November 23, 2008 14:28 Published by Stephen Cohen 0 Comments

Going from hospital to home is probably the first journey your new baby will make and most parents will do this by car. It is therefore essential to have an appropriate car seat fitted before the baby comes along. Here we give some advice on making the right choice:

This is probably the very first piece of equipment that you will use for your new arrival and possibly the most important. And yet this potentially ‘life saving’ purchase can be dismissed as being a legal requirement rather than something that should be carefully researched.

Yes, if you are going to transport your baby by road, you have to use a car seat and there is good reason for this. This is the safest way for your baby to travel in the car. The standards are always being updated with only one thing in mind; to protect our children when we travel with them.

There are many seats on the market that are produced to a price and these are slowly (not quickly enough) disappearing. It’s not worth taking a chance, so if you’re not sure of the brand don’t buy the seat.

As with any car seat for all stages of your baby’s development, there are a few simple rules:

•    Never buy a second hand car seat

•    Make sure that it fits all of the cars that it will be used in

•    Read and understand and follow the instructions

•    Ensure that you are using a seat that is appropriate for your child’s weight

It is more than likely that if you buy a second-hand car seat you will not be aware of the seats’ history. You will not be made aware of whether or not it has been involved in an accident in which case it should not be used again; any damage may not be obvious and a damaged seat will not protect your child in an accident. A second hand car seat may well come without instructions.

Ensure that the seat fits the car, don’t simply assume. There are many reasons that a seat would be considered not to fit a car. The best way to ascertain whether a seat fits or not is to purchase it from a retailer that is qualified to test a seat in your car. If your retailer is reluctant or unsure in any way, the best action to take is to shop elsewhere.

Read your instructions!  Every new car seat will come with instructions and with clear labels fixed to the seat itself. Approximately 75% of car seat that are currently in use are either fitted incorrectly or do not fit the cars that they are in.

These days everybody seems to be pushing a travel system of some kind. There is no doubt that it is very convenient to be able to attach your car seat to your pushchair but what is convenient for us may well not be what’s best for baby.  A newborn baby should lie as flat as possible for as long as possible so don’t be encouraged to use your car seat as a pushchair seat.

Tempting as it is to purchase over the internet or from catalogues, a car seat is something that has to be tried in your car so whenever possible, visit your local Nursery Retailer to have a seat tested. A good retailer will ensure that you are purchasing a seat that is appropriate for your Child’s weight (all car seats are graded by weight and not age).

By following a few simple rules and not being bewildered by the array of car seats on offer you should be able to achieve peace of mind for you and a safe and comfortable place for your baby.

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