Car Seat Safety

21 June 2010, 15:30

You’ve done the research, and bought the right seat for your child and your car.  So what do you do now?  Did the shop assistant fit it in your car?  Does that mean it is there for life and your never need to look at it or check it again? No, it doesn’t. You should check the seat before every trip no matter how short – even just popping round to the shops.

Above is a video which should tell you everything you needed to know when fitting your child's car seat. You can print off this page (see Print command above) and share it with anyone who takes your child in the car – grandparents, childminders or friends.  They  all need to know what to do and what to look out for before they take your child on a trip.

Seat Facts - The Child Seat

A forward-facing seat:

•    that can be used in the front(only if no airbag is present) or rear of the car.

•    that may have a choice of upright or reclined positions.

•    secured by an adult seat belt, or by its own retention system (ISOFIX*).

*Isofix seats must be approved by the seat manufacturer for use in your car (check seat manufacturer's compatibility approval list).

DO NOT use on a seat fitted with a frontal airbag.

Who it's for :

•    Group 1    9kg – 18kg (20 -40Ib) approx 9months to 4years

Points to remember when fitting your child seat:

•    Never fit in a front seat with a passenger airbag, even if it is switched off.

•    Is the frame of the seat pushing against the seatbelt buckle in any way?  If it is readjust the seat, as this “buckle crunching” can weaken the seatbelt if you have a crash.

•    Have you checked that the adult belt is through all the appropriate points on the seat, check the instructions to make sure.

•    Have you checked how tight the adult seat belt is?  Always pull away any slack, and straighten out any twists.

•    Is there any movement?  Your child seat should not move at all if correctly fitted.  Pull harness forwards to test, if the seat moves tighten the adult seat belt.

•    Is the harness on your child pulled as tightly as possible – there should only be enough room to put one finger underneath it.  Always check this every time as your child could be wearing clothes that are less bulky than last time.

•    Always make sure the harness that straps your child in is untwisted.

•    Remember when washing the cover that you follow the manufacturer’s instructions to refit, the harness must always be in the correct place.

•    If you child unbuckles the harness while the car is moving, find a safe place to stop, and rebuckle.  Be prepared to go home and abandon the journey if the behaviour continues.

For more information, visit www.protectchild.co.uk.

 

Last updated: 21 June 2010, 17:08