When choosing a new child seat, it is essential to ensure that it fits in your car (or cars if you use it in more than one) and is suitable for your child.
See Choosing and Using Child Seats for further advice and Links for advice about specific seats.
You can also obtain information about the safety performance of some seats from surveys conducted by magazines such as "Which", "What Car" and "Mother and Baby". Some seats are tested in the European New Car Assessment Programme (EURO NCAP), so where possible choose a child seat that has scored well in their tests.
Use this checklist to help you select the child seat that is most suitable for your child and your vehicle(s).
Is the child seat suitable for my child?
It is essential that the child restraint is suitable for your child. Check the packaging before you buy.
It is essential that the child restraint is suitable for your child. Check the packaging before you buy.
| My Child's Weight and Age | Suitable Restraint |
| Child weighing up to 10kg (22 lbs) roughly from birth to 6 -9 months | Rearward-facing Baby Seat (Group 0) |
| Child Weighing up to 13kg (29lbs), roughly from birth to 12-15 months | Rearward-facing Baby Seats (Group 0+) |
| Child weighing 9 - 18 kgs (20 - 40 lbs), roughly from 9 months - 4 years | Forward-facing child seat (Group 1) |
| Child weighing 15 - 25 kgs (33 - 55 lbs), roughly aged from 4 - 6 years | Forward-facing child seat or/ booster seat (Group 2) |
| Child weighing 22 - 36 kgs (48 - 79 lbs), roughly from 6 - 11 years | Booster cushion (Group 3) |
Many child car seats fit into more than one of these Groups.
| Is the child seat suitable for my child? | Yes | No |
Is the child seat suitable for my car(s)?
The shape of car seats, the length of seat belts and the position of seat belt anchor points differ between cars. So, not all child seats fit all cars. For instance, the seat belt in a particular car may be too short to go around a certain child seat. It is essential to check that the child seat you purchase will fit in your car and that it will fit in all the seat positions you intend to use it. The manufacturer and retailer should advise you.
The shape of car seats, the length of seat belts and the position of seat belt anchor points differ between cars. So, not all child seats fit all cars. For instance, the seat belt in a particular car may be too short to go around a certain child seat. It is essential to check that the child seat you purchase will fit in your car and that it will fit in all the seat positions you intend to use it. The manufacturer and retailer should advise you.
| Does the child seat fit on the front passenger seat? | Yes | No | ||
| Does the child seat fit on the rear side seats? | Yes | No | ||
| Does the child seat fit on the rear middle seat? | Yes | No |
How helpful is the retailer?
Some retailers are very knowledgeable about child restraints, others are not. Try to find a retailer who will let you try the seat in your car first and who will demonstrate how it should be fitted. If this is not possible, make sure you can return the seat, if it is not suitable.
Some retailers are very knowledgeable about child restraints, others are not. Try to find a retailer who will let you try the seat in your car first and who will demonstrate how it should be fitted. If this is not possible, make sure you can return the seat, if it is not suitable.
| Will the retailer help me fit the seat? | Yes | No | ||
| Will the retailer let me try the seat before I Buy it? | Yes | No | ||
| Will the retailer let me return seat if it is not suitable? | Yes | No | ||
| Does the retailer provide good advice? | Yes | No |
Does the seat meet the latest safety Standard?
Check that the seat you are buying meets the latest safety standard: ECE R44.03 or R44.04 (look for the E mark).
Check that the seat you are buying meets the latest safety standard: ECE R44.03 or R44.04 (look for the E mark).
| Does the seat conform to R44.03 or R44.04? | Yes | No |
Does my car have airbags?
If your car has an airbag in the front on the passenger's side, you must not use a rearward-facing seat in the front. So make sure, the seat will fit in the rear of your car.
If your car has an airbag in the front on the passenger's side, you must not use a rearward-facing seat in the front. So make sure, the seat will fit in the rear of your car.
| Does my car have a passenger airbag? | Yes | No | ||
| If so, will the rearward-facing seat fit in rear of my car? | Yes | No |
Are the instructions easy to understand and follow?
Many people find fitting child seats difficult. The most important thing is to read and follow the manufacturer's instructions. Some instruction booklets are clearly written and well illustrated. Other's are difficult to understand and use. Ask to see the instruction booklet before you buy.
Many people find fitting child seats difficult. The most important thing is to read and follow the manufacturer's instructions. Some instruction booklets are clearly written and well illustrated. Other's are difficult to understand and use. Ask to see the instruction booklet before you buy.
| Are the instructions easy to read and follow? | Yes | No |
ISOFIX
A new child restraint system called ISOFIX is being introduced. ISOFIX points are fixed connectors in a car's structure into which an ISOFIX child seat can simply be plugged. Many new vehicles have ISOFIX points built in when they are manufactured, and child seat manufacturers are beginning to produce ISOFIX child seats which have been approved for use in specific car models.
A new child restraint system called ISOFIX is being introduced. ISOFIX points are fixed connectors in a car's structure into which an ISOFIX child seat can simply be plugged. Many new vehicles have ISOFIX points built in when they are manufactured, and child seat manufacturers are beginning to produce ISOFIX child seats which have been approved for use in specific car models.
| Does my car have ISOFIX Points? | Yes | No | ||
| Has the ISOFIX child seat been approved for my specific car model? | Yes | No |
Many new cars now have ISOFIX points built into them, however it is not yet mandatory and some new vehicles may not have them. New types of vehicles must be fitted with ISOFix points from November 2012 and all new vehicles must be fitted with it from November 2014. This will not apply to cars with only one row of seats, which will not be required to have ISOFIX
For Further Reading,
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