How safe is your baby on board?

As the nights close in and roads start to ice over, the idea of getting from A to B with the family can all of a sudden feel pretty stressful.

Not only do outings consist of getting little ones out the front door, you then need to make sure they are strapped in safe and sound.

For parents, this is perhaps the most important part of the journey. However, getting children in swiftly and securely can prove to be a fiddly task.

To help keep your little ones protected, we’ve compiled some of our top tips for car safety.

When to use a car seat

While the answer might sound obvious, the law is much more particular about when a child’s car seat should be used.

Legally, children have to use a car seat either until they’re 12 years old or when they reach 150 centimetres tall (4 foot 11 inches). As soon as they pass this threshold, a car seat is no longer needed.

The car seat you use should be based on the height, weight and age of your child. For instance, rear-facing seats are meant to be used by children aged 15 months or younger, while forward-facing seats are safe to use after this age.

How to install a car seat

Correctly installing a car seat and strapping your child in properly is paramount to their safety. They’ll also feel more comfortable too.

To get started, check the specifications of your car. If it offers Isofix mountings (which most family-friendly cars do), then you can easily slot your car seat into the fittings without struggling with seat belts.

To install the mounting, simply clip it into the anchor points. If you’re struggling to find them, they’re normally hidden in the edges of the seat upholstery and look like small square holes in the fabric.

Once you’ve found the anchor points, tighten the strap until the plastic indicator on the side of the seat turns green. This means all anchor points are slotted in snugly.

If you are using a car without an Isofix mounting, you'll need to use seat belts to secure the car seat. To do this, read the instructions on the side of the seat to identify the points where the seat belt needs to be threaded through. Make sure the belt is tight and the clip is in as normal.

Things to look out for

Along with sturdy winter tyres and regular servicing, finding a car with Isofix mountings is the most useful feature for parents when it comes to child safety.

In fact, our 2018 survey found that Isofix mountings were voted top of the list for those buying a family car. The next was size (40 per cent agreed a larger car made them feel safer), closely followed by airbags.

Top tips

• always fasten your child in their car seat securely, even if you are only popping over the road.
• avoid purchasing second-hand car seats, as wear and tear can be difficult to judge upon first glance.
• put your child in the back of the car, as the front seats should provide extra protection.