Car Seat Safety

Not sure what car seat to buy? Confused about R129 and iSize? Below we have gathered all the information you need to make your decision on what car seat is best for you and your family.

iSize is an enhancement of ECE R129

Many car seats manufactured will meet the newest and advanced car seat regulations in the UK and EU - ECE R129. Some car seats have even gone on to receive the additional iSize certification to confirm a guaranteed back seat fit in an iSize seating position.

so what is the difference?

Did you know?

When you purchase an iSize car seat, you also get all of the ECE R129 safety and convenience features! Making all of your rides safer and smarter!

It is very common to think that ECE R129 and iSize mean the same thing because many brands and publishers will use these terms interchangeably.

While ECE R129 and iSize car seats undergo the same side-impact testing with advanced crash-test dummies, require mandatory rear-facing until 76cm and 15 months, and use height instead of weight for proper usage; the terms differ in 2 key areas.

ECE R129

European safety regulation

1. ECE R129 refers to the most recent and safest European safety regulation that controls the manufacturing of car seats. The ECE R129 safety regulation provides better side-impact protection, requires rear-facing for longer, and makes it easier to find the best-fitting car seats for your child.

iSize

enhancement of ECE R129

2. iSize, on the other hand, is an enhancement of ECE R129 that makes it easier to confirm your iSize car seat's compatibility with any iSize approved vehicle - reducing the risk of installing your car seat incorrectly. The idea behind iSize is that all car seats will eventually fit in all cars. While all iSize car seats meet ECE R129 testing standards, not every ECE R129 car seat is an automatic fit for vehicles with iSize compatible seating positions.

side impact certified

Ensuring the best head, neck, and all over protection with standardising side impact testing. Older standards like ECE R44, did not include side impact!

While many car seats have included side impact testing over the years, prior to ECE R129, side impact testing was not a requirement to pass EU standards. It is known that side impact can be the most harmful to a child and is the most damaging to a baby's head versus any other part of their body. For this reason, the ECE R129 standard is enforcing mandatory side impact performance criteria industry-wide.

ride with confidence

To ensure you're purchasing a car seat that meets the highest ECE R129 safety standard and has iSize certification, look for the iSize icon or it will have an 'i' in its name.

It will also be included in the specifications on product pages.

Front & rear crash testing

Mandatory side impact crash testing

Rear-facing requirement >15 months / 76cm

Advanced crash test dummy with 32 sensors

Usage recommendation by height, in addition to weight

44cm width restrictions

Misuse reduction with a single belt path

Prioritises ISOFIX installation

Guaranteed fit in iSize vehicles

ECE R44

>9kg / 9 months

only 4 sensors

usage by weight only

ECE R129

up to 105cm

iSize

ECE R129 car seats that are eligible for the additional iSize certification will be tested to confirm a guaranteed fit in iSize approved vehicles. Car seats that pass the certification, will showcase their iSize compliance with iSize indicators on the product, packaging, or any marketing materials.