The safest way to transport a child in a car is to use a child seat appropriate for the child's age and weight. It doesn't matter how short the journey is, or how slowly you drive: without a child seat, the consequences for your child could be catastrophic if you have an accident.

According to the World Health Organisation, road accidents are the leading cause of death for children between the ages of five and 14 inEurope. Three quarters of these deaths could be avoided simply by using a child seat.

During a collision, a child who is not properly restrained is subjected to forces of 30 to 60 times his weight. He would be tossed around the passenger compartment, with the risk of seriously injuring himself and those nearby. In a serious accident, the child could be flung from the car.

It is not safe to hold a child and it doesn't matter how tightly you hold on: in an accident it would be impossible to keep hold of him. Standard car seatbelts are not designed for children: they are designed to be used by an adult over 1.5 m tall. Using just a seatbelt when a child is too small can lead to very serious injuries in an accident.

The only way to transport children in a car safely is to use a child seat. If properly fitted, it forms a cocoon of safety for the child, restraining him properly and absorbing part of the energy during impact: basically, it can save his life.

To be effective, a child seat must be fitted and used correctly. Statistics show that still too many child seats are not fitted properly, mainly because the seatbelts are too loose or badly positioned. Very often you see people using worn-out child seats or child seats which are not appropriate for the children using them.

This is why we want to help you to choose and use your child seats in the best way possible.

Help!!! Which child seat should I buy???

Don’t make a decision in a hurry when faced with an insistent sales assistant, but take your time choosing, ask for advice and explanations. Look through the catalogue, browse this site, and assess the features of the different child seats. Think of how you are going to use the child seat. For example, if you are planning to make long journeys, a reclining model could be more comfortable and your child will be able to sleep in the car. If you are thinking of using the seat in several cars, a light and easy-to-fit model could be what you are looking for.

It is nevertheless important to choose a seat that is appropriate for your child's age and weight, which are the basic factors to be considered. Always check that the child seat complies with the ECE R44.04 safety standard, or, at least, ECE R44.03. Look for or ask someone to show you the certification logo, which should be clearly visible on the child seat structure. If possible, ask if you can try out the child seat in your car before you buy it.

The child seat enigma!

Many important features of child seats are shrouded in complicated terms; also the seats themselves are classified by weight categories which are not immediately understandable. Let's try to shed some light on these mysterious terms…

Built-in harness many child seats have a built-in harness, designed to wrap around the smallest children. In this way, the child is held by a harness specifically designed for his needs, while the car seatbelt only holds the child seat, without passing over the body of the child.

Adjuster the tightness of the built-in harness can be adjusted using a device with a spring called an adjuster. This is usually a button on the front of the seat, from which the loose end of the harness protrudes. By pressing this button, the harness is loosened, for example when you want to extricate the child from the seat. By pulling on the loose end of the strap, on the other hand, the harness is tightened and the child is properly held in place when travelling in the car.

Seat belt guide child seats have guides which ensure that the car seatbelt is positioned correctly around the child seat, so as to hold it in place as securely as possible. If the seat does not have a built-in harness, the belt slots also ensure that the car seatbelt passes correctly over the young passenger’s shoulders and chest.

Tightener some child seats have mechanisms which help to tighten the car seatbelt properly, minimising the risk of incorrect fitting.

Side Impact modern child seats have more side-impact protection than less recent designs. This means the child's head is better protected in the case of a side-on collision, and also provides good support for the head when the child falls asleep in the seat.

Lock off many child seats have a lock off device which tightens the harness, stopping it from getting looser with use.

Isofix SHOULD WE FIT IT IMMEDIATELY, OR ONLY WHEN WE HAVE IT???

Weight groups

Child seats are classified in groups according to the weight of the child who will use them. Group 0, for children weighing up to 10kg Group 0+, for children weighing up to 13kg. These child seats can only be used in a rear-facing position. They must NOT be positioned on the passenger seat if the airbag is activated. Rear-facing child seats provide better protection for the child's head, neck and back than forward-facing child seats. They are also designed for babies to lie in them, which is a natural position for young babies. Group 1, for children weighing between 9 and 18kg These child seats are forward-facing, and can be used on the passenger seat or, even better, on one of the back seats. Seats with an in-built five-point harness system are the best choice for children up to the age of about four. Group 2, for children weighing between 15 and 25kg Group 3, for children weighing between 22 and 36kg

These child seats are forward-facing, and can be used on the passenger seat or, even better, on one of the back seats.
These child seats do not have an in-built harness, so the car seatbelt is positioned directly over the child's body, which is why it is important to position it properly. For seats without a built-in harness, those with a backrest and headrest are the best choice, since they have belt slots which ensure that the car seatbelt is correctly positioned over the child's shoulders and chest. This is essential to avoid serious consequences in an accident.
For all of these seats, it is important that the belt be properly in contact with the child's body. The diagonal part of the belt should pass over the shoulders, not over the neck, while the abdominal belt should pass over the child’s pelvis, not over the stomach.

And what about buying one second-hand?

Avoid buying second-hand child seats. If the child seat has had the misfortune to have been involved in an accident, it may have damage which is not visible to the naked eye, but which could compromise its effectiveness during a collision or violent braking.
Also, child seats that are too old could be worn and designed to meet outdated standards, making them unsafe or non-compliant with current regulations.
If necessary only accept second-hand seats from relatives and friends - child seats of which you know the history, that come with their instruction manual and are not too old or shabby.

Ok, I’ve bought one… now what do I do?

ALWAYS use the child seat, even for very short journeys. It is the law, and it is common sense too. And set a good example: ALWAYS fasten your own seatbelt.

Fit the child seat in the car following the manufacturer’s instructions. Read the instructions, use the diagrams on the seat, and watch the films on our website.

Don’t be too shy to contact the producer or the retailer: they will certainly be able to help you.

It is very dangerous to position Group 0 and 0+ child seats on passenger seats with airbags. In an accident, the airbag could crush the seat. Although it is not as dangerous to fit child seats from the other groups on passenger seats with airbags, it is advisable to take precautions: move the seat as far away as possible from the dashboard, and, where possible, deactivate the airbag. Car airbags are designed to protect an adult, and they could be dangerous for children, who have a much more delicate frame. This is why in some countries the Highway Code explicitly forbids fitting child seats on the passenger seat: check the Highway Code of the country where you are before you have to pay a hefty fine!

In any case, if you fit the child seat on the passenger seat, move the seat as far away as possible from the dashboard. If you are putting the child seat in the car and taking it out all the time, fit it very carefully every time. If you leave it in place, frequently check that it is still securely fastened. Make sure that the seatbelt is tightly fastened around the child seat. The seatbelt should pass through the slots indicated on the child seat structure and should not be twisted or tangled at any point. If you have one, use the belt tightener to properly tighten the belt. Many seats have a lock off device to stop the belt getting looser with use: make sure it is in the lock position. If the car seatbelt seems too short, check that the child seat is right up against the backrest of the car seat, move the car seat as far back as possible and set the height of the car seatbelt to the lowest position.

When you are fitting the seat, check the position of the car seatbelt buckle. It should not be touching the child seat, otherwise it could open during a crash. Only the belt of the car seatbelt should be touching the child seat and not the buckle.

The manufacturer's instructions are essential for correctly fitting and using the child seat. If you lose them, contact customer services to get a new copy.

The built-in harness straps should perfectly wrap around the child's body. If they are too far apart, the child could be flung from the child seat during a collision, or could manage to wriggle free while you are driving. For this reason, properly position the height of the belt before fitting the child seat in the car, and gradually change it as your child grows.

Before every car journey, take the time you need to check that the child is fastened securely and comfortably. The harness should be tight, so that only one or two fingers can fit between the child's chest and the strap. Adjust the harness every time you use the child seat: depending on the clothes the child is wearing, the harness may be looser or tighter. The harness buckle should not go over the child's stomach: check its position and then adjust it. Many child seats have the option of adjusting the position and height of the buckle: consult the instruction manual to find out how. If you are using a child seat which does not have a built-in harness, it is vital to position the car seatbelt around the child correctly. The belt should pass over the shoulders and chest, not over the neck. The abdominal part of the belt should pass over the pelvis, not the stomach.

An accident! The child is fine, but what about the seat?

A child seat which has been involved in an accident should be thrown away. It should be thrown away even if there are not any apparent signs of damage. A child seat may not have any external signs of breakage, but may still have been left damaged by the impact in such a way as to compromise its reliability and performance in the case of sharp braking or worse in another accident. If you have an accident, also carefully check the car seatbelts and their buckles.