- Child Car Seats

It is important to restrain your child in any car, but a child seat will only protect your child if:

It is the right restraint for the child
It is fitted correctly
The harness is properly adjusted

Remember, your child's safety depends on this.

Child restraints come in a wide variety of types- baby seats / infant carriers, child seats, booster seats and booster cushions. The appropriate restraint depends on the weight, size and age of your child. The diagrams below explain this.

How to keep your child safe on every trip

Choose the right seat for your child's weight and physical development.
Don't move your baby from the infant carrier until they can sit up unaided for long periods.
If possible, before you buy a seat, try it out in you car. Make sure it can be fitted in the way the manufacturer says, as not all car seats fit all cars.
Always read the manufacturer's leaflet and fit the seat exactly to the instructions. If you can't do this, you have got the wrong seat. When properly fitted the seat should be rigid
Secure the child in the seat on every journey exactly as the manufacturer says, no matter how short the trip. The harness should always be adjusted so that it fits securely around the child. You should not be able to fit more than two flat fingers between the child and the harness.
Make sure that everyone in the car is correctly restrained.
If your front passenger seat is fitted with an airbag, you should not use a baby seat or child seat on that seat -use the rear seats.

Second-hand Seats

Do you know its history?
It may be OK to accept a second-hand seat from a good friend or relative where you know it's history, but you are strongly advised NOT to buy a second-hand seat, particularly not one froma car boot sale.
Don't use a seat:-
that has been in an accident if there are any signs of wear on the harness with cracks in it
Make sure that you have all the parts and the fitting instructions,
Remember that older seats won't always have the same safety features as new ones and may be less convenient to use.
And, please don't compound the risks by selling your used car seats.

Line drawing of a baby in a car seat

Baby seat/Infant Carrier

Approximate age and weight range
Birth to 6-8 months or birth to 12-15 months
Up to 10kg (22lbs) or up to 13kg (28.5lbs)

Child/Toddler Seat

Approximate age and weight range
6-8 months to 3-4 years
9-18 kg (20-40lbs)

Booster Seat

Approximate age and weight range
6-8 months to 7 years
9-25kg (20-55 lbs)
(age and weight ranges vary from one seat to another)

Booster Cushion

Approximate age and weight range
3-4 years upwards
15-36kg (33-80lbs)

For Further Information

Nottinghamshire County Council Trading Standards Advice Centres offer unbiased and friendly advice to both consumers and traders.

If you need help or just want some general advice, why not call in to your local centre, or telephone the advice line on 0845 050 5200.

Trading Standards
4th Floor
County Hall
West Bridgford
Nottingham
NG2 7QP

Trading Standards
17B The Square
Retford
Nottinghamshire
DN22 6DB

Minicom: 0115 977 2395

E-mail: tsadvice@nottscc.gov.uk

To make a consumer complaint online: www.consumercomplaints.org.uk