Mothercare buying guide - Car seats

Choosing the right car seat for your child is a very important decision, but with so many on the market, where do you start? Read Mothercare's buying guide for some helpful tips.

Car safety checklist

1. Always buy the right car seat for your child's weight

2. Replace the car seat as soon as your child grows out of it

3. Install the seat according to the manufacturer's instructions

4. Never use a car seat where an airbag is fitted.

5. Use the car seat for every car journey, however short.

6. Check that the car seat is firmly in position every time you use it.

7. Check the harness is firm. You should be able to get only two fingers between the straps and your child's chest.

8. Never buy a second hand car seat. There may be damage - not necessarily visible - that could put your child's life at risk.

9. If anyone else is driving your child around, make sure they know how to fit and use the car seat correctly.

10. Never leave your baby in the car unattended.

Click here to go to the Department of Transport website offering further advice on car seat safety

Car seats buying guide

From September 18th 2006, legislation has been introduced that requires that every child must travel in the appropriate child restraint until that child reaches either 135cm in height or 12 years old, after which they are eligible to use just an adult seat belt. Using an adult seat belt before a child is sufficiently developed may put them at higher risk of internal injury, particularly if the belt does not fit properly across the pelvis.

Mothercare supports this move by offering an extensive range of highback booster seats designed for children right up to 36kg/79lbs (approx. 11 years).

Check if your car seat is fitted correctly

1. Get the right seat for your child’s weight
A child that is either above or below the specified weight range for the car seat may prevent the seat from effectively protecting them in the event of an accident. It is critical that your child is in the right seat for their weight.

2. Make sure the car seat fits your car make sure the car seat fits your car
80% of car seats are fitted incorrectly! Visit one of our stores and ask for a free fitting demonstration to ensure the seat you buy fits your child and your car.

3. Make sure YOU know how to fit your child’s car seat
One of our accredited car seat advisers will be happy to check your chosen car seat fits your car and will instruct you on how to fit it properly. In selected stores we will even double-check your seat once you’ve fitted it!

4. What’s the law?
The new car seat legislation requires that every child must travel in the appropriate child restraint until that child reaches either 135cm in height or 12 years old, after which they are eligible to use just an adult seat belt.

5. What the jargon means

side-impact protection (SI, SIPS, SPS) deeper side wings ensure optimum protection should your car be involved in a side-on collision
seat-belt tensioning device helps you to tighten the seatbelt effectively
Isofix™ the new standard for car seat installation

6. Mothercare recommends...

that babies are positioned rearward-facing for as long as possible. Rearward facing 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. Use a rearward seat until your baby reaches the maximum permissible weight and can sit up unaided.
NEVER position a child on a passenger seat fitted with a front airbag. Airbags are designed to protect adults but can seriously injure or even kill a child.
that a 5-point harness is ALWAYS used up to 18kg/40lbs (approx. 4 yrs). Its tempting to move your child to a seat without a harness for convenience but a 5-point harness provides much better fit and protection that an adult seatbelt.
highback booster seats. Your child will fit a HBB much better than a vehicle’s seat and will therefore be more effectively restrained and protected.

All our car seats are approved to United Nations Regulation ECE R44.03

We also sell car seats especially designed for children with special needs.

Infant carrier car seats - from birth up to 13kg/29lbs (birth to approx. 15 mths)

rearward-facing seat
baby is secured by the seat’s integral 3-point safety harness
seat is secured in the car by the adult seat belt or the Isofix™ base (Isofix™ models only)
lightweight, portable and with a carry handle, they’re called ‘infant carriers’ because you can remove baby from car without taking them out of their seat

Combination car seats - from birth up to 18kg/40lbs (birth to approx. 4 yrs)

use rearward-facing from birth to 10kg/22lbs or 13kg/29lbs depending on model - (approx. birth to 15 mths); then use forward-facing once your baby can sit up unaided, from 9kg/20lbs to 18kg/40lbs (very approx. 9 mths to 4 yrs)
baby/toddler is secured by the seat’s integral 5-point safety harness
seat is secured in the car by the adult seat belt

Forward-facing car seats - from 9kg/20lbs to 18kg/40lbs (approx. 9 mths to 4 yrs)

forward-facing car seat
baby/toddler is secured by the seat’s integral 5-point safety harness
adjustable seating positions for greater comfort
seat is secured in the car by the adult seat belt, or the Isofix™ clip system (Isofix™ models only)

Highback booster seats with integral harnesses - from 9kg/20lbs to 36kg/79lbs (approx. 9 mths to 11 yrs)

forward-facing seat
baby/toddler/child is secured by the seat’s integral 5-point safety harness
seat is secured in the car by the adult seat belt

Highback boosters (without harnesses) and booster seats - from 15kg/33lbs to 36kg/70lbs (approx. 4 yrs to 11 yrs)

forward-facing seat
toddler/child and seat are secured in the car by the adult seat belt
seat raises child to enable adult seat belt to fit more securely, safely and comfortably
extra height also gives a better view, helping to relieve boredom/travel sickness

ISOFIX - the safer choice for car seats

What does it mean?
ISOFIX stands for ‘International Standards Organisation Fix’, a new standard which makes fitting a child seat quick, simple and safe.

How does it work?
The Isofix system uses latches on the back of the car seat which attach to fixed anchorage points in the car, effectively creating a rigid link between the two. A much simpler and safer way of installing car seats, it helps ensure they offer the best possible protection in the event of an accident.

Can I use an ISOFIX car seat?
First, find out if your car has Isofix anchorage points, and if so, the type of Isofix seat that can be used (see ‘3 types of Isofix’ below). See vehicle compatibility listings for Britax isofix car seats here, or ask your car manufacturer or dealer.

3 types of Isofix:

Universal
Three isofix anchorage points. For forward facing car seats (Group 1 and above). From Feb 2006, every car produced will have Universal Isofix anchorage points.
Semi-Universal
Two Isofix anchorage points with supportive leg. It is a car specific solution, so you should refer to a compatibility listing to ensure it fits your car. Rearward-facing car seats (Group 0+) can only be semi-universal.
Car Specific
Two Isofix anchorage points which can be converted to ‘Universal’ by using a top tether strap.

A guide to car seats

Helpful tips and good advice on buying and fitting the right car seat for your little one

Finding the right baby car seat isn't as easy as you might think. Because not all car seats fit all cars - and you don't want to find out you've bought the wrong one in the hospital car park when you're about to take your bundle of joy home.

In fact, it's amazing how many people get it wrong. As many as 80% of car seats are either incompatible with the car or fitted incorrectly. Car safety is extremely important. Follow our advice and you can help your little one to stay safe on the move. And remember, children under 12 years old will be required to use an appropriate car seat, with few exceptions as new laws have come into force.

What you’ll need

Car seats are divided into different groups. It’s the weight of your child that is important, not necessarily the age.

•Baby seats - infant carriers from birth to 13kg (approx 15 months) are always rearward-facing
•Combination seats - can be used from birth (rearward facing) to 13kgs, and then forwardfacing to 18kgs (approx 4 years)
•Forward-facing seats from 9 to 18kgs (approx 9 months to 4 years)
•Highback boosters and booster cushions from 15-36 kg (approx 4 to 12 years)
•We also sell car seats especially designed for children with special needs
Fitting the car seat - things to remember

•Read the instructions carefully - remember up to 80% of car seats are fitted incorrectly
•Always try before you buy to make sure it fits your make of car
•Practice fitting the seat a few times before you need to use it
•Fasten the seat into the car as tightly as possible. There should be no slack or loose seat belts
•Adjust the harness for a snug fit against the child's chest
•When correctly installed, the car seat should not move or slide around excessively
•Our car seat advisers can check that your seat fits your child and car and they will also show you how to fit it properly

Safety first

•Car seats must conform to the European safety standards ECE R44.03.
•Read the car seat instruction leaflet before you use your seat. Keep it handy for future reference.
•Never place a rearward-facing car seat on the front passenger seat protected by an air bag - it can seriously injure or even kill a baby.
•Push your weight onto fixed child seats as you tighten the seat belt to make sure there is no slack and the seat is securely held.
•The seatbelt buckle should be straight when locked and should never rest on the child car seat frame as it may snap open.
•Your child seat should rest firmly on the main seat, with little or no movement.
•Check that you cannot get more than two fingers between the harness straps and your child's chest: tight enough to be sage, but still comfortable.
•The harness buckle should lie on your baby's pelvis, not tummy.
•Regularly check fixed car seats to ensure that they haven't worked loose. Pull on the harness of the seat to test thoroughly.
•Never modify a child seeat, its fitting, the harness, or buckle to make it fit your car.
•Beware of secondhand car seats - as you do not know the history of the seat and it may not meet current standards. Never use a seat that has been involved in a crash, no matter how minor.
•Watch out for unsecured objects in the car that could be dangerous - in an accident, a tissue box flying off the back shelf has the impact of a house brick.
•If you have to use the front seat with an older child, (who is in a forward-facing seat) push the passenger seat as far back as possible from the dashboard.
•Try to keep journeys short for the first 3 months - it’s good for your baby to lie flat for most of the day.
•Use a car seat for all journeys, however short. Even if you don't own a car you'll still need a car seat for when you get a lift from friends or take a cab.
ISOFIX
This is a new standard that makes fitting a child car seat quick, simple and safe. ISOFIX attachment points are built into almost all new cars, so that an ISOFIX child car seat can be plugged in.

Ask in stores for details of ISOFIX seats. Before installation, always check your vehicle compatibility - ask your car manufacturer or dealer.

Find out more
www.britax.co.uk
www.rospa.co.uk
www.capt.org.uk

The five questions to ask before you buy a car seat

1.Is portability important to me?

If you want to be able to carry your sleeping baby from car to house or supermarket trolley, go for an infant carrier (Group 0+). These have a handle and are usually lightweight, so they can be removed from the car and carried around, and used indoors as a rocker. You can buy as part of a travel system with the bonus that it snaps into your pushchair chassis.

These are good until your baby weighs 13kg (usually about 12 months old) but you'll find the baby carrier difficult to lift and manoeuvre after about six months.

2. Do I want a fixed car seat?
If so, you'll want a combination car seat (also called Group 0+/1). These are larger and costlier, but have a longer life than infant carriers, lasting from birth until your child is around 4 years old.

Like a toddler car seat, these stay strapped (or fixed) in the car, initially rear-facing, then swivelled to face the front when your child weighs 9kg or can sit unaided.

3. Shall I buy a second hand car seat?
No! You can't be sure that it hasn't been in an accident because it may have suffered invisible damage. Even if you know the seat's history, wear and tear will mean that the belts may not be as tight as they should be.

4. Does my car have a passenger airbag?
If so, your baby must go in the back seat - inflated airbags can be lethal to babies. Some airbags can be disabled, but you need to check this with the manufacturer of your car. Side airbags are no problem.

5. Will someone else be driving my baby around?
If a childminder or grandparent will be taking your baby out and about, you need to check the car seat will fit in their car too, and they need to practise fitting it. Portable (Group 0+) seats will fit most cars, but Group +/1 may prove more tricky.

If you regularly use two cars, buy two seats. Otherwise, you can bet that car number one, complete with seat, will be zooming towards the horizon at precisely the time you need to strap your baby into car number two.

Check your car seat is fitted correctly

Having your child’s car seat fitted safely is very important. With our ‘free safe fit’ service* one of our trained fitting experts will be happy to check that the car seat you buy fits both your child and your car. They will demonstrate how to fit your car seat safely.

Selected stores also provide a free fitting service, fitting the car seat you bought from us in your car. Once fitted, we will provide you with a comprehensive checklist, to make sure your child stays safe on every journey.

*In selected stores, see our store listing for stores offering safe fit car seat demonstrations and those that also offer free fitting.

The free fitting service is offered on any car seat purchased from a Mothercare store or Mothercare.com.
Please provide your receipt as proof of purchase to receive this service.

For more information visit:
RoSPA car seat video
Britax car seat fitting guide
Maxi-Cosi car seat fitting guide

To choose the perfect car seat for your child, visit www.mothercare.com

Last Modified: 23/02/2010