Car Seats - Fit it before you Buy it!

Despite being approved as a “Universal” car seat, many car seats do not fit all cars. For this reason it is vitally important for parents to fit the car seat in their car before they buy.

Retailers’ should be able to give you advice on how to install the car seat in your car as well as to let you know if the car seat will be compatible with your type of car. If the retailer is unable to provide this service and advice, parents should check that they can return the car seat if it is incompatible and/or contact their car manufacturer to find out which car seats are suitable and recommended.

Some common problems that can occur if the car seat is not compatible with your car are as follows:

Seat belts are too short

With rearward facing infant car seats it is quite common that a car’s seat belt is not long enough to fit around the car seat. Unfortunately there are no regulations that specify the minimum length of a seat belt and as a result some car’s seat belts are too short when it comes to installing a Group 0 or Group 0+ car seat.

Giggle Group 0+ rearward facing car seat 

What to do in this situation?

• If the rear seat belts are too short to install the car seat it is worth trying the front passenger seat as in some cases the front seat belts are slightly longer (there is no logic to this but it is sometimes the case with certain types of cars). If you are only able to install the car seat in the front passenger seat you must ensure that you deactivate the airbag and put the passenger seat as far back as possible away from the dashboard.
• Some cars have an “alternative belt route” which can be used if the seat belt is too short for normal installation.
• In some cars there is a seat belt height adjuster on the door pillar that you can lower to enable you to get the diagonal strap around the car seat.
• Contact your car manufacturer to find out if it is possible to fit a new longer seat belt in your car.
• Seat belt extenders are not suitable for installing an infant car seat so they should be avoided.
• Check your car manual to find out if your car can use an ISOFIX system, an international standardized fitting system, which allows you to install a child car seat correctly without the need of a vehicle seat belt. ISOFIX car seats make use of two standard attachment points located at the base of the seat, as well as an anti-tipping forward device: either a support leg or top tether. If you are considering buying an ISOFIX car seat you must first check your car manual to confirm which types and sizes of ISOFIX restraints are compatible with each seating position in the car. For more information about the ISOFIX system, read this article http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/child_safety/safety_standards.html

Seat belt anchor points position

In some cars the position or design of the seat belt anchor points makes it difficult to fit a child seat securely. This can be the case when the anchor point is too far forward which will make it impossible to hold the car seat firmly.

What to do in this situation?

• Try the car seat in both the rear window seats of the car as well as the front passenger seat to see if it will fit securely. If not, you must consider an alternative car seat or car. 

Buckle crunch

When you fasten the seat belt and tighten it you must check that the seat belt buckle does not lie across the frame of the child seat as this may result in the buckle breaking or opening in a collision. Only the seat belt webbing should be in contact with the frame of the car seat.

 

Buckle Crunch 

What to do in this situation?

• Check that you have fitted the car seat correctly based on the manufacturer’s instructions and the seat belt has been correctly fitted through the seat belt guides on the car seat.
• Try the car seat in both the rear window seats of the car as well as the front passenger seat to see if it will fit securely without the “buckle crunch.”
• If the car has an “alternative belt route” to use with shorter seat belts, try this option.
• In some cars there is a seat belt height adjuster on the door pillar that you can lower.
• If none of these options work, you must consider an alternative car seat or car.

Sloping seats

In some cars the seats slope and as a result if you buy a non-reclining infant car seat the combination of angles can mean that the baby is lying in a near vertical position.

What to do in this situation?

• Look for a car seat that has a recline option.

Seat belt too loose

One of the most common problems with fitting a car seat is that it is not secured in properly with the seat belt. If the car seat is held loosely by the seat belt this will mean that in an accident the car seat will be thrown forward which can result in the child being injured.

What to do in this situation?

• Check that you have fitted the car seat correctly based on the manufacturer’s instructions and the seat belt has been correctly fitted through the seat belt guides on the car seat and the seat belt has been tightened. Some seats have a lock-off device to prevent the seat belt slipping once it has been tightened so you must ensure this is in the lock position.
• Ensure that the child car seat is resting properly on the seat.
• Check with the child seat and car manufacturer that the child seat is suitable for your car.
• If none of these options work, you must consider an alternative car seat or car.

Information sources:

Common problems with child car seats http://www.childcarseats.org.uk/choosing/common_problems.htm

Fitting child car seats

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/child_safety/weights_compatibilty.html