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03 Oct 2025

Experts in Kildare to show you how to fit child car seats properly

Experts in Kildare to show you how to fit child car seats properly

Experts in Kildare to show you how to fit child car seats properly

Reporter:

Kildare Reporter

19 Feb 2025 8:00 AM

 The Road Safety Authority said their face-to-face child car seat checking service – Check it Fits –is back on the road visiting locations around the country and is coming to Kildare on February 24th, 25th and 27th - and stopping in Newbridge, Kildare town and Naas Enterprise Park.
    Kildare 
    Tesco Newbridge 
    Moorefield Park, Cork Road, Moorfield, Newbridge, Co. Kildare
    10.00am - 5.30pm
    February
    Monday 24 February 2025 
    Kildare 
    Tesco Kildare Town 
    Monasterevin Rd, Kildare, R51 H271
    10.00am - 5.30pm
    February
    Tuesday 25 February 2025
    Kildare 
    Top Oil Newhall Service station
    Naas Enterprise Park, Newhall, Nass
    10.00am - 5.30pm
    February
    Thursday 27 February 2025 
     
    Car seats may seem simple to install, but the installation is often easy to get wrong. The RSA have found that over half of seats fitted incorrectly needed major adjustments. We know parents are not intentionally putting children in danger and it is an education issue. To help address this problem, the RSA Check it Fits service will be visiting to help parents and ensure car seats and restraints are correctly fitted.
     
    Ron Richardson, Lead checker with the service for the RSA commented:
     
    “While the RSA’s experience with its Check it Fits service shows that half of child car seats are fitted incorrectly, worryingly, it found that 30% of these needed a major adjustment to fix them. For example, the seat being excessively loose so as to make the fitting almost ineffective. 67% were minor adjustments, for example, the fitting being loose or a twisted seatbelt. Having a correctly fitted car seat is a simple measure parents, grandparents and guardians can take to ensure children are safe while travelling by car. I would encourage people to visit the Check it Fits service when it comes to Kildare and give yourself the peace of mind that your children are travelling safely.”
     
    The service takes between 10-15 minutes and runs from 10.00am – 5.30pm, it is free of charge and offers parents and guardians reassurance that their child is safe while travelling in the car. It is a walk-in service, no appointment needed.
     
    It is important to use your child car seat correctly every single time during a car journey so parents should regularly check the fitting of your child car seat or get it rechecked at a Check it Fits service. For example, if you got your child car seat fitted in winter now coming into the summer months you may need to tighten the harness as your children are wearing lighter clothes. If your child’s car seat or restraint is incorrectly fitted, the Check it Fits experts will advise on how to fix the problem, demonstrate how to fit the restraint correctly and answer any queries participants might have to avoid potential serious or fatal injury in the event of a collision.
     
     
     
    Top Tips for Parents:
    1. It is now EU law that all children must travel in a child seat, booster seat or booster cushion.
      The golden rule for choosing a child car seat is making sure it is suitable for your child’s weight, height and age and that it conforms to the latest EU safety regulations (look for the 'E' mark).
    2. Do not use age exclusively as a guide while picking a car seat, as every child is different.
    3. When buying a child car seat, make sure you go to a retailer or visit the Check it Fits service who can show you how to fit it in your car. If the child car seat will be used in more than one car, make sure it’s compatible with additional cars as well.
    4. In order to increase awareness of car seat safety and reduce misuse rates, the RSA has launched a new voluntary Code of Practice for Child Car Seat retailers. The new Code of Practice will ensure that best practice is achieved when parents or guardians are buying a child restraint system. People should look out for the RSA’s Code of Practice stickers in retailer outlets or you can check the list of participating retailers on rsa.ie.
    5. Avoid using a second-hand child car seat or restraint unless you know its history. It may have been damaged in a previous collision, and although the damage may not be visible, it won’t provide the same level of protection for your child.
    6. Don’t move your child from a rearward-facing child car seat to a forward-facing child car seat too soon. If you’re unsure, always consult with your retailer before you buy your next child car seat.

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