Common problems when installing a car seat

If you're struggling to fit your car seat, here are a few common problems which can turn the fitting of a car seat from a simple procedure into a frustrating nightmare.

• Belts too short?
• Sloping seats
• Buckle crunch
• Adult belts

Belts too short?

A common problem with rear-facing seats is that the car's belts are not long enough to fit around the car seat. There is no minimum standard length for adult seat belts and it would take a large adult to use as much belt as one of these seats when fitted.

Try the child seat in every seating position in which you are likely to use it and make sure that sufficient belt length is available. Some seats have an 'alternative belt route' that can be used when the belts are too short for normal installation - the manufacturer's instructions will show this.

Non-reclining and two-way seats may require more length of seat belt than equivalent reclining seats, which can be installed in the upright position and then reclined against seat belt tension once the belt has been fitted. Two-way seats are generally larger.

Sloping seats

If the seats in your car slope and you buy a non-reclining infant carrier the combination of angles can result in your baby lying in a near vertical position. Take this into consideration before investing in a car seat.

Buying a reclining seats can help overcome this problem.

Buckle crunch

If the car's safety belt buckle lies across the frame of the car seat, it will be prevented from being tightened and risks breaking or opening in a crash. Only seatbelt webbing should be in contact with the frame of the child seat.

An 'alternative belt route' for the belt can help you to avoid the buckle touching the seat, as can moving the seat to a different location in the car.

Adult belts

Adult belts are designed to be comfortable for and to protect adults rather than for installing child restraints. In some cars the belt mounting point (the opposite end of the lap-belt to the buckle) in the car is located so far forward that the seat belt does not pull the child seat frame backwards and downwards sufficiently into the car seat.

Where to next?

• Find out which car seats rate highly with our panel of parents in our product test
• Get the lowdown on travelling with a baby
• Talk to other parents about travelling with tots in our Travel discussion forum
• Win car seats and other baby essential by entering our competitions

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