Why?
Children need car seats because seat belts are designed for adults: they will not be as secure in an adult strap and the positioning of the strap could lead to serious injury.
This article will outline clear guidance for purchasing your child’s car seat to ensure it is the most effective and safe as possible.
Always turn off the passenger air bag if you have a baby seated in a rear facing car seat at the front of the car. Take additional advice concerning air bags if your children are sitting in the front. The advice may vary depending on their age and height.
Types of child car seats:
There are four main types of child car seat:
- Rear-facing
- Forward-facing
- High-backed booster
- Booster cushion
The questions that need to be asked when purchasing a car seat:
- What methods are there for fitting the child seat into my vehicle?
This must be asked because car seats can be secured with a seatbelt, or with an iSOFIX. Not every seat fits every vehicle so it is imperative to check this before purchasing.
- How do I fit the child car seat correctly?
This must be asked as there may be a particular way of attaching the seat securely to your specific vehicle. The salesperson should know the safe way to do this.
- What type of car seat does my child need?
This will vary according to your child’s weight and height. R44 style seats can be chosen according to a child’s weight. R129 (or iSize) seats use the child’s height to determine the appropriate seat size.
- Is the child seat I’m buying safe and legal?
This can be checked by looking for the letter ‘E’ on the carseat. The code R44 and R129 (sometimes referred to as iSize) may also appear.
It is important to buy a seat the right size, as if it is loose, the child could be flung far in case of an accident.
Never buy a second-hand child seat. You cannot be certain of its history. It may have been involved in an accident and the damage may not be visible. Very often the instructions are missing from second-hand seats which makes it more difficult to be sure that you are fitting and using it correctly.
Do note that it is not always necessary to buy the most expensive car seat.
Renewing the seats:
Child car seats suffer from wear and tear, especially if they are frequently put into and taken out of vehicles. They should be replaced according to the manufacturer’s recommendations or about every five years.
Extra advice:
ROSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) has a whole website devoted to child car seats. Click here to visit it.
Airbags:
It is illegal to carry a child in a rearward-facing baby seat in the front if there is an active front passenger airbag. The airbag must be deactivated or the rearward-facing child seat must be placed in the rear of the car.
Reminder: children over the age of 12:
Children aged 12 years or older (or younger children over 135 cm tall) must wear a seat belt if fitted in the front or rear of a car, van or other goods vehicle. It is the driver’s responsibility to ensure that children under 14 years old use an appropriate child car seat or wear their seat belt.
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