How To Fit A Car Seat Properly

You might have the best baby seat on the market, but if it’s not fitted properly, it’s useless. The sobering truth is that too many mothers and fathers just don’t know how to fit their baby seats and child seats properly. The figure could be as much as 70% according to some sources. After all, it’s not as if they teach these things...

Don’t worry, if you don’t know how to fit a baby seat, or even if you’re not entirely sure, you’ll soon get the knack of it. And when you have, you’ll be able to fit baby seats as easily as tie your shoelaces (or your child’s shoelaces).

First, get acquainted with the regulations. Remember that babies and toddlers up to the age of 12 months need to be safely secured in a rear facing baby seat (on the back seat is best). Never, ever install your baby seat in the front of the car if it is fitted with side impact airbags.

As regards the actual fitting, always consult the manufacturer’s instructions. (Contact the manufacturer and ask them to send a replacement set if necessary; they’ll happily oblige.) Although there are inevitable variations in fitting child car seats properly, the same basic principles apply.

Make sure the seatbelt can pass unobstructed through the baby or child seat guides. Exert your weight on the child seat whilst tightening the seatbelt securely. If there is any slack in the seatbelt, start again. Try to ensure that the seat is securely fastened, and that there is little or no movement, forwards or sideways. You must also ensure that the seatbelt buckle is not in contact with the frame of the baby seat which may lead to ‘buckle crunch’ (which affects the structural integrity of the buckle fastening.)

If you’re fitting a forward facing child seat, please ensure that the passenger seat is pushed back as far as it will go. This ensures that, in the event of an accident, the baby or child is as far away from the dashboard as he or she can be.

If in doubt, ask. Ask parents, ask friends; ask the manufacturers. Just ask. You’ll be glad you did!

© Car Safety Seats.org.uk 2008


Swaddle Me (3 pack) in Green
Swaddle Me (3 pack) in Green
£25.00


Swaddle Me (3 pack) in Green
Swaddle Me (3 pack) in Green
£25.00


Swaddle Me (3 pack) in Green
Swaddle Me (3 pack) in Green
£25.00


Auto-Fix car Seat Base
Auto-Fix car Seat Base
£26.00


Swaddle Me (3 pack) in Blue
Swaddle Me (3 pack) in Blue
£27.00


Swaddle Me (3 pack) in Pink
Swaddle Me (3 pack) in Pink
£27.00


Swaddle Me (3 pack) in Blue
Swaddle Me (3 pack) in Blue
£27.00


Swaddle Me (3 pack) in Pink
Swaddle Me (3 pack) in Pink
£27.00


Swaddle Me (3 pack) in Pink
Swaddle Me (3 pack) in Pink
£27.00


Swaddle Me (3 pack) in Blue
Swaddle Me (3 pack) in Blue
£27.00


Richbrook Vauxhall Seat Belt Harness Pads
Richbrook Vauxhall Seat Belt Harness Pads
£29.99


Zest - Booster Seat Shell
Zest - Booster Seat Shell
£29.99


Nania Baby Ride Car Seat-Aura
Nania Baby Ride Car Seat-Aura
£29.99


Nania Collection First & Plus Baby Ride Car Seat, Group 0 +, Rosa
Nania Collection First & Plus Baby Ride Car Seat, Group 0 +, Rosa
£34.95


Junior highback booster seat - Scarlet Sport
Junior highback booster seat - Scarlet Sport
£34.99


Rac Car Seat Cover For Dogs
Rac Car Seat Cover For Dogs
£34.99


Junior highback booster seat - Daisy (Pink)
Junior highback booster seat - Daisy (Pink)
£34.99


My Child Travel Luxe - Cosmo Cool
My Child Travel Luxe  - Cosmo Cool
£37.00


My Child Travel Luxe - Graffiti Sport
My Child Travel Luxe  - Graffiti Sport
£37.00


My Child Travel Luxe - Luna Blush
My Child Travel Luxe  - Luna Blush
£37.00


Nania Beone SP Car Seat-Glacier
Nania Beone SP Car Seat-Glacier
£39.89


Nania Beone SP Car Seat-Race
Nania Beone SP Car Seat-Race
£39.89


Nania Beone SP Car Seat-Candy
Nania Beone SP Car Seat-Candy
£39.89


Nama Collection Luxe Beone SP Luxe Car Seat, Group 0 +, Red
Nama Collection Luxe Beone SP Luxe Car Seat, Group 0 +, Red
£39.94


Nania Basic Comfort Car Seat-Rosa
Nania Basic Comfort Car Seat-Rosa
£39.95


Nania Basic Comfort Car Seat-Aura
Nania Basic Comfort Car Seat-Aura
£39.95


Mothercare Motor High Back Booster car seat
Mothercare Motor High Back Booster car seat
£39.99


Britax Evolva Adventure car seat- Hyperlink
Britax Evolva Adventure car seat- Hyperlink
£39.99


Mothercare Milan booster seat - Graphite
Mothercare Milan booster seat - Graphite
£39.99


My Child Travel Luxe Car Seat-Graffiti Sport
My Child Travel Luxe Car Seat-Graffiti Sport
£42.95


My Child Travel Luxe Car Seat-Luna Blush
My Child Travel Luxe Car Seat-Luna Blush
£42.95


Nania Imax SP Plus Car Seat-Granite
Nania Imax SP Plus Car Seat-Granite
£44.94


Nama Collection Luxe Beone SP Luxe Car Seat, Group 0 +, Green
Nama Collection Luxe Beone SP Luxe Car Seat, Group 0 +, Green
£44.95


Nama Collection Luxe Beone SP Luxe Car Seat, Group 0 +, Pink
Nama Collection Luxe Beone SP Luxe Car Seat, Group 0 +, Pink
£44.95


Nama Collection Luxe Beone SP Luxe Car Seat, Group 0 +, Blue
Nama Collection Luxe Beone SP Luxe Car Seat, Group 0 +, Blue
£44.95


Nania Collection First & Plus Baby Ride Car Seat, Group 1,2,3, Beline SP Glacier
Nania Collection First & Plus Baby Ride Car Seat, Group 1,2,3, Beline SP Glacier
£44.95


Graco Junior Maxi Car Seat - Metropolitan (grey)
Graco Junior Maxi Car Seat - Metropolitan (grey)
£44.99


Nania Beone SP Luxe Car Seat-Passion
Nania Beone SP Luxe Car Seat-Passion
£44.99


OBABY Zoma Carseat - Black
OBABY Zoma Carseat - Black
£45.00


Nania Imax LX Car Seat-Glacier
Nania Imax LX Car Seat-Glacier
£49.90


Nania Imax LX Car Seat-Race
Nania Imax LX Car Seat-Race
£49.90


Nania Imax LX Car Seat-Candy
Nania Imax LX Car Seat-Candy
£49.90


Safety 1st Evolu-Safe Car Seat - Kite Red
Safety 1st Evolu-Safe Car Seat - Kite Red
£49.99


Safety 1st Evolu-Safe Car Seat - Kite Black
Safety 1st Evolu-Safe Car Seat - Kite Black
£49.99


Mothercare Sola car seat - Red
Mothercare Sola car seat - Red
£49.99


Nania Driver SP Car Seat-Aura
Nania Driver SP Car Seat-Aura
£53.49


Nania Driver SP Car Seat-Granite
Nania Driver SP Car Seat-Granite
£53.49


Nania Driver SP Car Seat-Rosa
Nania Driver SP Car Seat-Rosa
£53.49


Nania Driver SP Car Seat-Sunny
Nania Driver SP Car Seat-Sunny
£53.49


My Child Remi Top Car Seat-Graphite Groove
My Child Remi Top Car Seat-Graphite Groove
£53.99


My Child Remi Top Car Seat-Luna Blush
My Child Remi Top Car Seat-Luna Blush
£53.99


My Child Remi Top Car Seat-Graffiti Sport
My Child Remi Top Car Seat-Graffiti Sport
£53.99


Hot Laps Ride
Hot Laps Ride
£59.00


Georgia 0+1 Car Seat - Pink
Georgia 0+1 Car Seat - Pink
£59.00


Georgia 0+1 Car Seat - Blue
Georgia 0+1 Car Seat - Blue
£59.00


STM Explorer Car Seat - Racing Black
STM Explorer Car Seat - Racing Black
£59.50


STM Explorer Car Seat - Racing Blue
STM Explorer Car Seat - Racing Blue
£59.50


Nania Imax SP Luxe Car Seat-Hatrix Green
Nania Imax SP Luxe Car Seat-Hatrix Green
£59.90


Nania Imax SP Luxe Car Seat-Hatrix Grey
Nania Imax SP Luxe Car Seat-Hatrix Grey
£59.90


Nania Imax SP Luxe Car Seat-Hatrix Blue
Nania Imax SP Luxe Car Seat-Hatrix Blue
£59.90


Nania Imax SP Luxe Car Seat-Hatrix Pink
Nania Imax SP Luxe Car Seat-Hatrix Pink
£59.90


Nania Imax SP Luxe Car Seat-Hatrix Red
Nania Imax SP Luxe Car Seat-Hatrix Red
£59.90


Tutti Bambini IC 10 Infant Car Seat-Sky Blue
Tutti Bambini IC 10 Infant Car Seat-Sky Blue
£59.95


Rally Sport car seat - Flame
Rally Sport car seat - Flame
£59.99


Rally Sport car seat - Honeysuckle
Rally Sport car seat - Honeysuckle
£59.99


Nania Trio Plus Car Seat-Red/Blue
Nania Trio Plus Car Seat-Red/Blue
£59.99


Norton Monza 0 Car Seat - Champagne
Norton Monza 0 Car Seat - Champagne
£61.00


OBABY Aura Car Seat - Black
OBABY Aura Car Seat - Black
£61.00


Nania Cosmo SP Car Seat-Candy
Nania Cosmo SP Car Seat-Candy
£62.49


Nania Cosmo SP Car Seat-Glacier
Nania Cosmo SP Car Seat-Glacier
£62.49


Nania Cosmo SP Car Seat-Race
Nania Cosmo SP Car Seat-Race
£62.49


Nania Cosmo SP Car Seat-Sunny
Nania Cosmo SP Car Seat-Sunny
£62.49


Graco Junior Baby Car Seat -Blackjack
Graco Junior Baby Car Seat -Blackjack
£62.95


My Child Star Max Car Seat-Toura Jet
My Child Star Max Car Seat-Toura Jet
£62.99


My Child Star Max Car Seat-Toura Blaze
My Child Star Max Car Seat-Toura Blaze
£62.99


Norton Monza 0 Car Seat - Black Magic
Norton Monza 0 Car Seat - Black Magic
£64.00


Nania Cosmo SP Luxe Car Seat-Hatrix Red
Nania Cosmo SP Luxe Car Seat-Hatrix Red
£64.99


Nania Cosmo SP Luxe Car Seat-Hatrix Blue
Nania Cosmo SP Luxe Car Seat-Hatrix Blue
£64.99


Nania Cosmo SP Luxe Car Seat-Hatrix Grey
Nania Cosmo SP Luxe Car Seat-Hatrix Grey
£64.99


Nania Cosmo SP Luxe Car Seat-Hatrix Pink
Nania Cosmo SP Luxe Car Seat-Hatrix Pink
£64.99


STM My-Seat SP Car Seat - Fairy Rose (Dark )
STM My-Seat SP Car Seat - Fairy Rose (Dark )
£67.49


STM My-Seat SP Car Seat - Dynamic Red
STM My-Seat SP Car Seat - Dynamic Red
£67.49


STM My-Seat SP Car Seat - Blue
STM My-Seat SP Car Seat - Blue
£67.49


STM My-Seat SP Car Seat - Clay-Orange (Light Brown/Dark Brown/Orange )
STM My-Seat SP Car Seat - Clay-Orange (Light Brown/Dark Brown/Orange )
£67.49


STM My-Seat SP Car Seat - Froggy-King )
STM My-Seat SP Car Seat - Froggy-King )
£67.49


STM My-Seat SP Car Seat - Graphite-Grey (Dark Grey/Light Grey )
STM My-Seat SP Car Seat - Graphite-Grey (Dark Grey/Light Grey )
£67.49


Nania Collection First & Plus Baby Ride Car Seat, Group 0,1, Cosmo SP Candy
Nania Collection First & Plus Baby Ride Car Seat, Group 0,1, Cosmo SP Candy
£67.50


OBaby Zezu Car Seat-Black
OBaby Zezu Car Seat-Black
£68.99


Groova 0+ Car Seat - Oopsi Ditsi
Groova 0+ Car Seat - Oopsi Ditsi
£69.00


Groova 0+ Car Seat - Roundabout
Groova 0+ Car Seat - Roundabout
£69.00


Groova 0+ Car Seat - Oopsi Ditsi
Groova 0+ Car Seat - Oopsi Ditsi
£69.00


Groova 0+ Car Seat - Roundabout
Groova 0+ Car Seat - Roundabout
£69.00


Groova 0+ Car Seat - Roundabout
Groova 0+ Car Seat - Roundabout
£69.00


Groova 0+ Car Seat - Oopsi Ditsi
Groova 0+ Car Seat - Oopsi Ditsi
£69.00


Boston 123 Car Seat - Pink
Boston 123 Car Seat - Pink
£69.00


Boston 123 Car Seat - Blue
Boston 123 Car Seat - Blue
£69.00


Obaby Zezu Car Seat, Group 0-0+, Black
Obaby Zezu Car Seat, Group 0-0+, Black
£69.95


Graco Junior Maxi Comfort Car Seat - Midnight
Graco Junior Maxi Comfort Car Seat - Midnight
£69.99


Graco Junior Maxi Plus Car Seat - Disney Princess
Graco Junior Maxi Plus Car Seat - Disney Princess
£69.99


Graco Junior Maxi Plus Car Seat - Disney Cars
Graco Junior Maxi Plus Car Seat - Disney Cars
£69.99


Graco Junior Maxi Plus Car Seat - Disney Pirates of the Caribbean
Graco Junior Maxi Plus Car Seat - Disney Pirates of the Caribbean
£69.99


Mothercare Advance SP car seat - Cloud
Mothercare Advance SP car seat - Cloud
£69.99


Hauck Zero Plus Comfort 0+ Car Seat-Trio Charcoal
Hauck Zero Plus Comfort 0+ Car Seat-Trio Charcoal
£69.99


Hauck Zero Plus Comfort 0+ Car Seat-Trio Plum
Hauck Zero Plus Comfort 0+ Car Seat-Trio Plum
£69.99


Hauck Zero Plus Comfort 0+ Car Seat-Lolli Sand
Hauck Zero Plus Comfort 0+ Car Seat-Lolli Sand
£69.99


Hauck Zero Plus Comfort 0+ Car Seat-Lolli Turquoise
Hauck Zero Plus Comfort 0+ Car Seat-Lolli Turquoise
£69.99


Hauck Zero Plus Comfort 0 Car Seat - Trio Plum
Hauck Zero Plus Comfort 0 Car Seat - Trio Plum
£71.00


Hauck Zero Plus Comfort 0 Car Seat - Lolli Turquoise
Hauck Zero Plus Comfort 0 Car Seat - Lolli Turquoise
£71.00


Hauck Zero Plus Comfort 0 Car Seat - Lolli Sand
Hauck Zero Plus Comfort 0 Car Seat - Lolli Sand
£71.00


Hauck Carseat 0 Capri And Manhattan - Lime/Grey
Hauck Carseat 0 Capri And Manhattan - Lime/Grey
£74.00


Hauck Carseat 0 Capri And Manhattan - Brown/Blue
Hauck Carseat 0 Capri And Manhattan - Brown/Blue
£74.00


Hauck Carseat 0 Capri and Manhattan -
Hauck Carseat 0 Capri and Manhattan -
£74.00


Concord Lift Protect Car Seat - Pepito (Grey)
Concord Lift Protect Car Seat - Pepito (Grey)
£74.99


Concord Lift Protect Car Seat - Miami
Concord Lift Protect Car Seat - Miami
£74.99


Concord Lift Protect Car Seat - Golfi (Blue)
Concord Lift Protect Car Seat - Golfi (Blue)
£74.99


Britax Cosy Tot O+ Car Seat-Bali *CLEARANCE**
Britax Cosy Tot O+ Car Seat-Bali *CLEARANCE**
£75.00


Britax Prince - Alex
Britax Prince - Alex
£76.00


Norton Storm Monza 0+ Car
Norton Storm Monza 0+ Car
£76.00


Norton Storm Monza 0+ Car Seat-Toffee
Norton Storm Monza 0+ Car Seat-Toffee
£76.00


Nania Imax LX Car Seat-Ferrari Yellow
Nania Imax LX Car Seat-Ferrari Yellow
£77.49