Car Seat Safety Tips

"In Ireland, as many as 4 out of 5 child car seats are incorrectly fitted which can lead to serious injury or even death in a collision". 

This quote comes directly from the section on the RSA website about child safety in cars. Car seat safety is so incredibly important and it can be very worrying when trying to figure out if you are doing everything that you possibly can to keep your little one safe in the car. So in this post we are compiling some safety tips for children's car seats.

1. Make sure that when choosing a seat for your child you are obtaining a seat that is an EU standard. To check if a seat is EU standard look for the capital E which will be located somewhere on the seat.
2. When selecting a car seat make sure to take the time to check that it will fit in your car! This may sound like silly advice but the thing is every car seat is different and so a seat may fit safely in one car but not in the other, so it is important to make sure that the car you are using will fit the car seat that you desire! 
3. Getting the car seat fitted correctly is one of the most important things that you can do when it comes to car seat safety. The RSA recommends to use a retailer who can fit the child car seat for you, that way not only do you have peace of mind that the seat is fitted correctly, but you can learn the correct way to have the seat fitted in your vehicle.
4. Along with this the RSA also runs a free service called 'Check it Fits'. Check it Fits will check the child car seat to ensure that it is fitted correctly. Due to current Covid restrictions they are currently offering free virtual appointments where the expert will look at the car seat over video call and instruct you on what needs to be adjusted.
5. When taking your baby out in the car seat, always remove their coat. Thick or bulky coats may prevent the car seat from protecting your baby as well as it can.

These are just some tips that can help put your mind at ease when it comes to purchasing a car seat for your baby! Further information can be found on the RSA website!