Car seat rental in Lisbon: your guide to Portugal's child car seat laws and rental options

Traveling with children in Portugal? It’s essential to be aware of the car seat laws to ensure your child’s safety and stay compliant with the regulations. Let’s explore Portugal's car seat legislation, explain the safety standards and introduce our car seat rental service in Lisbon to make your travels easier.

Portuguese Car Seat Laws: Key Requirements for Parents

In Portugal, all children under the age of 12 or shorter than 135 cm (whichever comes first) must use an appropriate car seat. This law is in place to ensure child passenger safety and is strictly enforced. If you're traveling light to Lisbon, consider renting a safe and certified car seat to comply with these laws and ensure your child's safety during your visit.

Choosing the Right Car Seat for Your Child

When renting a car seat, ensure you select one based on your child’s height and weight rather than just their age. Key considerations for choosing the right car seat:

Safety Standards

Ensure the car seat meets EU safety regulations: ECE R44/04 and ECE R129/i-Size.

Proper Size and Adjustments

For optimal safety, the car seat should be appropriately matched to your child’s height and weight. It's essential to ensure that the seat includes adjustable components, such as the headrest, harness and infant reducer, to accommodate your child's size. These adjustments help maintain the car seat's effectiveness and ensure the best possible protection.

Documentation

Always keep the car seat’s manual, which provides essential safety guidelines, and ensure the following labels are present:

• ECE Approval Label: Includes the regulation number, approval number, weight/height range and the UN logo.
• ISOFIX Label: If applicable, to indicate compatibility.
• Instruction Label: Contains diagrams and instructions for proper installation and usage.

Correct Installation & Familiarity

The car seat must be installed according to the manufacturer's instructions. If possible, rent a car seat that you're familiar with to make installation and use easier.

If you're interested in delving deeper into car seat safety testing, two key certifications to explore are ADAC and the Swedish Plus Test. ADAC is a German automotive organization renowned for conducting independent car seat tests across Europe, assessing both side and frontal impacts. The safety ratings provided by ADAC are considered a crucial benchmark for car seat protection. On the other hand, the Swedish Plus Test, conducted by VTI, focuses on rear-facing car seats (Group I and II) and evaluates the force exerted on a child's neck during a frontal crash. Both tests play an essential role in ensuring car seat safety.

Car Seat Safety Standards in Portugal: ECE R44 vs. ECE R129

ECE R44/04 and ECE R129/i-Size are the two main European car seat standards you’ll encounter in Portugal. Here’s a closer look at each:

• ECE R44/04: This standard classifies car seats by the child’s weight and is still valid for use in Portugal if already owned. However, it is no longer sold and can be used until its expiration date (typically 6-7 years from manufacturing). While being R44-certified does not mean a seat is unsafe, it has been replaced by the newer ECE R129 standard, which offers enhanced safety features.

• ECE R129/i-Size: The current standard that categorizes seats primarily by the child’s height and weight, ensuring improved side-impact protection and requiring rear-facing seats until at least 15 months. i-Size seats are compatible with ISOFIX systems, facilitating easier and safer installations.

Key Differences Between ECE R44 and ECE R129:

• ECE R129 mandates rear-facing car seats until at least 15 months, with added side-impact protection tests.
• ECE R44 is based on weight categories (Groups 0+, 1, 2, 3) and does not require side-impact testing. It is gradually being phased out in favor of ECE R129.

Car Seat Groups and Regulations

Here’s a quick overview of the car seat groups under ECE R44:

• Group 0+: Newborns up to 13 kg (rear-facing)
• Group 1: 9-18 kg (approximately 12 months to 4 years old, rear or forward-facing)
• Group 2: 15-25 kg (approximately 4-7 years old, forward-facing)
• Group 3: 22-36 kg (approximately 7-12 years old, forward-facing)

Booster seats (Group 2/3) are still common but are being phased out in favor of car seats that offer better side-impact protection.

Car Seat Rental in Lisbon: Safe and Convenient Options

At Let’s go baby, we provide a range of car seats for rent to ensure your child’s safety while you travel in Lisbon and beyond. We offer a selection of car seats for babies, toddlers and children, all meeting European safety standards.

We can deliver car seats to locations including Lisbon Airport, city center, Cascais, Sintra and more. Our car seat rental service is designed to provide you with a hassle-free experience during your trip.

Our Car Seat Collection: Certified and Safe

We’ve updated our inventory to meet the latest safety standards and include seats with the ISOFIX system for easier and safer installation. Check our car seat rentals here or take a look to this list: 

 

	Joie i-Snug 2	Height/Weight: 40 cm to 75 cm / up to 13 kg Installation:   Vehicle seat belt (rear-facing)
	Joie i-Snug 2 with i-Base Advance	Height/Weight: from 40 cm to 75 cm / up to 13 kg Installation: ISOFIX base (rear-facing)
	Joie i-Spin 360	Height/Weight: from 40 cm to 105 cm / up to 19 kg Installation: ISOFIX system only (rear and forward-facing)
	Joie Every Stage	Height/Weight: from 40 cm to 145 cm / up to 36 kg Installation: Vehicle seat belt or ISOFIX (rear or forward-facing)
	Graco Enhance	Weight: from birth to 25 kg Installation: Vehicle seat belt (rear and forward-facing)
	Joie Every Stage FX	Weight: from birth to 36 kg Installation: Vehicle seat belt (rear-facing) and ISOFIX system (forward-facing)
	Chicco Akita	Weight: from 9 kg to 36 kg  Installation: Vehicle seat belt (forward-facing only)
	Joie Traver Shield	Weight: from 9 kg to 36 kg  Installation: Vehicle seat belt or ISOFIX system (forward-facing only)
	Joie Traver	Weight: from 15 kg to 36 kg  Installation: Vehicle seat belt or ISOFIX system (forward-facing only)

We highly recommend rear-facing car seats until your child reaches the maximum height or weight limit, typically around 4/5 years old, depending on the car seat model.

We do not recommend the use of booster seats due to their lack of back or side protection, rendering them ineffective in side collisions. However, they may be justified in specific situations, particularly when a child's shoulder or abdominal width prevents comfortable seating in a seat with back and side protection. In such cases, a booster seat ensures that the vehicle belt passes around the child's neck level. If necessary to transport three children in car seats and they cannot fit in the back seat, a booster seat can be used in the middle seat.

Proper Installation: A Crucial Safety Step

Correct car seat installation is essential to ensure your child’s safety. Here are some important tips to keep in mind:

• Harness Position:
  Rear-facing: The harness should sit at shoulder level or slightly below. Forward-facing: The harness should sit at shoulder level or slightly above. 

• Headrest Position:
  The headrest should be about an inch above your child’s head

Ready to book your car seat rental?

Let Let’s go baby take care of your child’s safety during your trip to Lisbon. We provide high-quality car seat rentals delivered directly to you. Contact us today for more information or to make a reservation.