Buying a car seat is one of the most important purchases you will ever make for your baby.

It will probably first be used to take your new baby home from the hospital. Nervous as you might be about taking your new youngster home – you don’t want to worry about whether you have the right car seat. 

The most important thing to remember when buying you baby their car seat is; safety, safety, safety.

It is easy to look for a seat that has passed European safety standards, but this alone is not enough. (Car seats must conform to the European safety standards ECE R44.03.)

Not all car seats fit all cars and a secure fit is crucial. If you are buying your car seat online, make sure your car is listed as a model that your chosen car seat will fit in to.

You can test the seat at many large superstores , these stores often help with the installation of your new car seat, as will many smaller independent shops.

Children up to and under 1.35metres (and under 11 years) need to use either a car seat or a booster seat.

For more information on the rules that came into force in September 2006 on car seats, see the Child Car Seat section of the Department for transport website

Some car seat safety tips

• NEVER use a child’s car seat on a passenger seat where there is an air bag fitted
• NEVER travel with a child unless they’re strapped into a car seat.
• NEVER strap your child into your seat belt with you – in an accident, you would crush them.
• NEVER  modify a child seat, it’s fitting, the harness, or buckle to make it fit your car.
• NEVER use a rearward-facing car seat on the front passenger seat
• 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 seat, it’s fitting, the harness, or buckle to make it fit your car.
• NEVER buy a second-hand car seat – as you do not know for sure the history of the seat.
• 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.
• 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.

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, you don’t want to be wanting to take your new baby home from the hospital, but are delyaed because you can’t fit the car seat!
• Fasten the seat into the car as tightly as possible. There should be no slack or loose seatbelts
• 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

For more information on children’s car seats and safety have a look at the RoSPA website http://www.childcarseats.org.uk/

Great deals on car seats and carriers

For more information on individual ISOFIX car seats and bases, have a look at the products below. Click on the images and there is useful customer reviews, great prices, and items are delivered right to your door. You can use the box below to search for products or just browse.

Other related articles:
Baby car seat jargon buster.
Baby car seat – quick guide to ISOFIX car seats.