A variety of surveys have been carried out on the effectiveness of child safety seats, and they all point in the same direction: that most car seats are not fitted correctly.

The percentage varies depending on the survey or the report with estimates ranging from 50 per cent to eight per cent of child safety seats being incorrectly fitted.

The reason for these startling statistics is not that parents are negligent but that they are simply unable to easily adjust the seats in the car.

One of the most difficult things for parents to do is to tighten the seat belt that secures the safety seat. Getting the seat belt as tight as required often requires strength and a good deal of fiddling about.

If you regularly find tightening the belt a problem you might consider using one of a number of devices that are available that can do this for you mechanically. Most use a ratchet and are generally available from larger children's stores.

For a seat to be installed safely there should be less than one inch of wiggle room or side-to-side movement. The bottom line is the tighter the better. Of course seats differ so always carefully read the manufacturers instructions.

In general terms you should always use a child safety seat or booster for children under 11 or under five feet tall. Always take time to ensure your child's car seat harness is properly adjusted and fastened, even on the shortest of trips. Avoid buckle crunch. If the seat belt buckle lies across the frame of the child restraint it will be under pressure and may spring open on impact. Ensure that only seatbelt webbing is in contact with the frame of the child seat.

Make sure that your child seat or booster is properly secured by the adult seat belt every time you use it. When fitting a child seat always follow the manufacturers instructions. Always keep a copy of the fitting instructions in the car.

Always use a seat that meets the latest safety standards and is appropriate for your child's height and weight. Ensure the seat fits your car by getting a trained shop assistant to demonstrate how to fit it.

Beware of using a second hand child seat. Make sure it meets current safety standards, has not already been in an accident and that you have the correct fitting instructions.

A seat belt should never be put around an adult and a child. If a crash occurs, the adult would be thrown forward with a force many times their weight and would crush the child against the seat belt. It is not safe to hold an unrestrained child on one's lap. Even in a crash under 30mph a child is likely to be torn from the adult's arms by the strength of the crash and ejected from the car.

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