Keeping your Baby Safe with a Car Seat

One of the very important things that new parents need to think of after buying nursery furniture, clothes and toys are child seats. There are many different types available nowadays like child car seat for use as a newborn to 3 years of age and booster seats as your baby starts to outgrow their child's seat. For cyclists, there are bicycle child seats. As your baby becomes bigger, you may also consider the use of a child table seat to enable your toddler to eat with you during family meal times.

Laws regarding carrying children in cars

As from September 2006, new laws have been introduced to ensure child safety. If you are the driver of the car, then you are responsible that any passengers under the age of 14 are wearing a seat belt.

Rear facing child seats should never be fitted in the front passenger seat where there is an air bag present as this is illegal. The law says that all children up to 135cm tall or the age of 12 must travel in the correct child restraint according to their weight. After the age of 12 or over 135cm, children must use a seat belt.

Penalty for breaking the law

You will get a fixed penalty notice of £30 if your child is travelling without a proper car seat and if you're summoned to court, you would pay a maximum of £500. There are a couple of exceptions to this:

• if you're travelling in a taxi and a car seat is not available
• in an emergency where you have to collect the child provided it is only a short distance
• where you can only fit 2 car seats but need to carry 3 children; the tallest one can use the seatbelt
• where your car does not have a seatbelt fitted by default (eg classical cars), then a child aged 3 and over can travel at the back without one

Choosing the right child seat

With so many available to buy, we are spoilt for choice. The one thing that must be taken into consideration when purchasing a child's car seat is safety. Don't buy a cheap car seat that could compromise the safety of your child as this could result in a fatality if you are involved in an accident. Go for a known brand like MaxiCosy.

70% of car seat owners do not fit the seats properly - note that many places on the high street will fit them for free whilst also showing you the correct way to do them. The traditional car seats for children are fitted using the seat belt to cross over and should attach securely to the seatbelt fastener.

Nowadays there are isofix child seats. Isofix points in the car are much more secure than the older style car seats. Isofix points are located along the rear seats of the car with matching points on the child seat itself. Nearly all new cars have isofix points so if you already have an existing car seat, then you may not need to worry if it'll fit your new car. Remember that all car models vary so if you would like to purchase an isofix car seat, then check with the car manufacturer to see all compatible isofix car seats.

Booster Seats

Booster seats are needed when children outgrow their child car seats or reach a certain age or weight. These booster child seats are not as expensive as a child car seat and give them the much needed boost along with security and safety they deserve; Graco is a good brand to go for.

Child Cycle Seat

With more people opting to cycle than drive these days, having a child shouldn't stop you from cycling. You can purchase child bike seats that attach to the rear or front of your bicycle. As you may have seen, rear fitting seats are by far most common and they also have many features that front fitting seats do not.

Front fitting seats are less common due to many companies refusing to sell them because of compromised safety. Child bicycle seats can be used by children from the age of 6 months and over. Hamax Plus is a good make to go for if you're considering riding with your kid.

Table Seats for Children

There are two types of table seats available:

• As your child starts to grow and can no longer use a high chair, then booster seats can be purchased. They come in handy if you are having a family get together. By having a booster seat, your baby will not feel left out. Child booster seats are secured to a normal chair allowing them to sit with you and feel part of the family.
• Child table seats attach to the table so you won't need to purchase a high chair and your child can eat with you and no routine change is needed. They can be used for toddlers up to a certain weight. Since this varies from baby to baby, please check first before buying.

Whichever child seat you choose to purchase in the end, make sure it meets the government guidelines and is fitted securely by a competent person.