Healthcare Professionals
Equipping you to best support families from day one.
You play a vital role in early education around child safety - and families trust your voice. This section is designed to help midwives, health visitors and other healthcare staff feel confident giving up-to-date, evidence-based guidance on car seat safety. From safe discharge advice to spotting unsafe use during visits, we’ve got the information you need to empower families with best practice from the very beginning.
01
Rear Facing
As a trusted voice in a family’s early journey, your guidance on car seat safety can make a lasting impact. One of the most important messages? Rear-facing saves lives.
Young children have large, heavy heads and fragile necks. In a crash, a forward-facing child’s head is thrown forward, increasing the risk of spinal injury. Rear-facing seats support the head, neck and spine by spreading the force of impact safely across the body.
The legal minimum to forward-face under R129 is 15 months, but safety experts - and real-world crash data - strongly recommend keeping children rear-facing well beyond that point. Many extended rear-facing (ERF) seats now allow children to remain rear-facing up to 125cm or 36kg, which can be around age 6 or 7.
This advice is backed by NHS guidance, ROSPA, and echoed multiple times in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), which supports extended rear-facing as the safest way for children to travel and advises rear-facing up to at least age 4. This aligns with best practice in many countries where child road safety outcomes are better than the UK.
Parents often view turning forward as a developmental milestone. You have a valuable opportunity to gently challenge that idea - and share evidence-based reassurance that rear-facing for longer is the gold standard.
By raising awareness during antenatal care, discharge prep, and home visits, you help families make informed decisions that protect children from preventable harm. It’s a simple, powerful message - and it starts with trusted professionals like you.
02
Choosing Safe Seats
Healthcare professionals often have opportunities to guide parents and caregivers when discussing car travel. You don’t need to be a car seat expert, but a few key points can help families make safer choices.
Encourage parents to choose a seat that fits their child, their car, and their daily routine. Remind them that all seats have height and weight limits, not age limits, and that once a child exceeds either, it’s time for the next stage.
Advise parents to try the seat in their vehicle before buying if possible, as features like under-floor storage boxes, seatbelt length or headrest shape can affect how safely a seat installs.
You can also explain that not all legally sold seats offer the same level of protection. Seats that go beyond the minimum standard - such as those tested to the Swedish Plus Test - can provide stronger safety performance.
Finally, encourage families to have their installation checked by a trained retailer or fitter. A well-fitted seat is always safer than one that’s expensive but used incorrectly.
Sharing these simple points helps families feel supported and confident about choosing safe seats.
03
Installing Car Seats
You may often be asked for advice about car seat fitting, but it’s important not to install or adjust seats yourself. Giving practical support beyond general guidance could put you at risk of liability if something went wrong.
Instead, you can help families by signposting them to the right information and support. Encourage parents to always follow both the car and seat manuals, as each model has specific installation steps.
Recommend that they watch videos from the official brand YouTube channel or a trained specialist retailer, rather than random online sources.
If they’ve bought from a specialist brand such as Axkid, Avionaut, BeSafe or Britax Römer, remind them that the retailer is trained and obligated to provide fitting support at the time of purchase. Families can contact that retailer for help or arrange a local fit check.
You can also direct parents to a trusted car seat specialist or community support group for a professional installation check.
By keeping advice general and pointing families to the correct resources, you help them keep their child safe while protecting your own professional boundaries.
04
Fitting Children Safely
Parents and caregivers may sometimes ask you how to position their child correctly in a car seat. While you should avoid physically adjusting the seat yourself, you can share some simple guidance to help families check the fit at home.
Encourage parents to make sure the harness is snug, with the straps flat and untwisted. A common guide is that they should not be able to pinch the harness webbing at the child’s shoulder.
Remind families to remove thick coats or padded clothing before securing their child. Bulky layers prevent the harness from tightening properly and can reduce protection in a crash. A blanket can be used over the harness if the child needs warmth.
You can also explain that harness height matters. For rear-facing seats, the straps should be level with or just below the shoulders.
If families are unsure about the correct fit, encourage them to contact the retailer they purchased from or a trained car seat specialist for guidance. Signposting to trusted resources helps parents make safe choices while maintaining professional boundaries.