The guidance below is just that guidance and should not be seen as instruction on how to safely fit your car seat, it is intended to allow you to forearm yourself with a little knowledge to ensure you purchase the right car seat for your needs and to ask the appropriate questions when you purchase and have car seat training from your retailer.
The car seat you choose is probably the most important decision you make when selecting equipment for your baby as enabling baby to travel in a car as safely as possible is vital.
Your babies weight is essential when changing car seats to the next stage as each car seat is graded according to weight with age being a guide only.
It is vital that baby does not face forward until they are at least 9 months as they do not have the strength in their neck. You will find their little feet and legs will grow over the front of the seat, this does matter they will curl them when in the car, what is important that the top of their head does not protrude above the rear of the seat as they will not be getting the protection they need and that they do not exceed the weight limit of the carseat. If in doubt check with the shop you bought your seat who will advice you, in the last three years we have not had a baby who has needed to come out of their first stage seat until they are over 9 months and in some cases have remained in their first seat until 15 months, so long as the weight criteria of the seat and the head is protected, the longer baby is rear facing the better, it could save their life in an accident.
There are 4 types of car seat suitable for a newborn
Stage 0 – birth to 9KG this seat is rarely seen now as most car seats are 0+. This seat will limit how long you can use it for and can be a false economy with you needing to buy a 0+ when baby is about 6 months to ensure baby continues to be rear facing.
Stage 0+- Birth to 13 kg, this seat is the most commonly seen in the UK. Most travel systems, 3 in 1 sytems etc will have a stage 0+ ca rseat as part of the system. Most babies will not exceed 13 kg before 14 months and can therefore remain in this seat for longer with the result that they remain rear facing and protect the spine and neck for longer. As it is unlikely the weight will dictate you moving onto the next stage seat it will probably be the length and general size of baby filling the seat or their head getting to the top of the seat.
Stage 0 –Lie flat car seat, there are not many of these on the market; examples being the Jane matrix and Britax baby safe sleeper. These look like small carrycots that lie across the rear seat attaching to two rear 3 point seat belts in the case of the matrix or fit like a normal rear facing seat in the case of the britax. These are ideal if you intend to travel a lot whilst baby is small/young as you should not be using a normal car seat for more than 1 ½ to 2 hours. They are also ideal for small or premature babies as normal car seats are not suitable for babies under 5lbs.
Stage 0&1 – This seat is suitable from birth to 4 years. These seats face the rear for the first 9-14 months and then face forward until the toddler is 4 years old. There are compromises with these seats.
Where these seats are ideal is if you have a larger baby and have a stage 0 seat that your baby grows out of before they are 9 months, you can purchase this seat as your next stage seat and use it for a few months rear facing and then turn it forward until 4 years.
Fitting your car seat
Every car and every type of car seat is different and will need to fitted in a different way, not all seats suit all cars.
It is important where possible that you receive car seat training from the retailer you are buying your car seat from as although most are very easy to fit when you know how, up to 7 out of 10 car seats are fitted incorrectly increasing the risk of injury or even babies life in an accident.
TOP TIP’s
The rear passenger or rear central seat is the safest place to fit babies carseat, as statistically these are where the least accidents occur.
You must only fit a seat where the seat belt is in perfect condition and is full 3 point belt.
Never put a rear facing car seat where there is an air bag fitted (smaller airbags that come from the side pillar or doors of the car are usually fine, check if necessary which are safe), manufacturers do not recommend you use the seat even if you can turn the airbag off as they have been know to still go off in a severe accident causing fatal injuries to the baby.
Read the manufacturers instructions carefully ensuring you are using the seat properly at all times.
Discard your seat if it has been damaged or involved in a car accident as it may no longer protect your baby properly, you can often claim a new one from your insurance company as part of your claim for repairing your car.
Never buy a second hand car seat unless you know the person really well and are absolutely certain it is in perfect working order and has never been in an accident, even then if you can buy new do so.
Do not import from abroad as seats regulations and standards vary outside the uk.
Tighten the harness each time you use the seat as baby is growing so quickly and will always have different thickness of clothes on, you just want room to be able to move your finger between the belt and babies breastbone, therefore ensuring babies in tight enough without being so tight it hurts them, the belt must be tight to protect baby in an accident or even when braking.
Bases
Some car seats have bases which you attach to the car and on which the seat then fastens, these vary in style and in the way they attach. In most cases the base increase the safety of the seat you are using, reducing rotation in an accident and also make the seat quicker and easier to attach in the car. Most bases are optional although there are couple of car seats where the base comes with the seat and is essential to the fitting of the seat.
Isofix
All new models of cars after Feb 2006 have isofix, prior to this some cars had isofix although prior to Feb 06 there was no minimum standard for isofix fitted by car manufacturers so they are not all suitable for all seats, check against the model of car seat you are thinking of buying.
Isofix is the future of car seat fitting and will minimise human error when fitting a car seat ensuring the baby or child’s safety. You will find isofix in the rear seats and in some case the front passenger seat; if you are looking for it you will either see rectangular openings either side of the seat with a metal bar inside or if you feel between the cushions of the seats you can feel a metal bar.
An isofix seat or base will simply clip/attach onto these bars, fastening the seat safely into the car without the need for the seatbelts.
Isofix seats can be more expensive than seatbelt versions but are much safer, so are becoming more and more popular. As with all seats we recommend you receive car seat training from your retailer.
Please note bases with a leg may not be suitable for cars with under floor storage compartments e.g. Renault scenic and Citreon Picasso please seek advice.
This advice is far from exhaustive and is designed as a guide to enable you to ensure you are seeking the appropriate support from your retailer and are asking the right questions when seeking to purchase you first car seat. Bundle of Joy do not accept any responsibility for the guidance offered you need to seek advice from a car seat fitter & from the manufacturers instructions.
CHOOSING YOUR PRAM
Choosing the pram/pushchair/wheels for your baby is a big decision.
It is essential you try and get it right first time or it can be a very expensive mistake.
We have lots of customers who have bought pushchairs (not from us I have to had) who hate them within a few weeks of baby being born.
They can be:
• either difficult to use
• too heavy
• not suitable for the terrain you need it for
• too big for the boot of your car or for getting on or off public transport
Questions to ask yourself before making your final choice
Where do you want to use your pushchair?
1. Round town, on concrete and tarmac paths only
All pushchairs are suitable for this use
2. Sometimes on grass, gravel, uneven ground or sand
Only all terrain or off road pushchairs are suitable for this type of use beware of lookalike off roaders that are not. An all terrain pushchair needs airtyres and a strong chassis.
What size/shape car/ boot do you have?
Prams fold to a variety of sizes, it is essential you consider this and if necessary come and try the pushchairs of your choice in the boot before ordering
Do you use public transport and need something that folds in one piece?
If you need to fold your pushchair to get on buses or trains, try before you buy to see if will be able to manage with one hand whilst holding baby with the other. Some pushchairs fold in one piece, but you have to remove the seat on a large number ending up with two pieces to carry
Is it important to have a carrycot? If so do you need it to be one you can use overnight?
Carrycots are ideal for baby as research now shows that it is important for baby to be as flat as possible for the first 4 months. If you want to use one overnight instead of a moses basket make sure the carrycot is suitable for this purpose – a lot are not!
Is the weight of the pushchair/chassis important?
For some people the weight or lack of it is the most important factor when choosing their pushchair. All terrain pushchairs tend to be a little heavier because they have to be tougher.
Do you want a pushchair seat that faces both ways?
A large number of our customers want a pushchair where the seat faces the person pushing, as this encourages communication improving the babies language skills, as they tend to interact more with the person pushing them. Then faces forward when they are older or when there is something exciting to see such as trips to the zoo.
Is it important that a certain make of carseat fits on the pushchair chassis? (perhaps one with an excellent safety record or one that has a base).
Most systems will allow a carseat to be attached to the chassis ideal for short trips PLEASE NOTE- YOU SHOULD NOT USE THE CARSEAT FOR MORE THAN 2 HOURS AT A TIME if you want a base check which ones are suitable
Do you want a carrycot that can be fitted in the car or a lie flat carseat?
A small number of carrycots can be attached in the car as a flat carseat, ideal for long journeys and for premature babies. There is also the option of a lie flat carseat such as the jane matrix.
Consider all the above points and decide which are most important to you, if you have a large number of requirements you may have to prioritise which are the most important a sit can be difficult to get everything you want.
Types of pushchair/pram
All Terrain – a pushchair designed to withstand off road conditions
e.g. gravel, rough ground, grass and sand- to ensure a strong durable chassis these pushchairs tend not to fold as compactly as others, although there are some exceptions
Examples of all terrain systems: iCandy apple jogger, Jane Slalom, Mountain buggy, Out ‘n’ about, Baby jogger (not city mini range), Maxi-cosi mura, Quinny speedi, Mutsy.
Pushchair – can be bought on its own or as part of a package
usually suitable from birth to approx 3 years, a growing number of pushchair manufacturers are recommending a carrycot which attaches to your pushchair chassis for the first 4-6 months.
Travel System – a pushchair and carseat combination.
The carseat may attach on top of the pushchair seat or directly onto the chassis. Most pushchairs can be made into a travel system by adding a carseat. Please note we do not recommend a carseat is used for more than 1 ½ to 2 hours at a time and baby must always be supervised whilst in a carseat.
Full travel system or 3 in 1 – a pushchair, carrycot and carseat all attaching to one chassis.
Pram – Purchase as traditional pram or as a pushchair chassis and carrycot.
The flexibility of a pushchair and carrycot system allows you to make full use of your pushchair chassis from birth through to 3 years old. Most pushchairs can be adapted in this way.
Buggy/ stroller – usually purchased as an easy to use lightweight option for a toddler.
Some are suitable from birth and ideal is travelling regularly on public transport although it is essential to check it is suitable for your needs. Not all have a lie back facility and are therefore only suitable for an older baby.