How to fit a child car seat

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Once you’ve found a child car seat that’s suitable for your child, you’ll need to fit it safely and securely in your car. The process of fitting a child car seat isn’t always as easy as you might think, and there are several dangers to watch out for. Here are our top tips.

Buying a child car seat

Even a Which? Best Buy child car seat might not fit safely in your car, so have at least one go at installing the child car seat, preferably with the help of an expert, before you buy.

Check that the child car seat fits neatly with the shape of your car's interior and, if you're using it in more than one car, that it fits well with each of them. For some seats, this may require you to remove the car’s head restraint.

You’ll need to replace the child car seat if it becomes involved in an accident which results in ANY damage to your car, however slight. Never buy a second hand child car seat.

If you want to find a child car seat that offers the best protection, read our child car seat review.

At home with your child car seat

Examine the child car seat and thoroughly read the instructions before taking it to your car. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and keep them with the child car seat for future reference.

Never modify a child car seat in any way.

Carry child car seats in the back of the car if possible

In your car with the child car seat

Check the seat belt in your car is long enough to secure the child car seat, and make sure you can feed the seat belt through the slits in the child car seat without any obstructions.

It should be easy to adjust and secure the child car seat's harness, and the child car seat should leave enough space for your child to stretch their legs.

The child car seat should have minimal forward or sideways movement. When you open the buckle of the adult belt, the  child car seat should spring upward slightly.

Only the seat belt webbing should touch the child car seat's frame, not the buckle. Otherwise pressure on the buckle could make it fail, meaning your child won’t be securely restrained in an emergency situation. Check the child car seat’s fitting booklet for more information.

Never fit a rear-facing child car seat in front of an active airbag. If it goes off, the force could kill your child. Carry child car seats in the back of the car if you can.

Finally, don’t place anything beneath the child car seat to protect the car's seats (a blanket, for example).

You can find more helpful advice in our video guide to fitting a child car seat (above).

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