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Useful Tips to Help Keep Children Safe

• Protect your child/children by using a properly fitted, purpose made child car seat which meets current safety standards and is appropriate for your child's weight and height. Try before you buy and get a trained professional to demonstrate how to fit the seat.

• When fitting a child car seat, always follow the manufacturer's instructions thoroughly and allow plenty of time. The same applies when it comes to strapping your baby or child into the seat.

• Make sure your child car seat is properly fitted every time you use it. Always keep a copy of the fitting instructions in your car.

• Child car seats are designed for various weights of child. As a general guide:

• Baby seats are for babies weighing up to 13kgs (birth to 9-12 months) or until they can support their own head. The seat faces backwards and can be fitted into the front or rear of the car using a seat belt. They should never be used in the front where the front seat is protected with a frontal airbag.

• Child car seats are for children weighing between 9 and 18 kgs (nine months to about four years), and have their own straps. They face forwards and are usually fitted in a back seat with a seat belt.

• Booster seats and booster cushions are for children weighing 15 to 36 kgs (aged around four years upwards). They are designed to raise a child to enable them to use an adult seat belt safely across both their chest and lower abdomen.

• Always make sure that your child’s seat belt is properly adjusted and fastened before setting off in the car, even on the shortest trip. And remember to set a good example by fastening your own belt.

• By law, you have to wear a seat belt if one is fitted. No child can sit in the front seat without the correct child car seat (or seat belt if they are over 135cm in height).

• By law, children under three years old MUST NOT travel in a car or goods vehicle unless they are in a correct baby/child car seat.

• By law, you MUST NOT place a rear-facing child seat in a seat where there is an active frontal airbag. Forward-facing restraints should be as far back from the airbag as possible. Always check your car handbook.

• Never modify a child car seat or seat belt to try to make it fit.

• Check the advice in your car handbook and from the child seat manufacturer. If in doubt call the manufacturer's helpline or speak to your local Road Safety Officer.

• Lap and diagonal belts are safer than lap-only belts.