 years of age (9 – 36kg). The car seat uses ISOFIX anchor points as well as Top Tether.

Comfort & longevity

The seat looks and feels extremely comfortable with plenty of inner space, and an ergonomic height adjustable headrest. As I’d expect from Britax, the design is incredibly slick and available in a variety of colours.

The 5-point harness with soft neoprene chest pads ensures toddlers are strapped safely and comfortably into the seat’s protective shell. In the event of a collision, the harness distributes any force effectively across its five points for maximum protection.

Thanks to its EasyRecline technology, the ADVANSAFIX IV R car seat offers three recline positions. What’s more – the seat can be adjusted during use to accommodate precious nap time.

NB: The car seat should be used with the integrated 5-point-harness from 9 months to 3.5/4 years or 9–18kg.

FLIP&GROW technology

Older children aged approximately 3.5-12 years (15-36kg) benefit from the car seat’s new FLIP&GROW technology. FLIP&GROW enables parents to switch from the integrated 5-point harness to a high-back booster in a few easy steps.

It’s important to note that when using this car seat as group 2/3, there are two different installation options:

1) You can use your car’s own three-point belt in combination with the seat’s ISOFIX.

2) Sole use of your car’s own three-point belt.

Excellent safety standards

Britax combine adjustable side impact cushion technology (SICT) with SecureGuard for additional safety. The seat’s deep protective side wings and belt positioner aim to reduce injury in the event of a crash.

To minimise the impact of a frontal collision, Britax Römer’s patented Pivot Link ISOFIX system directs force downwards into the vehicle seat, decreasing the risk of head and neck injury. The Top Tether’s rip stitch technology helps reduce the forward movement of the child. The Top Tether’s unique stitch pattern is designed to progressively rip in a controlled fashion, absorbing the force of the frontal impact. The special V-shaped form of the headrest controls the movement of the child’s head in an impact.

Conclusion

Britax have revolutionised the Group 1/2/3 market with a car seat that offers “superior safety, comfort, longevity and a beautiful sleek look” said Rainer Stäbler, MD EMEA, Britax Römer. We whole heartedly agree.

Besides coming up trumps when it comes to ultimate safety, it’s easy to fit, and simple to switch from harness to booster. The seat’s cover is machine washable, which is important when you think how long you’ll be using it for.

Remember:

• Check the seat is suitable for the weight and size of your child. According to car seat regulations: ECE R44 is based on your child’s weight and ECE R129 (the newer of the two regulations) is based on stature.
• Keep your child in each stage for as long as possible. Keeping your child rear facing for as long as possible is the safest option, particularly in the case of young child.
• Do not move too early to a Group 2-3. These seats are designed for older children as the child is restrained by the adult seat belt.
• The seat is tested to the ECE R 44/04 European Standard or to the ECE R129 European Standard – look for the orange approval label.
•  Try to install the seat in your car before you buy it. It is important to become familiar with the correct installation and adjustment to ensure your child’s safety. Your retailer can usually help you with a demonstration and training. Also, all Britax products are supported by installation movies that can be found on the Britax website.
• The seat is used every time regardless of how long or how short the journey.