Car seats

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. Find out more about car seat safety

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. Find out more about car seat safety

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. Find out more about car seat safety

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 [...]

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. Find out more about car seat safety

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. Find out more about car seat safety