FAQ`s - Frequently asked questions

Why can the original kiddy impact cushion save the life of my child?

• Compared to a customary 5-point-belt system the original kiddy impact cushion can avert severe cervical vertebra injuries. The impact forces are equally spread to the complete upper part of the body by the impact cushion, whereas in a 5-point belt system the head and the cervical vertebra area of the child can be heavily strained, because at that age the head of the baby is very heavy compared to the body.

May I simply take off the original kiddy impact cushion?

• From the age of 9 months up to approx. 4 years (ergo 9 to 18 kg) the seat must be installed with the original kiddy impact cushion. In across-the-board models (e.g. kiddy life plus or kiddy life pro) the usage of the impact cushion ends from the 4th year of life or rather from 18 kg.

What can I do if my child does not feel at ease with the impact cushion at first?

• The original kiddy impact cushion is used within the age group I, i.e. from 9 months up to approx. 4 years. As a rule the baby was transported in a baby seat before. Help your child to get used to the original kiddy impact cushion and show it for example the funny and pedagogically useful Bärenbuch by Ravensburger or explain your child that the impact cushion is his friend.

Is there a factory outlet store for kiddy?

• Yes, our factory outlet store „curiosa baby factory“ is in the Schaumbergstrasse 8 in Hof/Saale.
  
  Opening hours:
  Thursday 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
  Friday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
  Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
  
  Further information: www.curiosa-hof.de

Is a light seat really safe?

• A light seat does not only mean more carrying comfort for the parents. Many tests have shown that a light seat has significant advantages in case of a crash, because the forward coming mass is much less than with a heavy seat. Thus, Kiddy is especially focusing on light construction.

What do the products of kiddy cost?

• Prices may often vary according to the dealers. Thus, please refer to your nearest specialist dealer or enquire directly at our online partners.

Where can I buy spare parts or spare covers?

• Should you require spare parts or a new seat cover please ask your nearest specialist dealer. All colours of our cover collection are also available as replacements.

What is the difference between kiddy life plus and kiddy life pro?

• Compared to the life plus seat the life pro is equipped with an additional damping material at the sensitive side parts: Honey comb. This increases the side impact protection, and that's why the life pro seat was also the test winner of the category forward-facing child restraints at "Stiftung Warentest" (June 2006). The only seat to be graded "very good" in the category side impact protection.

Does a long transport in a baby seat cause harm to my baby with regard to orthopaedic points of view?

• Indeed, a baby should not be lying too long in one position, because the motoricity develops mainly through a free movement of the baby. So do not let your baby be lying or sleeping in the baby seat out of laziness, but rather take the baby out of the seat at home. By the way, the same applies also to belly stretcher and all other products which produce a one-sided position of the baby. You are planning a long journey and feel unsure now? We say „no problem“. Have a break every two hours in which you take your baby out of the baby seat. Anyhow, the baby also has to be fed and changed at regular intervals.

May I also fix a child seat on the passenger seat in front?

• In general child seats may be fixed on the passenger seat in front. However, in case of restraint systems contrary to the driving direction (e.g. baby seat of category 0+) the front-seat passenger's airbag must be deactivated, otherwise severe injuries can occur in case of an accident! To deactivate the airbag read the operating manual of your car or ask your garage.

Do the child seats of kiddy fit in every car?

• Child seats of the brands kiddy and nest are universally approved. However, before you buy a child seat we recommend you to test the installation in your own car. Your specialist dealer will be happy to help you with your first installation.

What are the most important things to consider when buying a child seat?

• In any case you should check whether the seat can be installed in your car without any problems. Sometimes the belts are not long enough, please check your belts as to this. Make your child have a "test" seat before the purchase to see whether it feels at ease.

What can I do if my child opens the belt system of the child seat by itself?

• A child has to learn that it must not open the belt system without a reason. So, stop the car as soon you have noticed that your child has opened the lock and close it again. If necessary you have to repeat this "educational measure". Protectives systems which would eliminate an independent opening of the lock are not allowed. In case of an accident third persons must be able to open the lock easily so that your child can quickly be rescued from the car in case of an emergency. Please never compliment your child on being able to open the lock by itself, but explain to him that this is very dangerous and not "allowed". By the way, with an impact cushion system the belt lock cannot be opened by your child as easily as with a 5-point belt system.

Can I still use a child seat after an accident? What things do I have to consider?

• Should you have had an accident when the child seat was fixed in the car, the seat must be urgently checked by the manufacturer. Cracks or other damages could have arisen, which perhaps cannot be seen at once. Kiddy covers the cost of the accident check for you. Send us the seat from the brand kiddy together with the accident report and you will receive a model of the same quality in replacement.

What about used child seats?

• Second hand seats can be dangerous, because nobody knows what has happened to the seat before. Perhaps it was involved in an accident? Often you cannot recognise this. Therefore, we strictly advise you not to use second hand products. A good value alternative to used child seats are our nest products. Here, you receive safety and quality for an unbeatably favourable price-performance ratio.

Are the kiddy covers washable?

• Yes, all our covers can be washed in the washing machine at 30? degrees. Furthermore we use materials which can be cleaned especially easily. Dried dirt can therefore easily be removed with a wet tissue.

What shall I do if my child falls asleep in the car and slips out of the shoulder belt?

• As long as children still frequently sleep in the car it is important that in the sleeping position the belt guidance is correctly. Therefore so-called sleeping- or rather back- rests have to be used for bigger children. If necessary the head-rest must be removed from the car in order to achieve a somewhat flatter inclination of the child seat. The kiddy comfort pro for example has comfortable side head-rests which prevent the tilting of the head and provide a good position for sleeping.

What happens if the child seat has not been installed correctly?

• The correct installation of the child seat can save the life of your child in case of an emergency. As only a correctly installed seat can protect as well. Therefore please read the operating manual carefully before the first installation and test the installation several times. Most frequently the child seats are fixed too loosely or the shoulder belt does not run optimally over the child.

How can I secure several children, e.g. in a car pool?

• In principle the driver is responsible for all children being correctly secured in the car. Child seats can partly be fixed with a three-point-safety belt and with a two-point-safety belt. Therefore, in the case of several children, child seats have to be chosen, which can be fixed according to the belt equipment in the car and the available space. If you want to secure a child on the front passenger's seat with airbag, then you must strictly observe the notes as to the securing of children in the operating manual of the car.

What is "honey comb“ and why is it used by kiddy?

• Honey comb is an extremely shock absorbing damping material, which is used in the kiddy Pro line on the sensitive side parts and which is based on the principle of the very solid honeycomb. This provides decisive advantages in the case of side crashes, which was proven in the Eurotest 2006, too. So, the kiddy life pro was the only forward child seat which achieved a very good from "Stiftung Warentest" in the category side impact protection.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of integrated child seats?

• Some car producers offer integrated child seats against an extra charge. These child seats may be handy and cause significantly less handling errors in securing the children, but they cannot be installed in another car. As these seats, in most cases, are more expensive than universally usable accessory-child seats and an infant carrier has to be bought additionally, the circulation of integrated child seats is not very high. Previous tests have shown that integrated child seats do not have a significant safety advantage compared to accessory-child seats of good quality, in particular ISOFIX-seats. To some extent also the sleeping position for children until approx. 18 kg is worse in integrated child seats than in non-integrated child seats. Their main advantage is that they are permanently fixed in the car (e.g. spontaneous giving of lifts to children).

How does the lying position of kiddy life plus, life pro or infinity pro work?

• On the backside at the bottom of the seat you will find a rest, which can be extended easily. After having extended the rest the seat is in lying position. Attention: lying position must not be adjusted while driving. Stop the car, take your child out of the child seat and adjust the lying position. Then secure your child again and the journey can go on.

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