Child Car Seat Checks

Help make sure your child is safe by checking their car seat is fitted correctly

Recent research shows that 65% of child car seats are not properly fitted. You can get your child's car seat checked at one of our free events. Our experts will be on hand to answer questions and check your child's car seat is correctly fitted

Child car seats

Dates for 2024

Tuesday - 10 September - The Ark, Poole Park – 09.30-1630

Wednesday 11 September 2024 – Littledown Centre – 10.00-1400 & 1630-1900

Thursday 12 September 2024 – Two Riversmeet Leisure Centre – 1100-1230

Monday - 25 November - The Ark, Poole Park – 09.30-1630

Tuesday - 26 November - Littledown Centre, Bournemouth – 10.00-1400

Our car seat experts will be based in the car park in designated bays. You can bring your car to our expert and have your seat checked.   

On the day, our road safety team will be based on site to answer any questions.

Why it's important to make sure your child's car seat is fitted correctly  

• Your child's car seat is there to keep injuries to a minimum if there's an accident, so it's extremely important to make sure it's properly fitted. It could even save your child's life.
• Many parents don't get the correct fitting advice from the store they purchased the seat from, putting thousands of lives at risk.
• Not every type of seat will fit every car. Even if the seat is compatible, it could still be fitted incorrectly or the wrong restraint may be used for the child’s weight.

Don't use a second-hand car seat. Experts advise parents not to use a second-hand car seat because the history of the seat may be unknown and it could be damaged.

Come and see our road safety team at one of the free child car seat check days throughout the year to make sure your child's car seat is correctly fitted.

New booster seats law

We strongly recommend you do not remove the back of high-backed booster seats, or use a backless booster cushion, because the lack of a back and side wings removes any side and head protection from the child car seat, leaving the child vulnerable to head and side injuries, particularly in side impacts. It also makes it more difficult to position the diagonal strap of a three-point adult seat belt correctly across the shoulder.

From March 2017, changes were made to the rules about backless booster seats. Previously, parents could buy these types of seats for children who weigh 15kg (2st 5lbs) and above - typically aged three and over.

• The new rules will mean retailers can only sell backless boosters for children who weigh over 22kg (3st 7lbs) and who are over 125cm (4ft 1ins) tall.
• The United Nations, which sets the safety standards for car seats, has approved the change which must now be implemented by the EU.
• This new rule puts the onus of responsibility onto the retailer however we would recommend that if you have a backless booster, you do not use this until your child fits the criteria above and ideally we would recommend your keep your child in a high-backed booster seat until they are at least 135cm in height.

i-Size the new European wide standard for child car seats

The i-Size regulations are designed to provide children with additional protection and safety in the car. i-Size does not replace the existing R44/04 legislation, but runs alongside it. The key differences are increased support for the child's head and neck and better protection in the event of both frontal and side-impact. The seat's five-point harness ensures that the child stays in the seat even in a roll-over accident.  

Find out more about in-car safety

If you'd like to know more, email our road safety team road.safety@bcpcouncil.gov.uk and ask for our free booklet about in-car safety for up-to-date advice on the law about child car seats.