Car Seats - before you buy?
Important Things to Remember
We are often asked which of the many car seats on the market
is the best. The truth is, the best car seat is the one that fits your
vehicle, your budget, your baby and one that you will be able to fit properly
each time your baby goes out in the car. Here are some important points
to help you choose which car seat is the best choice for your baby.
It is weight, not age that matters
It is essential that you use your baby's weight to establish
the type of car seat that is most suitable. Once you have taken their
weight into consideration you can then look at other issues, such as their
development, height and character to help narrow down the options. Click
here to see our table to help you decide which group of car seat you
should be looking at.
As shown by the following case study, all babies are not
the same, and so if you are uncertain about anything, please seek professional
advice.
Case Study:
Nicky's baby girl Amelie is 9 months old, and all her friends'
babies are already in forward facing car seats. Nicky's concerned because
her baby's legs look squashed in her infant carrier. Should she move her
baby into a Group 1 seat? All her friends think it is okay.
Nicky goes to the shop where she bought her infant carrier
for advice. The fitter finds out that Nicky's baby is just 9kg, so could
(in theory) move to a forward facing car seat. But, he notes that the
baby is not all that confident sitting by herself yet. The baby's legs
do look squashed, but explains that her head is not even close to the
top of the seat and she's certainly not too heavy for the car seat. He
recommends that Nicky wait another few months before buying a Group 1
car seat. Why?
The fitter explains it is much safer for a baby to travel
in their rear facing car seat for as long as possible because it offers
better support for the baby's head, neck and spine in a crash situation.
Nicky gets the fitter to check which Group 1 car seats fit her car there
and then, but delays her purchase. Three weeks later, Nicky's car was
involved in a serious accident - fortunately because Amelie was in the
right seat for her weight and stage she survived the crash unscathed.
Does the car seat fit you car?
With so many vehicle seat styles and seatbelt lengths it
is not possible for all car seats to fit in every vehicle. It is therefore
essential to find a car seat that can be installed so that it hugs the
contours of your vehicle seats, can be fitted tightly (less than an inch
of side-to-side wiggle) and at the proper angle with no buckle crunch
(see Common
fitting problems).
It is always wise to try before you buy; it may be that
you need to try a few before you find one that fits properly. At Babyworld.co.uk
we have RoSPA (Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents) accreditation
and we offer a car seat fitting service. To find your local free Fit Check
locations contact your Road Safety Officer or check out RoSPA's
website. However, if you cannot try before you buy, always check the
returns policy and be certain that you can return the car seat if it does
not properly fit your vehicle.
Can you install and use the car seat easily?
The most expensive, feature-rich car seat will not be safe
if you do not take the time to read the instructions and ensure that it
is properly installed every time it is used. Make sure that you check
the car seat fitting instructions to be sure that you can install and
use the car seat as it is intended. Can you adjust the harness to secure
your child in the car seat? Can you adjust the harness as you baby grows?
Will you get the belt routing right and tight each time?
Are second-hand car seats safe?
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents strongly
advises against buying second-hand car seats. Even if there are no visible
signs of damage, the car seat may still have been involved in an accident.
Hidden damage can occur to a car seat, even in the slightest of crashes.
If subjected to a second crash, the seat may fail, putting the life of
your child at serious risk.
A second-hand car seat is more likely to be older, to have
suffered more wear and tear and also may not be designed to current safety
standards. In addition, it is often the case with second-hand car seats
that the instructions are missing, severely increasing the chances of
it being fitted incorrectly. However, we know how tempting it is to buy
a second-hand car seat, or to accept one from a friend, especially if
you are on a tight budget. If you do decide to opt for a second-hand car
seat, it is essential that you know and trust its history, that it comes
with the complete, original instructions, and that it is not too old.
If it has been involved in any sort of crash it is far more worthwhile
to spend out on a new one, rather than putting the life of your child
at risk.
If you do decide on a second-hand seat, The
Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents asserts that you must:
- Examine it carefully for damage (but remember, not all damage to child
car seats will be visible)
- Make sure the manufacturer's instructions are available
- Check the manufacturer's advice about how old the car seat should
be before it needs to be replaced
- Make sure the car seat is suitable for your child's weight and height
- Try the car seat in your car - if you cannot get it to fit securely,
do not buy it
- Check that the car seat meets the United Nations standard Regulation
44.04 - look for the 'E' mark
How long should I keep my child in a car seat?
Since September 2006, the law states that children must
be secured in the correct child car seat (i.e. a Group 3 car seat) until
they have reached their 12th birthday, or 135cm (4'5") in height. This
means that your child needs to be in a car seat for longer, so it is important
to choose car seats that will grow with them. At Babyworld, we strongly
advise you to keep your child in a car seat with side-impact protection
until they have reached the age of twelve. Perhaps even more importantly,
we strongly advise that babies should be kept in rearward facing car seats
for as long as possible.
Many car seats today offer higher rear facing weight limits,
and this is a good option to choose. Only move them to a forward facing
car seat once they have reached the maximum weight for the baby car seat,
or the top of their head is higher than the top of the car seat. Additionally,
you should only move your child from a Group 1 car seat to a Group 2/3
car seat once they have exceeded the maximum weight for the car seat,
or their eye line is level with the top of the seat.
Buying Your Car Seat
Fitting Your Car Seat
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