Children's Car Seats

Driving is one of the most dangerous things we do. It is imperative that children travel safely. If a car crashes at 30mph a child will be thrown forwards with a force thirty to sixty times his own body weight.

Do I Have To Strap My Child In?

 It is illegal in the UK for a child under the age of three to travel in the front passenger seat without appropriate restraints. In the back seat, children must use restraints wherever they are available. If there are no appropriate child restraints, children aged three and over must wear an adult seat belt where one is fitted.

Babies should travel in a suitable car seat or a carrycot restrained by straps. Legally you can hold the baby but if there are no straps this is not recommended. In the event of a crash  the baby could be crushed between his carer and the dashboard or front seat .

Seats belts are designed for individuals over 150cm. Children under this height should use a booster seat to give them the additional height required to fit an adult seat belt correctly.

What Is The Correct Way For Children To Travel In Cars?

The type of restraint is dependent on their weight and not their age.

Child Restraint	Weight Range	Approximate Age Range
Rearward Facing Baby Seat	0 Babies 0-10kg 0+ Babies 0-13kg	Birth  to 6-9 months Birth to 12-15 months
Forward Facing Baby Seat	10 – 18 kg	9 months – 4 years
Booster Seat	15 – 25kg	15 – 25kg

In the UK, look for a children’s car seats that carries the European Safety Standard ECE44-03. This means it has passed a crash test.

A high proportion of child’s car seats are fitted incorrectly. Check for the following:-

• seat belt too loose
• seat belt not routed through the child seat correctly
• “Buckle crunch” (Buckle pushes against the seat frame. This will not offer adequate protection in the event of a crash)
• child seat is incompatible with the make or model of your car
• child seat is to old or in poor condition
• child is too large or too small for the seat

Babies can travel in a fastened carrycot with hard sides. This can be fitted with a special belt, fitted in the car, or with one of the car’s three-point seat belts.

What Type Of Car Seat Should I Buy?

This depends on the kind of journeys you intend to make. If you make many short journeys or plan to swap between cars a lightweight car seat may be best.  If you plan to make long journeys, some seats have a recline option for small babies. A ‘headhugger’ will reduce your newborn child’s movements in the seat.

These seats usually suit until your child reaches 18kg (around four years old). A forward-facing car seat is recommended until your child weighs 25kg (around six years old).

Look for seats that come with clear fitting instructions. Easy to clean fabrics and surfaces will prove useful. Try to avoid buying your car seat by mail order because it’s very difficult to assess how it will match your needs. Try to buy from a supplier who will let you trial the seat, or failing that take it back, refund or replace it.

Can I Use A Second-hand Seat?

Buying or using a second-hand car seat is not recommended

• seat belt too loose
• you have no way of knowing it’s history. Although it may seem undamaged you have no way of knowing if it has been in an accident. If it has it may not do its job properly in a subsequent accident
• there may be no instructions with it. This could prevent you fitting the seat correctly
• there may be pieces missing
• it may not be compatible with your car’s make and model or the weight of your child
• t may not adhere to ECE44-03

How Do I Fit A Car Seat?

A correctly fitted car seat:

• should not move more than 5cm side to side, or forward and back
• does not “buckle crunch”
• has it’s base in contact with the car seat at all points to provide stability
• push your weight into the child’s car seat when fitting the seat belts to keep them as tight as possible
• never fit a rear facing child’s car seat in the front passenger seat if the car has front airbags. In the event of a collision the bag will inflate and the car seat will not protect the child
• be aware of “Isofix.” This is a new univeral plug-in device that doesn’t use the adult seat belts but instead slots into a special device that is permanently fitted inside the car.

How Do I Check That My Child Is Sitting Safely?

Before each journey:

• check that the seat belts are fitted as tightly as possible
• check the buckles are not in contact with the restraint
• check the lap strap fit straight across the pelvis and the diagonal strap passes over the shoulder and not the neck
• if a rear facing seat is being used, ensure there is 20cm between the top of the seat and the dashboard
• check the seat regularly for wear and tear and replace the seat if unsure
• take your time to make these checks before every journey

When Will My Child Need A Booster Seat?

Booster seats can be used once your child is over 15kg and more than four years old. Seat belts are designed for individuals over 150cm and a booster seat will enable a child to fit an adult seat belt around them tightly.This ensures that the seatbelt is positioned safely. The diagonal belt should cross the child’s chest and shoulders. If it crosses his neck, the seat is too small. A child is safest travelling in the rear seat of the car with a booster seat.