One child seat fails the crash test completely
Most models perform well in the latest TCS test, but one seat has serious shortcomings. What parents should look out for when buying.
The TCS tested 26 new child seats for safety, operation, ergonomics, harmful substances and environmental pollutants in the latest test. The overall result was positive: 22 seats were rated «highly recommended» or «recommended». At the top of the ranking are Foppapedretti with the «Disk Infant i-Size + Tech i-Size» and Silver Cross with the «Glide Plus 360», followed by the «Sirona Ti» and «Pallas G3» from Cybex and the «Junior Fix 2 i-Size» from Kinderkraft. Three seats are rated as «conditionally recommended».
The TCS advises against one model. With the «Kinderkraft Mink Pro 2 + Base Mink FX2», the infant car seat detached from the Isofix base station in a frontal crash and was thrown through the test setup together with the dummy. The risk of injury for a child in a real accident would be massive. The seat is therefore the only model to receive the rating «not recommended». The manufacturer Kinderkraft has responded and is offering customers an exchange or return of the product.
The crash tests go well beyond the statutory approval tests. The frontal impact tests are based on the current Euro NCAP vehicle crash tests and simulate significantly higher loads than the legally prescribed tests in accordance with UN Regulation 129.
Devaluation due to flame retardant
Encouragingly, all seats received top marks for environmental pollutants. PFAS were not detected in any of the models tested. The use of these substances in products that come into direct contact with people should be viewed critically, particularly due to their high environmental persistence and potential health effects.
In the «Jané Concord Kombikid», however, the flame retardant TDCPP was found in elevated concentrations. The substance is repeatedly the subject of discussion due to possible health risks, in particular due to a possible carcinogenic effect and environmental pollution. The substance is also extremely questionable for use in child seats, particularly due to its hormonal effects. The seat was downgraded due to its harmful substance content.
Online platforms harbor risks
The test shows once again that caution is required, particularly with products from online marketplaces. Several models that appear almost identical show considerable safety problems. The «Reecle 360» had already attracted attention in the fall of 2025 due to serious defects. In the current test, seven similar models were examined - including the «Kidiz 360», «Ding Aiden 360» and «Xomax 946i». In all of them, load-bearing parts of the seat construction failed in a frontal crash.
The seats may be sold because they meet the minimum legal requirements. In the more demanding test, however, they showed considerable safety deficits. The TCS therefore warns against such identical designs, which are also rated «not recommended».
Tips for buying a child seat
A good test result is an important guide, but should not be the only purchase criterion. The TCS recommends trying out the child seat in your own car before buying, if possible. Not every model fits equally well in every vehicle. It is also important that the seat fits the size and weight of the child and is easy to install. Even a safe child seat only offers optimum protection if it is installed and used correctly.
If you buy a used child seat, you should make sure that it is accident-free and undamaged. After an accident, experts recommend replacing the seat, as possible damage is not always visible from the outside.
