Service FAQ questions |

main content Child car seat centre - FAQs

Why should I visit the child car seat centre?

Not all car seats fit all cars so you MUST try a seat in your car before you buy it.  The car seat centre is a place to do this without the pressure of buying, as we don't sell seats.  We just give impartial advice on the safest seat for your car.

I already have a seat - should I still come?

Over 80% of child car seats aren't fitted properly so it's best to come and get it checked.

Do I need to buy a seat first?

No, that's not necessary as we have a whole range of seats to try before you buy.

We have two cars, should we bring them both along?

Yes!  It may be necessary to have two different car seats, although we do try to find one seat to fit both cars.

How much does this service cost?

Our service is free to parents, grandparents and childminders who live in Bromley borough.

When is the seat centre open?

The seat centre is only open during office hours and you must make an appointment first.  Please allow two to three weeks for an appointment.

How do I make an appointment to visit the seat centre?

You will need to telephone the office on 020 8313 4498

or e-mail: road.safety@bromley.gov.uk

When can my baby go into a forward-facing car seat?

Baby is in a rear-facing seat because their head is heavy and their neck is weak.  As soon as your child faces forward that support has gone, so it is safer for your child to travel rear-facing for as long as possible.

Baby can go forward-facing when they reach 9kg/20lbs, but they MUST be able to support their head too. We recommend that they should be able to sit up unaided for at least twenty minutes and have been able to do this for a couple of months.

However, most rear-facing seats will take a baby until they weigh 13kg/29lbs, as long as their head is still within the height of the seat so that their head and neck are supported. So please don't rush this stage - wait until your baby gets to the weight limit for the seat before you put them into a forward-facing seat.

When will my child outgrow their car seat?

You must always be guided by your child's weight and height NOT their age.

Group 0+ birth - 13kg/birth - 29lb

Group 1 9kg - 18kg/20lb - 2 stone 12 lb

Group 2 15kg - 25kg/2 stone 6lb - 4 stone

Group 3 15kg - 35kg/2 stone 6lb - 5 stone 9 lb

Height: For rear-facing the child's head must be within the height of the seat.  For forward-facing they are too tall for the seat when their eyes are level with the top of the seat.

Please can you explain all the different groups?

Group 0+ is a rear-facing seat.  See 'When can my baby go into a forward-facing car seat?'

Group 1 is forward-facing seat where the child is held in with a harness. With a harness the child is better protected in a crash as the forces are spread across the child's body.  This is always preferable to using a booster seat at this young age.

Group 2 and 3 is a booster seat or a booster cushion. It is preferable to have a booster seat with a back rather than a booster cushion without a back. A booster seat is designed to make the seatbelt fit properly around the child; the lap belt low down on the legs, not high across the stomach, and the diagonal section across the shoulder, away from the neck. A booster cushion does offer a certain amount of protection, however, we would recommend using a booster seat rather than a booster cushion for as long as possible.

Booster seats or cushions MUST NOT be used on a lap belt only.