Some child car seats unsafe

PARENTS were last night urged to ensure they get the right car seat for their child after tests showed four popular models offered poor protection for youngsters.

Britain’s Which? consumer organisation spent four months testing 24 makes of seats in mock accidents with researchers finding that four models performed poorly, even though the products had passed minimum safety tests required in European law.

Of the four, three are available in Ireland and include the Little Shield Combi 123, the Mamas & Papas Pro-Tour and the Recaro Start. The other was the Chicco Max 3-S.

Which? said the Little Shield product used a nylon strap which was not strong enough to withstand the forces of a severe accident, and offered no protection in side impacts.

The consumer group said the Mamas & Papas Pro-Tour seat offered no protection for an older child in a side crash while the Recaro Start uses an adult belt for a small child, which means that youngsters are improperly restrained.

Which? website editor Malcolm Coles said parents should not assume that seats legally on sale will protect a child in a crash. “The most shocking thing of all though is that they are deemed safe under minimum standards and are being sold to parents who trust these guidelines.”

Little Shield said its Combi 123 car safety seat had been sold across Europe for more than 15 years without complaint.

Ireland’s Road Safety Authority said that properly restraining a child in a car seat can significantly reduce injuries.

The research is available at www.which.co.uk/childseatsvideo

Child seats points to consider

WHICH? has the following advice for parents looking to buy child seats:

Use the right seat size for your child, avoiding ‘universal’ products for all ages or second hand seats.

Beware of booster cushions for older children. nChoose seats with ‘wings’.

Remember, some seats are better in certain cars than others.

Take the child and car to the shop to try the seat.