Make Every Journey Safe: Check Your Child’s Car Seat
Not every child seat fits every car or every child. It’s essential to choose a seat that’s right for your vehicle and suitable for your child’s height and/or weight and age.
Always make sure their car seat is properly secured in your vehicle and that your child is correctly strapped in. Every car and car seat is different, so always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for both. This information is here to give you clear, practical tips to help keep your little one safe on every trip.
Useful facts
- Nearly 2 out of 3 child car seats are fitted incorrectly
- More than 4250 babies and children are killed or injured on UK roads every year
- At just 5mph, an unrestrained child can suffer fatal injuries
- Babies and children are up to 95% safer when using rear facing car seats
- Not all child car seats fit in all cars and seat positions
- Not all legal car seats have been crash tested to the highest safety standard.
What should I do after a crash?
If you are involved in a crash, it’s strongly recommended to replace all child car seats even if they weren’t in use at the time. The impact can cause hidden damage that affects their safety. This is also why you should never buy a second-hand car seat, you can’t be sure of its history.
Don’t leave loose items in the car. During a crash, they can become dangerous, even a small object like a mobile phone can cause serious injury.
Fitting a car seat
There are two main ways to install a car seat: using the vehicle’s seatbelt or using ISOFIX anchor points. Both methods are equally safe if installed correctly.
ISOFIX often reduces the risk of incorrect fitting. Many ISOFIX seats come with green indicators to show when the seat is properly secured, giving added peace of mind.
Infant carrier advice
- Check the carry handle position- On many infant carriers, the carry handle doubles as a roll bar in a crash, offering vital protection. Always position it correctly before every journey
- Limit car seat time for newborns- Newborn babies shouldn’t be in a car seat for more than 30 minutes at a time. Staying in a seated position too long can restrict their airway and affect their breathing
- The right recline matters- Infant car seats are designed with a slight incline to help keep your baby’s airway open. This angle prevents their chin from falling onto their chest, which can restrict breathing. Always follow the manufacturer’s guidance to make sure the seat is installed at the correct angle.
Legal vs safe
Rear facing for longer is safer. While it’s legal to turn your child forward facing earlier, the safest choice is to keep them rear facing until they’re at least 4 years old. That’s because a child’s neck and spine aren’t fully developed until around age 4t o 6. In a crash, their body isn’t strong enough to withstand the forward forces. This puts them at risk of serious injury.
Car seat safety
If rear facing, the straps should come out of the back of the child seat level or slightly below the child’s shoulders. If forward facing,the straps should be level or slightly above the child’s shoulders.
Make sure no straps are twisted to evenly distribute the force across the body in a collision.
Harness straps should sit close to your child’sneck, not slipping off the shoulders. You should only be able to fit two fingers snugly between the strap and your child’s collar bone.
Straps should go across the pelvic bone when using a 5 point harness.
Don’t put thick/padded clothing on your child when travelling. In the force of a collision, the fabric will compress, and your child can be ejected from the car seat.
5-point check before moving to the adult seatbelt
While children can legally use an adult seat belt from the age of 12 or 135cm in height, it's only safe to do so if the seat belt fits them properly. You can tell if their seat belt is a good fit by checking that:
- They can sit with their back flat against the vehicle seat
- Their knees bend over the edge of the vehicle seat
- Both feet are flat on the floor
- The lap part of the belt is on their hips, not their abdomen
- The shoulder belt runs from their hip, across their chest and over their shoulder.
If this checklist is not met, then they should continue using a high back booster seat. High back booster seats offer better protection than basic booster seats. They support your child’s head, neck, and sides, especially in dangerous yet common side-impact crashes. Check your car’s headrests. They shouldn't push the child seat forward or block a safe, snug fit. You should never remove the vehicle headrest.
Free child car seat fitting clinics
We occasionally have car seat fitting clinics taking place across the borough to check that the car seat is fitted in the car correctly and the child is fitted in the seat correctly. They are free to attend and there will be more dates and locations being added.
Upcoming car seat clinics taking place
No booking required for these events.
Leigh Sports Village
Where? Morrisons, Leigh Sports Village, Sale Way, Leigh, WN7 4JY
When? Thursday 26th June, 10am to 3pm
View more information about the Leigh Sports Village event (external link).
Hindley
Where? Tesco Hindley, Tesco Extra, Cross Street, WN2 3AT
When? Friday 27th June, 10am to 3pm
View more information about the Hindley event (external link).
Wigan
Where? Tesco, Central Park Way, Wigan WN1 1XS
When? Friday 4th July, 3pm to 8pm
View more information about the Wigan Tesco event (external link).
Leigh
Where? Tesco Leigh, The Loom Derby Street, Leigh WN7 4BA
When? Monday 7th July, 10am to 3pm
View more information about the Leigh Tesco event (external link).
Leigh
Where? Asda, Atherleigh Way, Leigh, WN7 5RZ
When? Monday 21st July, 3pm to 8pm
View more information about the Leigh event (external link).
Wigan Town Centre
Where? Tesco, Central Park Way, Wigan, WN1 1XS
When? Tuesday 5th August, 10am to 3pm
View more information about the Wigan Town Centre event (external link).
Leigh
Where? Pennington Flash Country Park, St Helens Road, Leigh, WN7 3PA
When? Wednesday 6th August, 10am to 3pm
View more information about the Pennington Flash event (external link).
Haigh Woodland Park
Where? Haigh Woodland Park Car Park, School Lane, Wigan WN2 1PE
When? Monday 11th August, 10am to 3pm
View more information about the Haigh Woodland Park event (external link).
Leigh
Where? Asda, Atherleigh Way, Leigh, WN7 5RZ
When? Monday 22nd September, 10am to 3pm
View more information about the Leigh event (external link).
If you are a health professional who can't attend an in-person clinic, we also offer 1-1 video appointments available to book.
Common car seat fitting errors
Useful information
Always refer to your car and car seat manufacturers manuals for the most accurate safety guidance tailored to your vehicle and seat.
Thanks go to: Good Egg Safety CIC (external link).
Referenced: DFT Casualty Statistics 10 year average 2013-22, Nordic Traffic Medicine Association, RAC Foundation, Good Egg Safety CIC Community Checks.