Biggest car seat mistakes parents make

Having a baby is hard, and means you have to learn a whole new set of skills you’ve never had before. Some of these are OK to learn as you’re going along (like how to change a nappy, or how to put on a baby grow) and some are vital to get right straight away: like knowing how to put your new baby safely in their car seat. Car seat safety is a matter of life or death, but a massive 80% of UK car seats are fitted incorrectly.

So here are five car seat mistakes that parents frequently make, and how you can avoid them:

1.   Make sure the car seat is properly installed
Before you even put your little one into the car seat, you should make sure it is correctly installed in your car: in the UK 80% of car seats are fitted incorrectly! When you buy your car seat you can ask the store for a fitting demonstration, and some stores will even fit the car seat for you. If not, take your time and read the safety instructions. Keep the manual near the car seat at all times, as it will answer any of your fit questions, and is easy to turn to if you’re unsure about the position of your car seat.

2.   Use the right kind of car seat
Babies should be kept in rear facing car seats for as long as possible: current advice is that they should stay in a rear facing car seat until they are two years old. This is because these seats offer the best possible protection to the smaller baby. In the event of a frontal impact the rearward facing car seat supports your babies’ head and neck. Once your child can hold their head unaided and outgrows the weight category for the rear facing seat, you might consider buying a forward facing seat.

3.   Make sure the shoulder straps are in the right position
If your child is in a rear facing seat the top of the shoulder straps should be at or below the baby's shoulders. When in a forward facing seat the straps need to be at or above the baby’s shoulders. Straps should also pass the pinch test: pull any slack tight from the lap-portion, and then pinch the straps at the collar bone. If you're able to pinch the strap, it's too loose.

4.   Take your time
Often little ones aren’t put in their car seats safely because their parents are in a rush. No matter how rushed you are, or how much shopping your trying to cram into your car, or how many other hundreds of things are distracting you during your busy day to day life, the most important thing is that your little one is safely strapped into their car seat. Even if it takes a little time for you to get it right, and makes you late for your next appointment, buckle your little one in safely!

5.   No coats in the car seat!
Coats are not safe in car seats and almost all manufacturers have this rule in their manual as well. To understand why, place your child in a coat and put them in their seat and tighten the straps properly. Without loosening the straps, remove your child and remove their coat. Now place them back in the seat. That is how much room your child would have once the coat compressed under pressure, much like how you can squish a pillow if you sit on it. Why not try putting the coat on after the harness, or better still, keep blankets in the car in case your little ones get cold?

Do you have any car seat safety tips to share? Share them with us in our chat forum.

Last Modified: 22/03/2011

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Comments

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By kayleigh47 10 months ago

LOL "Why not try putting the coat on after the harness?"
hahahaha
Good idea girls! Lets all put our Lo's coats on backwards!!!

My husband is still trying to figure out how you could put a coat on AFTER you have put the straps on.....

This made me giggle hahaha x

By victoria36 11 months ago

I'm confused, at two the childs legs will be way too long to be in a rear facing seat. Also with coats or jumpers etc surely you just make sure when ever the child is in the seat you adjust the straps acordingly? With a six week old I wouldnt put her in the car atm without a snow suit or coat because she can't regulate her temperature properly and she will get too cold!

You have to get an Extended Rear facing carseat that allows you to keep your child rear facing until they are 4years old, In some countries like sweden it is law to have them rear facing till then!I currently have one, mainly as I am qualified to fit car seats and having had to sit and watch horrific videos there was no way I was putting my child forward facing.

Also the reason that the say not to put jackets on babies in the car is because it can mean the harness in not fitting properly and babies have been know to have come out of the seats in crashes the best advice is to place your baby into the car seat then wrap a blanket over them or get a specific car seat cositoes.

By mamaoftwo 1 years ago

Just been looking on youtube at a few random things and came across this video about a different way to put your babies coat on without making it unsafe. Makes sense really and I will defintitely be doing it with my LO's from now on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLTVPqn0aR8&feature=related

Here are a few videos explaining how it makes the difference

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNGT9eBL_gg&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDhng9hvjlI&feature=related

Hope these help xxxx

very interesting videos x

By GummyGrin 1 years ago

By tam20779 1 years ago

WTF????? My LO wore a fleecy snow suit when it snowed earlier this year with no problems. I simply tightened the straps accordingly. And how on earth do you put a coat on a baby if they are already in a harness??? This is silly. Now, I simply give him a hoody to wear when we are out since the weather is getting warmer.

Your best bet is to get an isofix bracket fitted (if your car doesn't already have one) and buy an isofix seat and base. At least then, there is no seatbelt to fiddle with and it is so easy to fit. In addition, Isofix apparently raises the NCAP safety rating of your car.

By SarahFarley 1 years ago

I don't agree with this. I make sure all car seat are fitted properly before any of my lo's get in them. I don't see how you can't, I have 2 fitted an one rear facing for baby. My Daughter an Nephew are 2 & 3 an I took my daughter out of rear facing when she was 8 months, she was getting to big for it so wouldn't that be unsafe? An as for putting coats on after what are you supposed to do in winter when it's cold an wet, stand outside stripping them down. My heating doesn't kick in on my car for a good 10 minutes an ever since being a baby my daughter has always kicked off her blanket. They should think about all these faults an build car seats around them rather than coming up with silly guidlines. X

By GummyGrin 1 years ago

By janie000 1 years ago

my son was born in November and he had breathing difficulties, there was no way I was transporting him in winter without a snowsuit or blanket! I have never heard about this rule before and it doesn't say anything about this on my car seat instructions, are we supposed to let them freeze?

By Bobbythomas1 1 years ago

paragraph 5 - PFFT! how flipping ridiculous. We'r not living in florida. who on earth came out with this idea??? oh & also i'm dying to know has anybody actually tried putting a coat on their child AFTER they're harnessed in the car seat!? "or better still, keep blankets in the car in case your little ones get cold" - err..REALLY?

Am not even sure this is possible but will check tomorrow. It really is stupid isnt it!!!