Car seat safety:
A guide to keeping your child safe in the car
Using a car seat can save your child’s life in an accident. Here we help you find the best car seat for you and your family.
The basics
Two things are true for every family:
- Using a car seat is always safer than not using one, even on the shortest journey.
- A car seat that fits your car offers better protection than one that doesn’t.
Does it fit?
Not all car seats fit all cars. Before you buy, check if the seat will fit. If not, it’s not as safe.
The seat will fit your car if you’re buying:
- An i-Size seat for an i-Size compatible car.
- An R129 seat with a top tether and the car has a top tether anchorage point.
If it’s not one of the above, check online for a fitting list, to see if it fits your car.
If there’s no fitting list, you must try the seat in your car before you buy it. Follow the manual and make sure:
- It fits in the back – the safest place for your child.
- It’s fairly easy to fit – or you may not use it every time.
If you buy a car seat and it doesn’t fit, contact the seller to see if you can get a refund. It may not be safe to use.
Types of car seats
There are two regulations for car seat safety.
R129 seats are based on the child’s height. They offer extra protection as they are:
- Tested for side impact and front and back impact.
- Rear-facing until at least 15 months old.
i -Size seats are a category in R129. They guarantee compatibility with i-Size positions in cars.
R44 seats are divided into three groups from 0+ to 3, based on the child’s weight. It is legal for them to be sold and used in England, Wales and Scotland. R44 seats:
- Are safety tested for front and back impact.
- Allow for a child to face forward from 9 kg (around 9 months).
If you have a car seat that is right for your car and for the size of your child, it will offer protection whichever regulation it is made to.
Rear-facing car seat or forward-facing?
Rear-facing car seats are safest. That’s because:
- Your child’s head is the heaviest part of them.
- Plus, their neck and spine are developing.
So in a frontal crash a rear-facing car seat supports their head and neck. A forward-facing seat usually won’t.
If your rear-facing seat is right for your child’s size, it’s fine for their feet to be touching the back of the back seat and their legs to be crossed.
Some seats offer rear-facing for up to age 4 or even 6.
Others have air-bags in the shield. So allow for safe forward-facing travel from 15 months.
Car seats for babies
Its much safer for babies to travel rear-facing as long as possible. And to travel in the back seat.
If they must be in the front, the passenger airbag MUST be switched off. It can harm your baby if it activates in a crash.
On long journeys, or if using the car seat as part of travel system, take a break every hour or two and take your baby out of the car seat. Young babies may be at risk of breathing difficulties if they travel in a seated position for too long.
Car seats are not designed as sleeping places for babies. When you finish travelling, move them into a cot or Moses basket as soon as you can.
Car seats for toddlers
When your baby has grown out of their baby car seat, they can be moved to a child car seat with a built-in harness or shield.
It is safest to keep your toddler in a car seat with a built-in harness or shield for as long as it fits.
Only move them from a child car seat to a high back booster seat when they reach the height or weight limit specified.
If their eye line is level with the top of the back of the seat, it’s usually time to move to the next size of seat.
Car seats for older children
High backed booster seats are the safest option as they provide side-impact protection and support.
When using a booster seat, make sure the adult seat belt sits across the child’s collar bone and hips rather than their delicate neck and tummy area.
The R129 regulation only allows booster cushions for children who are 125cm tall or above and 22kg.
Second-hand seats
The Baby Products Association does not recommend second-hand car seats.
That’s because they can be less safe if they’ve been dropped or been damaged in an accident or by a hard knock. You can’t tell just by looking at them.
If buying new isn’t an option, try to buy or borrow one from friends or family who can be honest with you about its history. Check for missing or broken parts.
If there’s no instruction booklet, look it up online. If it’s very old, it may not meet the latest safety standards, so be cautious.
Remember, using a car seat is always better than no car seat.
Car seat law UK
The law applies to cars, vans and other goods vehicles.
Child under three
You must always use a car seat that is the correct seat for your child’s age, height and weight whether travelling in the front or the back seat.
If the correct car seat is not available, it is illegal for the child to travel in the vehicle.
The only exception is in a taxi and then only if the correct seat is not available.
Child aged 3 –11, but under 135cm tall
You must use a car seat that is the correct seat for your child’s age, height and weight whether travelling in the front or the back seat.
The only exceptions to this, when the correct car seat is not available, are:
- In a taxi where the correct car seat is not available
- For an unexpected and necessary journey over a short distance
- Two occupied child restraints in the vehicle prevent a third from being fitted.
In all of these cases, an adult seat belt must be used.
Child over 135cm, or 12 years and over
An adult seat belt must be worn.
Many accidents happen very close to home. Please always use a car seat, no matter how short your journey.
Frequently asked questions
It’s ok if your baby falls asleep in the car seat while travelling, but when you reach your destination take them out and put them in a clear crib or cot with a firm mattress.
Pre-term or young babies should not travel in a car seat for long periods of time. They may be at risk of breathing difficulties if they travel or sleep upright for too long.
The safest place for your child to travel is in the back of the car. It doesn’t matter if that is behind the driver or the passenger seat. The most important thing is for the car seat to be fitted properly and your child to be properly secure in it.
If you do need to put your baby in the front seat the airbag MUST be turned off. It can hurt your baby if it activates in a crash.
Baby seats are based on weight and/or height of your child, not age. It’s safest to keep your baby in their rear-facing car seat for as long as they fit the seat. Once they have grown out of the seat you can move them into a child car seat with a built in harness or shield.
Try to keep your child in their child car seat until they’ve grown out of it. If it’s a rear-facing car seat and the right size for your child it’s ok for their feet to be touching the back of the back seat.
When their eye line is above the back of the seat it’s time to move them to the next size of seat.
For older children, high-backed booster seats remain the safest option as they provide side impact protection and support. The most important thing is that the seat belt sits across your child’s collarbone and hips rather than their delicate neck or tummy area.
Children must use a car seat until they are 12 years old or 135 cm tall, whichever comes first.
If a child is tall for their age and is over 135cm tall, then they can safely use the adult seatbelt.
Remember though, the back seat is the safest place for children, as it offers the greatest distance from the point of impact in a crash.
Lie-flat car seats can be useful for very young babies or those with medical needs, but a properly fitted rear-facing seat is safe and effective for most babies. The most important thing is to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and take regular breaks during long journeys so your baby can be taken out of the seat.
