More than just to avoid a fine, the best car seat in Malaysia 2020 can save your child’s life when you’re on the road!
But how do you make sure that it is safe and comfortable for your child? And that it will suit your car model?
Follow our guide below to learn all you need to know before buying your first baby car seat in Malaysia! There’s a list of recommended products too!
How To Select The Right Car Seat For Your Child
Too many parents neglect to get a car seat for their child! If you’re reading this, you’re doing the right thing to protect your baby from harm!
And not just because it’s now compulsory (since January 2020) in Malaysia to have child restraint systems (CRS) in private vehicles when traveling with children below 135cm (or under 36kg)!
The grace period ended in July 2020. In case you’re wondering!
1. Car Seat Safety Standards
The lack of a car seat means your kid is without any safety restraints. Or they have to resort to the existing safety restraints of your car.
Which are too large for their size and will cause serious internal injury in the event of a car crash!
2. ECE Certified
In Malaysia, you need to look out for products with the orange ECE approved labels. That means the car seats have met safety requirements under the European safety standard, ECE R44. Or ECE R129.
The labels have the following information:
- E52 – Certification code for Malaysia
- Category (by height or weight) – either Universal or the newer i-Size
- Approval number
- MIROS QR code – that you can scan for more information
3. Types of Car Seats Vs Child Age
The key factors in choosing an appropriate car seat are your kid’s age, weight, and height!
As car seats are made fixed for different age groups! Much like baby carriers!
- Infant to Toddler: Always a rear-facing car seat. Or a convertible, rear-facing car seat
- Toddler to Kindergartener: Convertible, rear/forward-facing car seat
- Grade-School Children: Booster seat
- Pre-Teens and Older: Seat belt
| Category | Age | Height | Weight | Type Of Car Seat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group 0/0+ | 0 – 18 months | Up to 83cm | Up to 9kg; Recommended Up to 13kg | Rear-facing infant car seat |
| Group 1 | 15 months – 4 years old | 71cm and above | 9kg – 18kg | Front-facing infant car seat |
| Group 2 | 4 – 7 years old | 100cm and above | 15kg – 25kg | Front-facing booster car seat (With 5 points safety harness) |
| Group 3 | 6 years old and above | Up to 135cm | 22kg – 36kg | Front-facing booster car seat (Use with seatbelt) |
4. Size Of The Car Seat
And the seat must also be able to fit your car! And if you’re car is a post-2015 model, the seats may well be ISOFIX-compatible for easier installation!
Check your car’s manual on the location of these latches (if any)! And don’t forget to cross-check the dimensions of any product against the rear passenger seats in your car! Including height!
5. Other Features
- Washable covers – sometimes, even the best diapers can leak!
- Portability – the car seat has to be light enough for you to carry to and from your car as needed
- Soft padding that won’t scratch your baby
- Rockable –helps to soothe your baby to sleep
6. Used Car Seats
What about secondhand car seats? Are they safe to buy?
It might be tempting to save a few hundred ringgit when brand new car seats cost RM200 and above.
But:
Car seats do have an expiry date for when they are no longer able to do their job effectively! And you may not know their true history (e.g. past accidents, prolonged sun exposure, missing parts, previous product recall, etc)
An exception would be if you get the car seat from a trusted source (e.g. family member or friend) and it still has a new safety label. And adequate time before the expiry date!
13 Best Baby Car Seat Malaysia 2020
Best Infant Car Seat Malaysia
1. Little One Exclusive CSA 4 In 1 Baby Car Seat
At less than RM100, the quality of the rear-facing Little One Exclusive CSA 4 In 1 Baby Car Seat is acceptable. But not optimum for frequent use!
So if you can afford to, choose another one of the car seats in this list!
- Category: Group 0/0+
- Age: Up to 18 months
- Support Weight: Up to 13kg
- Support Height: Up to 83cm
- Installation Type: Seatbelt
- Type: Rear-facing
- Weight: 2.5kg
- Dimensions: 40 x 69 x 58 cm (W x L x H)
- Warranty: 2 years
- Price: ~RM90
Pros:
- ECE Certified & Conformed to European Child Safety Standard R44/04
- Very affordable
- Lightweight
Cons:
- 3-point safety harness system
2. Joie Juva Infant Carrier
The curved base of the Joie Juva Infant Carrier enables you to use this carrier as a temporary cradle for your baby too!
And you can easily carry this around since it does not weigh much!
- Category: Group 0/0+
- Age: Up to 18 months
- Support Weight: Up to 13kg
- Support Height: Up to 83cm
- Installation Type: Seatbelt Or Joie ClickFIT™ Base
- Type: Rear-facing
- Weight: 3kg
- Dimensions: 41.5 x 65 x 55.5 cm (W x L x H)
- Warranty: 1 year
- Price: ~RM299
Pros:
- ECE Certified & Conformed to R44/04
- 5-point safety harness
- Compatible with Joie strollers
Cons:
- No other color options except black
3. Prego Class 777 Car Seat
Prego Class 777 Car Seat is mainly for infants but there are other bigger versions of the child car seat in Malaysia too!
The covers are removable and washable. And it should be able to fit your car, regardless of whether it has built-in ISOFIX features or not!
- Category: Group 0/0+ And 1
- Age: Up to 4 years old
- Support Weight: Up to 18kg
- Installation Type: Seatbelt
- Type: Rear-facing & Forward-facing
- Weight: 4.8kg
- Dimensions: 43 x 46 x 60 cm (W x L x H)
- Warranty: 1 year
- Price: ~RM209
Pros:
- ECE Certified R44.04
- Rear-facing & Forward-facing
- 5-point harness safety system
- Multiple sitting positions
- Different color combinations available (black/grey, black/red, red/ grey)
- Detachable newborn cushion
Cons:
- Quite wide
Car Seat For Kids From 0kg to 25kg
- Prego Optus PR26 – Check Price
Car Seat For Kids From 0kg to 36kg
- Prego Orbitz 360 – Check Price
4. Sweet Cherry LB303 Dean Car Seat
Other than looking great and being comfortable:
There are 2 front-facing positions and 1 rear-facing position for the Sweet Cherry LB303 Dean Car Seat.
- Category: Group 0/0+ And 1
- Age: Up to 4 years old
- Support Weight: Up to 18kg
- Installation Type: Seatbelt & ISOFIX System
- Type: Rear-facing & Forward-facing
- Weight: 5.75kg
- Dimensions: 42 x 58 x 62 cm (W x L x H)
- Warranty: 1 month
- Price: ~RM259
Pros:
- Complies with ECE R44/04
- 5-point harness safety system
- Removable newborn insert
- Color variations (Purple, red, and blue)
- Good quality
Cons:
- Very short warranty for the price!
5. BabyGo Exclusive Baby Car Seat
For infants and toddlers alike and with 4 years’ warranty, the BabyGo Exclusive Baby Car Seat is very cost-friendly! After a major discount from the original ~RM600 price.
Do double-check that it can fit your car before making a purchase. It’s narrow and tall!
- Category: Group 0/0+ And 1
- Age: Up to 4 years old
- Support Weight: Up to 18kg
- Installation Type: Seatbelt
- Type: Rear-facing & Forward-facing
- Weight: 5.8kg
- Dimensions: 43 x 47 x 67 cm (W x L x H)
- Warranty: 4 years
- Price: ~RM179
Pros:
- Long warranty
- Comfortable fabric
- Able to recline
- 4 available colors (grey, black, blue, red)
- Complies with ECE R44/04
- 5-point harness safety system
Cons:
- Not as light as other models in this list
- Does not support ISOFIX System
6. Mamakiddies Infant Baby Comfisafe Convertible Car Seat
If your baby is larger than the average baby, the Mamakiddies Infant Baby Comfisafe Convertible Car Seat may be a tad too small.
However, this is a pretty solid car seat with 4 years’ warranty! Plus, you can adjust it to 4 different reclining angles!
- Category: Group 0/0+ And 1
- Support Weight: Up to 18kg
- Age: Up to 4 years old
- Installation Type: Seatbelt
- Type: Rear-facing & Forward-facing
- Weight: 5.5kg
- Dimensions: 40 x 42 x 60 cm (W x L x H)
- Warranty: 4 years
- Price: ~RM199
Pros:
- Complies with ECE R44/04
- Comfortable cushion
- 5-point harness safety system
- 2 colors – purple/grey or grey
Cons:
- Does not support ISOFIX System
7. Sweet Heart Paris CS226 Baby Car Seat
Another local baby car seat brand you can check out in Malaysia is Sweet Heart Paris.
The quality of the Sweet Heart Paris CS226 Baby Car Seat is similar to a more expensive car seat. And the padding is firm but not uncomfortable. It’s also not difficult to fix this in your car!
- Category: Group 0/0+ And 1
- Support Weight: Up to 18kg
- Age: Up to 4 years old
- Installation Type: Seatbelt
- Type: Rear-facing & Forward-facing
- Weight: 5kg
- Dimensions: 46 x 60 x 57-64 cm (W x L x H)
- Warranty: 1 year
- Price: ~RM219
Pros:
- Complies with ECE R44/04
- 5-point harness safety system
- Many colors to choose from
Cons:
- Not compatible with ISOFIX Systems
- Synthetic fabric (not breathable)
8. Sweet Heart Paris DRANCY Baby Car Seat
From the numerous positive reviews based on this particular baby car seat in Malaysia:
You can tell that this is also a best-selling product by Sweet Heart Paris! Kids may actually look forward to sitting in this one until they’re at least 3 years old (despite what the label claims)!
- Category: Group 0/0+, 1 And 2
- Support Weight: Up to 25kg
- Age: Up to 7 years old
- Installation Type: Seatbelt
- Type: Rear-facing & Forward-facing
- Weight: 5.4kg
- Dimensions: 44 x 52 x 60 cm (W x L x H)
- Warranty: 1 year
- Price: ~RM269
Pros:
- Complies with ECE R44/04
- 5-point harness safety system
- 3 colors (grey, black, and red)
Cons:
- Incompatible with ISOFIX Systems
Best Booster Car Seat Malaysia
9. Joie Elevate Booster Car Seat
After infancy, you can start using the Joie Elevate Booster Car Seat meant for kids between 9kg to 36kg.
It stays put after installation (which does not take long either). Only by seatbelt and not via ISOFIX!
- Category: Group 1, 2 And 3
- Age: 15 months to 12 years old
- Support Weight: 9kg to 36kg
- Support Height: Up to 135cm
- Installation Type: Seatbelt
- Type: Forward-facing
Weight: 5.47kg - Dimensions: 50 x 50.8 x 63-83 cm (W x L x H)
- Warranty: 1 year
- Price: ~RM479
Pros:
- 5-point harness
- Covers can be removed for machine washing
- Adjustable headrest (10 positions)
- Cupholder
- 3 color choices – black, blue, and red
- Quality build
- Breathable side meshes
Cons:
- Expensive
- Short warranty for the price
10. Sweet Heart Paris CS257 2 In 1 Detachable Booster Baby Car Seat
A cheaper alternative to the previous child booster seat:
Is the Sweet Heart Paris CS257 2 In 1 Detachable Booster Baby Car Seat. It’s big and comfortable. And the seatbelt location is nicely indicated!
- Category: Group 1, 2 And 3
- Age: 15 months to 11 years old
- Support Weight: 9kg to 36kg
- Support Height: Up to 135cm
- Installation Type: Seatbelt
- Type: Front-facing
Weight: 4.5kg - Dimensions: 46 x 53 x 68 cm (W x L x H)
- Warranty: 1 year
- Price: ~RM209
Pros:
- Complies with ECE R44/04
- 5-point harness safety system (with child-safe buckle)
- Multiple color options
- Removable and washable pads
- Adjustable headrest height
- Good quality
- Backrest reclines (110 to 130 degrees)
- Light
Cons:
- Instruction manual is not very detailed
- Can’t install it in the middle passenger seat
11. Quinton Smart 360 Isofix Safety Car Seat
With the 360-degree rotation (reversible) feature, you can easily breastfeed or give your child their baby milk powder formula in the car too!
Quinton Smart 360 Isofix Safety Car Seat is highly versatile with 5 recline positions and just as many front-facing positions!
Furthermore, it’s able to support your kid from birth right until they’re 12 years old! Since it has an adjustable headrest (10 positions)!
- Category: Group 0/0+, 1, 2 And 3
- Age: Newborn to 12 years old
- Support Weight: Up to 36kg
- Support Height: Up to 135cm
- Installation Type: ISOFIX System or 3-point Car Seatbelt
- Type: Rearward-facing & Front-facing
- Weight: 11kg
- Dimensions: 37 x 42 x 63 cm (W x L x H)
- Warranty: 3 years
- Price: ~RM639
Pros:
- Long warranty
- Approved By ECE R44/04 European Standard
- 5-point harness
- Supports ISOFIX System
- High quality
- Easy installation
- Removable and washable covers
Cons:
- Expensive
- Larger and heavier than other car seats in this list
- Max incline angle is 145 degrees
12. Chicco Gro-Up 123 Booster Car Seat
It’s quite a shame that the sturdy Chicco Gro-Up 123 Booster Car Seat has a limited reclining capability. Because the padding is plush with breathable fabric!
This car seat is meant for a wide age range due to the adjustable belts and headrest. As long as they’re above the 9kg mark!
- Category: Group 1, 2 And 3
- Age: 15 months to 11 years old
- Support Weight: 9kg to 36kg
- Support Height: Up to 135cm
- Installation Type: 3-point Car Seatbelt
- Type: Front-facing
Weight: 6.6kg - Dimensions: 49 x 52 x 76-81 cm (W x L x H)
- Warranty: 1 year
- Price: ~RM599
Pros:
- Approved by European Safety Standard ECE R44/04
- Five-point harness
- Possible to remove fabric covers for washing
- Comes in black, red, and grey
- Manual included
Cons:
- Expensive
- Not compatible with ISOFIX System
13. RECARO Young Sport Hero Booster Car Seat
Do be aware that this European-based brand did have a potential safety issue with its ProRide convertible car seats. Recalling thousands from the USA back in 2015.
That aside, the Recaro Young Sport Hero Booster Car Seat is one of their newer products. The height-adjustable backrest enables the seat to “grow along” with your child!
- Category: Group 1, 2 And 3
- Age: 15 months to 12 years old
- Support Weight: 9kg to 36kg
- Support Height: Up to 135cm
- Installation Type: 3-point Car Seatbelt
- Type: Front-facing
- Weight: 8kg
- Dimensions: 50 x 58 x 63-71 cm (W x L x H)
- Warranty: 1 year
- Price: ~RM1,099
Pros:
- Approved by standard ECE R44/04
- Universal installation via seatbelt
- Good ventilation
- Lots of color options
- Washable covers
- Able to adjust seat angle
- Belt markings for foolproof installation
Cons:
- Very expensive
- Short warranty for the price!
- Not ISOFIX-compatible
Booster Car Seat For Kids Fall Under Group 2 & 3
- Recaro Monza Nova Evo Seatfix Booster Car Seat – Check Price
Car Seat Safety & Precautions
It’s not enough to get a car seat! You have to make sure you use it correctly too!
- Avoid fixing the child’s car seat to the front passenger seat (beside the driver) unless you can deactivate the airbag
- If no one will be sitting in the rear passenger seats, fix the child car seat to the middle (if the design allows). To avoid the doors.
- Read the given instructions on how to properly install the car seat. Follow the recommended reclining angle!
- The base of the car seat must not be able to move more than an inch in any direction after installing it
- There should be no slack in the harness across your child’s chest or hips
- Don’t change your child’s seat to face forward or switch to a booster seat or safety belt until they reach the next age group!
- Forward-facing seats usually require a top tether
- Harness should be just below the shoulders for rear-facing seats. Or just above for forward-facing seats
- Chest clip of a harness should be at armpit level
- You may want to add cushions and covers to make your child more comfortable but this is inadvisable! Unless they have been crash-tested too!
- For boosters, the lap belt should be across the hips. Rather than the belly or rib cage level.
- If you need to, set a reminder so you don’t forget when it’s time to switch to a bigger car seat, booster seat, or safety belt!
Conclusion
Still stumped on which is the best car seat in Malaysia 2020? Price doesn’t necessarily mean the car seat is better than others.
With that said, item 3 is value for money for infants-toddlers. And item 7 isn’t bad either! But we really feel that item 11 is a great investment! And not just for its rotating characteristic!
