Orthopedic chairs - Child car seats in motor vehicles

If you have your own children, or if you sometimes give lifts or rides to the children of family and friends, you need to know that they are seated safely in your car. In order for this to be the case you need a car child seat.

The legal requirements for car seats vary from nation to nation and can relate to age, height, or both. However in all cases your first concern should be for the safe transportation of any children who are travelling in your vehicle. This means that an appropriate car child seat will not only be desirable, but essential and almost certainly a legal necessity. (This is the case in the UK.)

What to look for in a car child seat

When it comes to child car seats there are many choices, but the main two options are a child car seat and a booster seat.

• Most child car seats will be sold as being suitable for babies and small children up to the age of 3 years old, or being suitable for older children between the ages of 4 years old and 12 years old. Some manufacturers do however vary these age groupings by making them more specific to a narrower age group.

  In the case of the child car seat, the typical chair will have a seat area, a full body backrest and headrest with arms and side support buffers. These seats come in different colours.

• Booster seats (or child car booster seats) are for older children and their main purpose is to elevate the child to a level where the seat belt fitting is more suitable. With the booster car seat the existing backrest of the car seat is used to support the child’s back and upper body. These seats are only for older children, i.e. 4 years old or older.

Selecting the child car seat or booster seat

• Firstly, look at the numerous child car seat options that are available and consider the seat in the context of your child’s age and size. Babies of less than 9 kg should always be seated in rear facing seats (but not in front seats with active airbags).
• Ensure that the child car seat that you are considering will fit correctly into both your car and the seat where you want to place it. This is essential. If you are intending to buy online, then you need to be certain that there is a returns policy for this eventuality.

Never buy a second hand child car seat - You do not know its history, suitability or compliance with relevant national or state laws.

How to fit a child car seat

Below are some general guides for fitting a child car seat in the UK. If you live in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand etc, please check the appropriate legislation for your nation or state.

• If you have a rear facing child car seat (for a baby), do not fit it to the passenger seat if the passenger seat has an active airbag.
• If possible, fit any child car seats in one of the back seats of the vehicle. This is always safer and more desirable.
• Carefully read the manufacturer’s guide or instructions for fitting. Then fit the seat, being careful and meticulous to ensure that the car seatbelt fits securely between (or through) all the appropriate guides and channels in the child car seat. In the case of some chair there are different ways of routing or connecting the seatbelt and child car seat. When this is the case try out each option and select the best or most suitable one.
• Once the child car seat is in place and fitted with the seatbelt make sure that it is tightly fitted. The seat should not be loose or have any free play in it.
• Finally, if there is any kind of problem with the seat or the way that it fits do not use it. Speak to the retailer or manufacturer and arrange for a replacement or your money back. Do not try to fit the seat in any way other than that indicated in the fitting guide.