It doesn't matter if you are taking a short trip to school or a longer journey, travelling with children in the car means taking extra care to keep everyone safe!

Legal Requirements for Children in Cars

Child Car Seat Laws

Children need to use a child car seat until they turn 12 years old or reach 135 cm in height, whichever comes first. This helps keep them safe and properly restrained during car journeys, and properly protected in case of accidents.

Child car seats are specifically designed to protect their smaller bodies which are still developing and are more vulnerable in a crash. Car seats provide the necessary support and protection for these differences of little ones!

Let’s break down how they are specifically designed to address this:

• Protecting Delicate Areas: Children’s bones and muscles are not as strong as those of adults. Car seats are designed to distribute the forces of a crash over the strongest parts of the body, minimising the risk of injury to soft tissues and vital organs.
• Proper Fit: Adult seatbelts are not designed for children’s smaller frames. Car seats and booster seats position children correctly so that seat belts fit them properly for effective protection.
• Preventing Ejection: In the event of a collision, a car seat which is properly installed keeps the child securely in place, preventing ejection from the vehicle, which can be fatal.
• Absorbing Crash Forces: Car seats are built to absorb and spread crash forces, reducing the impact on a child’s body during an accident.

It's also important to use only EU-approved child car seats (marked with a capital ‘E’ in a circle) to ensure maximum safety and avoid any legal issues.

Once they outgrow their car seat, children should always wear a seatbelt. Make sure the seat belt fits correctly, lying across the upper thighs and snugly over the shoulder and chest, not the stomach and neck.

Types of Child Car Seats

Choosing the right type of child car seat is important to make sure your child stays safe and comfortable in car journeys. Child car seats are grouped based on the child's height or weight, and it's important to select the appropriate seat for your child's size and stage of development.

Height-based Seats (i-Size)

Rear-facing Seats

Must be used until the child is over 15 months old. Rear-facing seats offer better protection for the child's head, neck, and spine in the event of a collision. They are designed to cradle the child and distribute crash forces more evenly.

• Children can stay rear-facing in their car seats for as long as possible, up to the maximum height and weight limit specified by the car seat manufacturer. While the legal requirement is to keep children rear-facing until at least 15 months old, safety experts recommend keeping children rear-facing until at least 2 years old, or even up to 4 years old if the car seat allows.

Forward-facing Seats

After 15 months, children can transition to forward-facing seats. These seats still provide significant protection but allow the child to face forward, which some children prefer as they grow older.

Weight-based Seats

Check out the UK Government website for a full list of child seat requirements.

• Group 0 (Up to 10 kg): Suitable for newborns and very young babies. These seats can be lie-flat or lateral baby carriers, rear-facing baby carriers, or rear-facing baby seats with a harness. They are designed to support the baby’s delicate spine and neck.
• Group 0+ (Up to 13 kg): These rear-facing baby seats and carriers are similar to Group 0 but can accommodate slightly larger infants. They often come with additional padding and support for newborns.
• Group 1 (9 to 18 kg): This category includes rear- or forward-facing baby seats using a harness or safety shield. These seats are designed to transition as the child grows, often featuring adjustable harnesses and multiple recline positions.
• Group 2 (15 to 25 kg): Suitable for older toddlers and young children, these seats can be rear- or forward-facing. They include high-backed booster seats or booster cushions and can be used with a seatbelt, harness, or safety shield.
• Group 3 (22 to 36 kg): These seats are designed for older children who are not yet tall enough to use the vehicle’s adult seat belt safely. They can be high-backed booster seats or booster cushions, providing extra height so that the seat belt fits correctly.

Front Seat Restrictions

Babies must use a rear-facing baby seat in the rear of the car until they are at least 15 months old. They can only travel in the front seat if no rear seats are available, or if the rear seats are already occupied by other children under 3 years old.

Children can sit in the front seat from 12 years old or 135 cm tall, whichever comes first.

Best Practices for Travelling with Children

1. Proper Installation

Ensure the car seat is correctly installed. Use ISOFIX anchor points if available to secure the car seat directly to the vehicle's main frame.

Always deactivate any front airbags if using a rear-facing seat in the front to avoid injury to the child in case of airbag deployment.

2. Regular Checks

Check that the car seat fits snugly and is appropriate for the child’s height and weight. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.

Verify that the seat belt or harness is secure before every trip. The harness should be tight enough that you can fit only two fingers between the child’s collarbone and the strap.

3. Comfort and Safety

Use sunshades to protect children from direct sunlight and reduce glare. Ensure these do not obstruct your view as the driver!

Try to maintain a comfortable temperature inside the car.

Install a rear-facing baby mirror to monitor infants without turning around, to reduce distraction to you as a driver.

4. Plan for Breaks

Schedule regular breaks on long trips for feeding, nappy changes, and stretching (maybe pick a tune to do this to!). This helps to keep children comfortable and reduces restlessness.

Pack essentials such as nappies, wipes, extra clothing, snacks, and any medication, so you’re ready for every situation!

5. Emergency Preparedness

Keep a well-stocked first-aid kit in the car for any small injuries. Be familiar with basic first-aid procedures and know how to handle common medical issues like travel sickness or allergies. We always recommend having a bucket or bigger bag available in case someone starts to feel sick during the ride!

Transporting Other People’s Children

Make sure all children are in the correct car seats or boosters for their age, height, and weight. Check that the seats are properly installed and the children are buckled in correctly. Do not transport children without child seats - when you are the driver, you are responsible for your passengers and you will get the fine (it is up to £500!). It is up to you to make sure that everyone in your car is as safe as they can be.

Addressing Common Myths

Myth: Children are safe in a parent's lap.
Fact: This is extremely dangerous and illegal. In a crash, a child held in an adult's lap can be crushed by the adult’s body or ejected from the vehicle. Always use an appropriate car seat!

Myth: It's safe for children to sit in the front seat with a car seat.
Fact: It’s generally safer for children to sit in the back seat until they are at least 12 years old. The force of an airbag deploying in the front seat can cause serious injury to a child.

Myth: Booster seats are only for older children.
Fact: Booster seats are necessary for children who have outgrown their forward-facing car seats but are not yet tall enough for adult seat belts. They help position the seatbelt correctly across the child's chest and lap.

Myth: Children don’t need seat belts or car seats for short trips.
Fact: Children should always wear seat belts, regardless of the trip duration. The majority of accidents occur close to home, so always buckle up or put children in their car seats.

Myth: It’s safe to buy a used car seat.
Fact: Buying a used car seat can be risky unless you know the complete history of the seat. Car seats that have been in a crash, are expired, or have missing parts can have a hugely negative impact on safety. It’s best to purchase a new car seat to ensure it meets current safety standards and hasn’t been compromised.

Myth: Car seats don’t expire.
Fact: Car seats do have expiration dates, typically 6 to 10 years from the date of manufacture. Materials can degrade over time, so always check the expiration date on your car seat and replace it when necessary.

Myth: Adding aftermarket accessories to a car seat is safe.
Fact: Aftermarket products, such as seat covers, padding, or head supports, can interfere with the car seat’s safety features and are not tested with the seat. Only use accessories provided or approved by the car seat manufacturer.

Myth: Car seats are safe to use after a minor accident.
Fact: Even after a minor accident, car seats can have unseen damage that affects their ability to protect a child in a subsequent crash. Always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines regarding replacing car seats after an accident.

Myth: Children can wear winter coats in a car seat.
Fact: Bulky clothing, including winter coats, can prevent the car seat harness from fitting snugly against the child’s body, reducing its effectiveness in a crash. Use a blanket over the harness or a car seat cover designed for safety.

Myth: All car seats fit all vehicles.
Fact: Not all car seats are compatible with every vehicle. Always check the car seat manufacturer’s guidelines and ideally use a car seat fitting service to make sure it is properly installed.

Myth: It's okay for the car seat to move around a bit after installation.
Fact: A properly installed car seat should not move more than an inch side-to-side or front-to-back at the path of the belt. Make sure that the seat is tightly secured and check the installation regularly!.

Myth: Older children can share a seatbelt.
Fact: Each child should have their own seatbelt or car seat. Sharing a seatbelt can lead to serious injuries in a crash, as it is not designed to restrain multiple bodies.

Always stay informed about the latest guidelines and updates on child car seat laws and safety recommendations to make sure children are as safe as they can be in your car, every time.