Let's go for a ride

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A car seat is one of the most important purchases you'll make.

One of the most important purchases you'll make before having your baby is a car seat. You will need one to bring your baby home from hospital and for every car trip thereafter. The law requires babies and children under 3 years of age to wear an appropriate child restraint and not a seat belt on its own in the car. Children over the age of 3 can use adult seat belts, but since more children are killed or injured in car crashes than in any other type of accident, it pays to belt them up in a car seat.

You have five different kinds of car seats to choose from, depending on how much your child weighs and how old he is. Click on the corresponding seat for more information, or on the buying guide to compare models.

Infant-Only Car Seats

Two-Way Seats

Forward-facing Seats

Highback Boosters

Booster Seats

The Basics of Car Seat Use

 Always use a car seat, starting with your baby's first journey home from hospital.
 Read the manufacturer's instructions on installation and use carefully. Keep them for future reference. Most car seats are secured with the adult lap and diagonal seat belt, and are easy to install.But not all car seats fit all types of car - so check first before you buy. Read your vehicle owner's manual for more information on how to install a car seat.If you don't know how to install the car seat and can't work it out, take the seat and your car to the car dealer. Most will install it for free, or for a small fee. It's worth it because an improperly installed car seat is almost as bad as no car seat at all.
 Never use any car seat on a front passenger seat that is fitted with an airbag Put your baby in the back seat. It is the safest place in the car in the event of a head-on crash (the most common kind of crash).
 Before each journey, check to make sure the car seat is installed tightly enough. It should not roll easily from side to side or away from the seat.
 Check for worn straps and padding. Used car seats are fine if they meet current standards and are in good repair. Car seats should conform to the latest European Safety Standards ECE. R44-03 Universal.
 If your child will be travelling regularly in two or more different cars, it will be easier and safer in the end to purchase and install a seat for each vehicle. No purchase for your child is more worthwhile.
 All belts should fit children snugly, but not rub. Regularly check and adjust your child's car seat straps as he grows.Make sure that metal components of the seat are never in direct contact with your child's skin. They can get very hot and burn your child.
You should avoid leaving your baby unattended to sleep in standard car safety seats, as they are not ideal places for safe infant sleep in the home. Click here for more.

Infant-Only Car Seats

 Some models are for young babies up to 10kg/22lbs (about 9 months) and others for young babies up to 13kg/29lbs (about 12-15 months).
 Are lightweight and portable and fit newborns best.
 Are rear-facing only (baby faces the back seat, not the front of the car)
 Come with a three-point harness or a five-point harness.

Infant Seat Features

 Several Infant-Only Seat models come with detachable bases. The base stays in the car so you don't need to install it every time. After belting your baby into the seat, you simply lock the seat into the base. Some baby seats double up as a low chair or rocker, or are designed to fit onto pushchairs.
 Higher weight limits. Rear-facing Infant-Only Seats available for young babies up to 13kg/29lbs make it easier to keep your baby in a rear-facing seat for a full year.
 Harness slots. Infant-Only Seats that come with more than one harness slot provide more room for growing babies. On rear-facing seats, the harness slots should always be at or below your baby's shoulders.
 Handles. Carrying handles vary hugely in style and ease of use. Check the instructions for how to adjust the handle during travel.
 Pads and padding. Infant-Only Seats will get dirty, so pick one that you can easily clean. Head supports are very helpful for most newborns and all premature babies. If the seat doesn't have separate head supports, buy such padding before you go to the hospital to give birth.

Two-Way Seats

 Can be used rear-facing for infants, and forward-facing for toddlers.
 Do not suit newborns as well as infant seats (note: if you'll be using a Two-Way car seat for a small infant, the best harness choice is the five-point harness).
 Are bulkier than infant seats but can be used for longer.

Face your Two-Way seat to the rear until your baby weighs 9kg/18lbs or 13kg/29lbs (depending on the model) and face it forwards when your child can sit unaided. Forward-facing Two-Way Seats can be used until the child is 18kg/40lbs. Some models can be used up to 25kg/55lbs. When your baby is big enough to turn round, make the following adjustments to your seat:

 Where there are adjustable strap positions, move the shoulder straps to the slots above your child's shoulders (these are usually the top slots, but check your instructions, just in case).
 Move the seat into the upright position.
 Pass the seat belt through the forward-facing belt path.

Most Two-Way Seats use an in-built five-point harness, with five straps: one at each shoulder, one at each hip and one between the legs, usually meeting at the tummy.

Two-Way Seat features

 Adjustable Straps - Some Two-Way Seats give you two or more strap positions so you can adjust the straps for a growing child.
  Higher weight limits - The same seat can be used from birth until about four years because most Two-Way Seats are designed for infants up to 18kg/40lbs.

Forward-facing Seats

 Cannot be used rear-facing.
 Are only for children over 9kg/20lbs (about 9 months) who can sit up unaided.
 Can be used for children up to 18kg/40lbs (about four years). Some models can be used until the child is 25kg/55lbs (about six years). Many Forward-facing Seats use the car seat belt to secure the child, but some may have a built-in, one-pull harness.

Highback Booster Seats

 Cannot be used rear-facing.
 Can be used as a car seat for infants, who can sit unaided, from 9kg/20lbs until 15kg/33lbs. Removal of the back section converts the car seat to a booster for older children from 15kg/33lbs until 36kg/79lbs (11 years).
 Highback Booster Seats use the car seat belt to secure the child.

Booster Seats

Used by children from 15kg/33lbs until 36kg/79lbs. Booster Seats use the adult seat belt to secure the seat and child.

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Safety

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booster seat

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car seat