Baby car seats: why a mother’s arms are not enough
Why your baby needs a car seat from the drive home from the maternity unit, how to choose and fit one, and why it never goes in front of an airbag.
4 min read
In this article
“I will hold her, it is only a short drive.” In a crash, even at low speed, the force is so great that no mother can hold on to her baby. The baby is thrown forward, or crushed between your body and the seat. A car seat is the only safe way for a baby to travel by car, even for a few minutes, even by taxi.
Buy the seat before the birth, so it is ready for the first drive home from the maternity unit, and practise fitting it before you need it.
How to choose one
- Right for your baby’s age and size. A newborn needs a rear-facing seat. Some seats are chosen by your child’s height (the i-Size standard, R129), others by weight (group 0+, up to about 13 kg).
- With an approval label. Look for the label with a capital E in a circle and the regulation number (R129 or R44).
- One that fits your car. Try it in your car before you buy. Check whether your car has Isofix points, which make fitting easier and safer. If your baby will often travel with the grandparents, try it in their car too.
- New if possible. A second-hand seat may have been damaged in a crash without it showing, and may be missing parts or instructions. Many families are given seats by relatives abroad. Accept one only if you know its history, it is not too old and it comes with instructions.
How to use it
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1
Fit it by the instructions
Every seat fits differently. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and check it does not move more than a little.
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2
In the back
The back seat is the safest place for children.
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3
Never in front of an airbag
A rear-facing seat must never go in a front passenger seat with an active airbag. An airbag going off can kill a baby.
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4
Straps snug
The straps should be tight against your baby’s body. Take off thick coats, which leave the harness loose. Put a blanket over the straps instead.
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5
From the pavement side
Put your baby in and take them out on the pavement side, not the road side.
How long to stay rear-facing
Keep your baby rear-facing for as long as the seat allows. This position protects your baby’s head and neck much better in a crash. With height-based seats, children stay rear-facing until at least 15 months.
When your baby’s feet touch the back of the car seat, that does not mean it is time to turn them round. The limit is the height or weight written on the seat.
Long journeys
A car seat is for travelling, not for long sleeps. On long journeys stop now and then, take your baby out, feed them and let them stretch out. Never leave your baby alone in the car, even for a few minutes, especially in summer.
Common questions
Can I hold my baby in the car for a short trip?
Can the car seat go in the front?
Is a second-hand car seat safe?
Sources we consulted
Written by the mam.al editors as general information. Always follow the car seat manufacturer’s instructions. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.