If you’re planning to drive your car with a baby or toddler onboard, then you will be required to use a child car seat for both legal and safety reasons. Not only that, there are various rules and types of child car seat you need to be aware of, to ensure you don’t get caught out by the law and create the safest environment possible.
In this guide we summarise what you need to know about child car seats.
The law on child car seats
British law states that children are required to use special seats in cars until they are 12 years old or reach 135cm (about 4ft 5in), whichever comes first. However, a lot of safety experts recommend you still use a special seat when a child is under 150cm.
An appropriate child restraint/car seat, according to the law, is one which is EU-approved as indicated by a label showing a capital ‘E’ in a circle. It must also be compatible with all vehicles it will be used in and suitable for the child’s weight and size. When used it must also at all times be fitted correctly, according to the manufacturer’s official instructions.
The consequences for ignoring these legal requirements, besides possible injuries of course, are that the police can impose on-the-spot fines of £30, or as high as £500 if the case is referred to court.
There are a small number of exceptions to the car seat laws. For instance, in taxis or minicabs, it is acceptable for children under three to travel without a child car seat or seat belt on the back seat. Children over three can travel in taxis using an adult seat belt.
If you have to make an unplanned but essential journey in your car and there’s no child car seat available, then a child over three years old can use an adult seat belt during it. Such journeys should be short though. Also, school runs do not count, and neither do any sort of pre-planned journeys (even if you’re running late).
If you’re planning on driving with three children that require special seats, but it’s not possible to fit three such seats in the back, then you have options. You could put the third child in the front with an appropriate child seat. Alternatively, if the child is over three, they can sit in the back using an adult belt, moving one of the two children using a special seat to the front.
Types of car seats
There are different kinds of child car seats available which are designed to be safe and comfortable for different sorts of weight, height, age and stages of physical development. There are different group numbers used to identify these variations of child seat, so take the time to research what each group covers and what suits your children best.
Baby car seat
Babies need to be carried in special rearward-facing seats when in cars. These provide better protection for the baby’s head, neck and spine compared to forward-facing seats.
Rearward-facing baby car seats can be used in the front or rear of a car but they should not be used in the front if there’s an active passenger airbag. It’s better to use this type of seat in the back anyway.
The best time to switch from a rearward-facing baby car seat to a different type that’s forward-facing is when a child can sit up unaided and exceeds the weight limit for baby car seats.
Toddler car seat
Most toddler car seats on the market are forward facing but some toddlers may be better off with a rearward-facing seat for a period of time depending on how much they weigh.
Assuming a forward-facing toddler seat is used, it should feature straps designed to spread the force of a crash over a wide area and some also come with an impact cushion/shield.
Infant car seat
Similarly to baby car seats, infants require rearward-facing seats and these should provide ample protection and are best installed in the rear seats of a vehicle.
Car seat weight groups
Child car seats on the market can be adjusted by the user to suit different heights and weight limits. Such seats combine several group categories and therefore can be used for your child for a longer period of time.
Detailed below are the five main weight groups for child car seats:
| Seat Group | Weight Range | Ideal Age Range |
| Group 0 | 0-10kg (0-22lb) | 0-11 months (boys) or 0-14 months (girls |
| Group 0+ | 0-13kg | 0 to about 12-15 months |
| Group 1 | 9-18kg (20-40lb) | About 9 months to 4 and a half years old |
| Group 2 | 15-25kg (33lb-3st 13lb) | About 3 to 7 years old |
| Group 3 | 22-36kg (3st 7lb-5st 9lb) | About 6 to 12 years old |
Fitting a child car seat
When fitting a child restraint onto a car seat, they can be secured by the adult seatbelt, as long as it uses a diagonal strap or is specifically designed for use with a lap seat belt.
Seats with ISOFIX attachments are more preferable, however, because they are easier to install and are more secure. It’s worth checking with your dealership or vehicle manufacturer as to whether there are ISOFIX seat attachments in your vehicle. If they are available then they’ll usually be referenced in a car’s equipment list as well so you should be able to confirm this in the brochure or by researching online. Here at Car Keys, you can get extensive details on what new models and specifications have to offer.
If you’re fitting the child seat to the front passenger seat, then the front airbags on that side will need to be disable beforehand. Most modern cars have a switch or key allowing you to do this in a matter of seconds.
Also, if your car has side-facing seats (a possibility in large people carriers), then these should not be used for child seat fitments.
Other tips
Whenever you’re inserting or removing a child car seat from your vehicle, it’s always safer to have the seat you are using on the side nearest the pavement. That way you and the child are not in the traffic flow.
If at any point you plan to leave the car for a period of time with the child left secured in his/her special seat, then consider the weather.
The non-profit organisation KidsAndCars, has revealed that in America an average of 38 children die every year as a result of being trapped in hot cars. Children forgotten in the back account for half of these cases.