Which Seat is Appropriate for Your Child?An appropriate child seat is only safe when it:
- Conforms to the United Nations standard, ECE Regulation 44-03
- Is suitable for the child's size and weight
- Is correctly fitted according to the manufacturers instructions
- The seat belt is correctly adjusted
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The belt should be worn as tightly as possible
The lap belt should go over the pelvic region, not the stomach
The diagonal strap should rest over the shoulder, not the neck
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Weigh your child, then refer to the following guide:
| Weight |
Appropriate Seat |
|
Up to 13kg
(2st 1lb) |
Rear-facing baby seat
DO NOT put in front seat if there is a passenger airbag. Provides greater
protection for baby's head neck and spine. DO NOT use a bigger seat unless
they have exceeded the maximum weight for the seat or their head is higher
than the top of the seat. Age roughly: Birth to 15 months. |
 |
9kg to 18kg
(1st 6lb to 2st 12lb) |
Forward-facing child seat
May be used in front or rear, but are safer in the rear, especially
if a passenger air bag is fitted. DO NOT use a bigger seat unless they
have exceeded the maximum weight for the seat or their head is higher
than the top of the seat. Age roughly: 9 months to 4 years. |
 |
15kg to 25 kg
(2st 5lb to 3st 13lb) |
Booster seat
May be used in front or rear, but are safer in the rear, especially
if a passenger air bag is fitted. Some booster seats are designed to be
converted into a booster cushion by detaching the back rest. Age roughly:
4 to 6 years. |
 |
22kg or more
(3st 6lb or more) |
Booster Cushion
May be used in front or rear, but are safer in the rear, especially
if a passenger air bag is fitted. They do not have an integral harness
to hold the child in place, so the adult seat belt goes around the child
and seat. Some booster seats have an integral webbing retainer to help
ensure that the seat belt is correctly adjusted. Age roughly: 6 to 12
years. |
 |
Note: A child over 12 years old OR more than 135cm tall, may use an adult seat belt. However, the department for transport recommends that children should continue using a booster cushion or booster seat until they are 150cm (4ft 11in) tall.
The Rules for Carrying Children in Cars
- Children up to their 12th birthday have to use an appropriate seat or cushion
in the rear of the car "if available"
- Children under 12 and less than 135cm tall may not travel in the front of
a car without an appropriate seat or cushion, under any circumstances.
- Children under 3 may not travel without an appropriate seat, whether they
are in the front or the rear seat. EXCEPT in the rear of a taxi.
- A rear-facing baby seat must NEVER be put in a front seat of a vehicle which
is protected by an airbag
Exceptions to the Rules
A child between 3 and 12 years may travel in the back seat of the car using only
an adult seat belt when:
- Short or occasional journeys are made for "unexpected necessity"
( For example; collecting a friends child when they have been unexpectedly
delayed at work)
- Two other children are already using restraints in the back seat, leaving
no room for a third. In this instance it would be safer to put them in the
front seat with the appropriate seat or cusion.
- Travelling in a taxi
- Travelling in an old car with no seat belts fitted. However, the Department
for Transport say that this is NOT SAFE.
- Emergency vehicles, including ambulances and police cars are exempt.
- Rules regarding children travelling in buses and coaches have not been made
clear, however, from May 2009 all passengers in any vehicle will have to use
an appropriate restraint or seat belt, where seat belts are fitted.
Download PDF file here... |
