And nothing, in the end we had to buy it because although we are among those who cannot understand how you can forget your child in the car, we take care of our finances and the points of the driving license. In fact, five are those that are reduced to those without an anti-abandonment device when there is a child on board in the seat, with an accompanying fine whose cost ranges between 81 and 361 euros.
A large sum that we can avoid paying for a small, indeed very small initial investment: no more than 10 euros, guaranteed, if you buy Chicco's Bebècare Easy-Tech, whose list price is in fact equal to 39.90 euros, but thanks to the bonus-seat offered by the Ministry of Health, after purchasing it online, 30 are reimbursed, while in the store the discount can be applied directly at the time of purchase (the shopkeeper will then get back from the government what the customer saves on moment).
The less technological together with the more hasty can therefore look for it among the shelves of the city shops while those who are not in a hurry and are attentive to saving, can take advantage of the online offers to spend very few euros: when we write on Amazon you can find it in promotion at 34.48 euros then the final cost would be only 4.48 euros. The writer took it a few days ago with a similar offer: the price was only 40 cents more.
Small like a business card, solid like a lock
From the advertising images it looked bigger but it is really very small: even under the size of a credit card and just one centimeter thick, it is built entirely of good quality satin plastic. One of the doubts raised by a colleague of the editorial staff concerned the safety of the device from the point of view of a possible tampering with the child: in fact, to work it must be closed but to open it you need strength and coordination. In fact, it is necessary to press the two buttons on the sides and at the same time pull down the internal drawer, an operation that is unlikely to be able to complete a child of a few years of life (in our opinion, practically impossible).
The clip with which it attaches to the seat is also really solid. The user manual recommends locking it to the child's seat belt shoulder strap, but there is no rule: as long as it is visible and reminds you to activate it when the child is on board and turn it off when he leaves the vehicle.
How to configure it
After unpacking it, please don't throw the box away: on the bottom, if you have noticed, there is a QR Code that must be scanned through the app in order to activate the device. So not only do not throw it away, but keep it aside until you have to give it to someone or throw it in the trash (I recommend the recycling, eh).
First, download the Chicco BebèCare app on the App Store if you are using an iPhone (but it also works with iPad!) Or on the Play Store if yours is an Android device. So, start it and if you don't have it, create a free account from here. The privacy policy acceptance box must be checked and then the process must be confirmed via a link sent to the email used during registration.
Then follow the activations of some components of the smartphone in use, mandatory for the correct functioning of the anti-abandonment device. The first, the location : if is off, the system is not working. It is used to locate the vehicle when the signal between the smartphone and the anti-abandonment device drops, information which is then sent via SMS to the emergency numbers configured later. Then, the camera : serves for scan the QR Code above. Then follows the consent to send the notifications , useful to be notified on the spot if you forget your child in the car.
After this phase, you will have to add the telephone numbers of the contacts to whom the SMS is to be sent in emergency situations (we will explain better how it works in a separate chapter). At least three must be added in order to continue and there is space for up to five different telephone numbers.
At this point it is time to scan the QR Code: the app asks us for it. Just point the camera at the square code found on the inside bottom of the box. It only takes a few seconds for the device to be recognized and associated with the account. The last configuration those of Chicco could spare: you are asked to enter the name and date of birth of the child (the photo, fortunately, is optional), otherwise the button will not light up to continue. But nobody tells you anything if you invent them from scratch.
How to use
As easy as drinking a glass of water. Once the child has been placed in the seat and securely locked with the seat belts, just close the anti-abandonment device: two fingers are enough, like closing a matchbox. Set off and, having completed your tour, after having parked and moved the child on the carrycot or on the stroller, just reopen the Chicco BebèCare by squeezing it on the sides to extract enough into the tray to switch off the internal contacts.
In all this, the phone must always have Bluetooth enabled, otherwise the system interprets it as a “you have moved away from the vehicle and you have forgotten the child in the car” and will activate the safety systems. It is also important that the phone volume is always set to the maximum possible level because, in the event of a real emergency, it will be with the sounds of the smartphone that will try to point out the situation to the forgetful parent. No problem, however, if the vibration or the Do Not Disturb mode is active: in both cases the app is enabled to be able to circumvent these particular conditions (at least this happens on our iPhone 6).
What happens if I forget the baby in the car
When the signal that keeps the smartphone and the anti-abandonment device connected via Bluetooth, the latter will emit a series of acoustic sounds to try to attract the attention of the parent who should still be a few meters from the car. The beeps, however, are a bit weak, it is more likely that a passerby will notice them rather than the parent who is walking away, now focused on his thoughts. Fortunately, after 3 minutes, the phone will emit a very annoying alarm sound, which will last for another 40 seconds. If you do not even notice this, Chicco's cloud will send a traditional SMS to the previously configured emergency numbers within 5-10 minutes of the crime with the following written: Alarm activated on DATE TIME for BABYNAME Position: LINKGOOGLE obtained on DATE TIME .
What if it's a false positive?
Let's say that the smartphone's Bluetooth fails, or that we got out of the car with the baby in the stroller but we forgot to turn off the anti-abandonment device and we don't want to go back. Within the time window of 3:40 total minutes available from the loss of signal we can open the app and click on the “STOP” button in the orange (or red, if we are in the last seconds) notification in full screen where we are asked if in reality is all under control and we want to avoid sending SMS of what would be a false alarm.
Battery can be replaced
Not everyone actually allows it, but with the Chicco BebèCare you can replace the battery when it is exhausted. Given that it lasts “years” with an average use of a few activations per week, when the app will inform you that it is about to download, all you have to do is equip yourself with a pen or an awl and a Phillips head screwdriver. The first will serve to squeeze the two safety protrusions on the sides that normally prevent the total removal of the tray in daily use, with the second you can unscrew the single screw that holds the two parts that make up the tray together.
The circuitry is rather trivial: a small button recognizes the pressure given by an internal protrusion with which the tray comes into contact when the device is closed, and closes the circuit. There is power, so the device connects to the smartphone. By releasing the two parts, the button is released and the circuit opens, de-energizing the internal components.
SMS have a cost
With the purchase of Chicco BebèCare Easy-Tech 15 emergency SMS are included, after which others can be purchased through the internal shop. If you don't buy them, nothing happens because the first phase of the emergency will be activated anyway, but you won't have the second part, the most important one.
With the Basic Pack at 3.49 euros you get another 15, with the Core Pack 30 messages cost 5.49 euros while buying the Premium Pack you add 50 for 7.99 euros, or about 16 cents for each message. An honest price considering that for years, before the all-inclusive subscriptions dedicated to mobile phones, this was also the average cost of individual SMS: and it's nothing if you take into account the life they could potentially save in the event of a real emergency.
On the other hand, there are no limits in the number of devices on which the app can be installed: you can log in with the same account from the smartphones and tablets of the whole family, including grandparents, just know the access email and password.
The problem
However, buying an anti-abandonment device like this one cannot feel completely safe. Because even if the volume level of the smartphone is at the maximum allowed and if everything has been done according to the rules, just forget the smartphone in the cockpit and the omelette is done. On this Chicco, like the others, cannot have responsibility and those used to placing the phone in the glove compartment of the car, if they care about their child's life, will necessarily have to change their habits. The smartp hone must remain in your pocket before, during and after driving.
Conclusions
Whether you like it or not, with a child under the age of four, if you don't want to incur penalties during a check-up, you have to put an anti-abandonment device in your car. The Chicco BebèCare works well, it has its limits like the others but has the considerable advantage of costing very little, so if you think you don't need such a system but want to avoid fines, it is currently the cheapest solution available to you.
If, on the other hand, you believe that it is a truly useful device, then you will not make big mistakes by buying it, as long as you accept its operating modes (open it to turn it off and close it to activate it). Alternatively, there are solutions such as the Tippy Pad which detect the presence of the child thanks to its weight through a pressure sensor, thus removing the hassle of having to think about the anti-abandonment device as well.
Retail price
As explained, Chicco BebèCare is on sale for 39.90 euros but online you can save a few euros. On Amazon, for example, it is generally found around 35 euros. Requesting a refund of the 30 euros via the child seat bonus is easier to do than to say: find more information in our guide. Keep in mind that from the request it takes 5-7 days to find it credited to the payment system used when purchasing the device.
Pro Among the cheapest of those complying with the law, it is easy to use and the battery is replaceable
Cons It does not work if you forget your smartphone in the car and must be activated and deactivated manually. After the emergency SMS, you need to buy more
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