Multi-group child seats tested - Child seat safety checklist

Child seat safety checklist
Don't forget to heed our 10 commandments of child seat safety.

1 Never put a rearward-facing seat in front of an active airbag.

2 Check that any seat you're looking at is up to the United Nations standard (UN ECE Regulation 44.03 or 44.04). Look for the 'E' mark.

3 Always use a seat that's appropriate for a child's height and weight until they reach 135cm in height or 12 years of age.

4 Always try before you buy, and look for advice from a trained member of the store's staff. Make sure the seat you want fits your car - test it before you purchase.

5 Read the instructions carefully. Ensure you know how to use the seat correctly.

6 Avoid 'buckle-crunch' at all costs. This is where the seatbelt buckle rests against the child seat – the seat could break the buckle in an accident.

7 Check your child seat is secure before every journey. Check the tension on the seatbelt and ensure all fixings are secure.

8 Always use a child seat for every journey, no matter how short.

9 Never buy or accept a second-hand seat, even from a friend or relative.

10 Replace every seat after an accident, no matter how minor.