The Playground

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7:41 AM

@Flexo Good question! Sadly it's not desired on the site because it is a request for specific products, and such answers aren't timeless because they will be outdated as soon as the regulations are renewed. I wish I could give you some pointers but I'm not aware of any car seats that meet your needs. (That doesn't mean that none exist!)

11 hours later…

Ida

6:22 PM

I don't know the specifics of the standards in question, but many manufacturers makes seats there are approved in several countries (Britax comes to mind). If I were you, I would look for a manufacturer who sells seats in both countries where the standard applies, and then email them. What you may run into is that the same seat is sold under different names, with different 'approval stickers' on - so that technically you can't use it in two different places. Maybe a manufacturer can work with you.

Flexo

7:17 PM

@Ida Interesting point about travel SE. I've already emailed several manufacturers, Britax.com.au didn't appear to understand the question "please check standards for other countries", despite me asking up front if they had one for ECE 44.04. Dorel understood but implied they were mutually exclusive

I'm half wondering if I can work it into a "what differs between these two standards and is it even possible to comply with both" so that it's less of a product recommendation issue and more of a car seat safety designs question

I think it might come down to the anchor strap, but I've seen stuff indicating that they aren't mandatory in AU

Ida

7:50 PM

Btw I couldn't find anything good results for ECE44.04 when searching - which country uses this standard? What is the need for you to have a carseat that fulfills both? I'm curious ;).

Flexo

@Ida it's an EU wide one. Basically my son is about to grow out of his current car seat and we wanted to get one that we can use within the EU but also take with us on a long camper van holiday to the southern hemisphere. (Rather than hire one of unknown provenience or spend a serious amount of money on a second one that we can only use for a relatively short period)

childcarseats.org.uk/types-of-seat for example talks about it

Ida

ahh ok. It looked like it was a standard for the car (aka ISOFIX) to me for a moment.

I think you may be a little out of luck. I checked britax site in Denmark (I'm Danish), Australia and the US, and the products are vastly different. For instance you cannot use a baby cot (where the baby lies flat) in the US, so they don't sell one. What is more, the AU and DK one looked very different

the convertible car seats look a bit different too as does the high backed boosters

I find this interesting, as I would think they would reuse as many parts as possible

Flexo

I can't quite believe I'm the only person in the world to want this either, even if I had to pay a premium for one seat that's still cheaper than two seats

Ida

I think the problem is that different countries doesn't accept each others tests or standards - and it is strange. I know forinstance with helmets, almost ANY helmet you buy is cerfified both for US and EU standards

I think I would try and see if there are any 'obvious' differences. In the US tether is optional, in Canada mandatory. In my state in the US you have to seat the kid facing backwards until 1 year of age (they recommend 2), inDenmark it is optional.

I think that if the seat looks 'high quality' and the obvious rules are followed (such as position of the child) I doubt you will be 'in trouble'. It is not as the seat will turn unsafe once you go to another country.

4 hours later…