DG p12-13 Child Safety Jul09.qxp 24/06/2009 14:16 Page 13
child safety
Choosing child seats – a practical guide
The most important thing is to make sure that the seat seat for as long as possible. Only move them to a
you choose is suitable for your child and for your car. If forward-facing seat once they have exceeded the
you use the child seat in more than one car, follow the maximum weight for the baby seat, or the top of their
advice below for each car. head is higher than the top of the seat.
Before You Buy Forward-facing child seat
Don’t rush the decision. Look through the Group 1: for children weighing 9-18 kgs (20-40 lbs)
manufacturer’s catalogues, or on their websites or in roughly from 9 months – 4 years.
shops that sell child seats to assess a range of seats. Once children have outgrown a rearwards facing seat,
Think about how you will use the seat. For example, if the best option is to use a Group 1 seat with an integral
you will be constantly taking it in and out of the car, a harness, the large area of the harness helps to reduce
lighter weight seat might be preferable. Or, if you do a the risk of injury if there is a crash. The bottom
lot of long journeys, a seat that reclines may be more attachment between the legs will also prevent the child
comfortable for your child and help him or her sleep. from sliding under, and out of, the harness.
Choose a seat that is suitable for your child’s weight They can be used in the front or rear of the car, but it
and height. Babies should be in rearward-facing baby is safer to put them in the rear, especially if there is a
seats. Do not move your child to a forward-facing seat passenger airbag in the front.
until they weigh at least 9 kgs and can sit up unaided, Once again, it is safest to keep children in this type of
but keep them in a rearward-facing seat for as long as system until they have outgrown it. Only move your
possible. Once your child is above the maximum weight child to a booster seat once they have exceeded the
for a rearward-facing seat or the top of their head is maximum weight for the child seat, or the top of their
above the top of the seat , they should be moved into a head is higher than the top of the seat.
forward-facing seat. It is not important if their knees are
bent in the seat, provided they are still within the seat’s Booster seats and booster cushions
weight range. Group 2: for children weighing 15-25 kgs (33-55lbs)
Contact the child seat manufacturer to check if the roughly 4 to 6 years. Group 3: for children weighing 22-
seat will fit your car. If you are considering a Britax seat, 36 kgs (48-79 lbs) roughly from 6-11 years.
for example, you can enter the details of the seat and Booster seats that only fit into Group 2 or only into
your car on their “Fit Finder” website if it fits your car Group 3 are no longer produced and modern booster
and the best position. seats are designed for children between 15kg and 36kg
(33-79lbs).
When Buying Booster cushions can be approved for Groups 2 and
Ask the retailer if the seat is suitable for your child and Group 3, although some are only approved for just
car. Try to find a retailer who will let you (or even better, Group 3. You should ensure your child is within the
help you) try the seat in your car before you buy it. weight range of any booster seat or booster cushion.
If this is not possible, make sure that you can return Some booster seats are designed to be converted into
the seat if it is not suitable, and replace it or get a a booster cushion by detaching the back rest, and you
refund. Avoid buying a child seat by mail order, unless should always check the manufacturers advice about
you are sure that it will fit your car. when and how to do this.
Check the seat meets the United Nations standard Booster seats and booster cushions do not have an
Regulation 44.03 or 44.04 – look for the ‘E’ mark. integral harness to hold the child in place. The adult
Do not buy a second-hand seat, you cannot be seat belt goes around the child and the seat. So it is
certain of its history (it may have been involved in an important that the seat belt is correctly adjusted. The
accident and been seriously weakened – the damage basic points to note are:
may not be visible) and often the instructions are lthe belt should be worn as tight as possible
missing. Second-hand seats are likely to be older and lthe lap belt should go over the pelvic region, not the
not designed to current standards. stomach
Only accept a child seat from a family member or lthe diagonal strap should rest over the shoulder, not
friend, if you are certain that you know its history, it the neck
comes with the original instructions and it is not too old.
When children first move out of forward-facing into
Rearward-facing Baby Seats booster seats and cushions, initially ones with backs
Group 0: for babies up to 10 kgs (22 lbs) roughly from may provide a better fit for the seat belt. Booster seats
birth to 6-9 months, or Group 0+: for babies up to 13kg with side wings also help prevent injury in a side impact
(29lbs) roughly from birth to 12-15 months by protecting the head, and on several seats, the height
They can be used in the front or rear of the car. It is of the side wings can be adjusted as the child grows.
safer to put them in the rear. DO NOT put them in the Booster seats and booster cushions can be used in
front passenger seat if there is a passenger airbag. the front or rear, but it is safer to put them in the rear,
Rearward-facing seats provide greater protection for the especially if there is a passenger airbag in the front.
baby’s head, neck and spine than forward-facing seats.
So, it is best to keep your baby in a rearward-facing For more info visit www.protectchild.co.uk
Dumfries and Galloway | first link magazine 13
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