Julie Delahaye
A new law is being introduced changing regulations about children's booster seats baby car seats coming into effect in March, earlier than originally expected
The law surrounding children's booster seats and baby car seats are changing – and the new regulations are coming into effect very quickly! As of Wednesday 1 March, children who are shorter than 125cm or weighing less than 22kg won't be allowed to travel in a car on a backless booster cushion. The reason for the change is safety concerns after health officials deemed that backless car seats offer less protection in the event of a collision. The good news is that if you already own a booster seat, you won't need to buy a new one: the regulations only apply to products sold once the rules have come into force. However, it's worth making sure your current seat also meets existing regulations, as you could face a fine of £500 if you ignore the law and end up in court.
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Children should use a child car seat until they are either 12 years old or over 135cm tall: whichever comes first. Once they meet this age/height, they must wear a seat belt. The seat should be suitable for your child's weight and size - and you should check the manufacturer's instructions to make sure it's fitted properly. Height-based seats – also known as i-Size seats – should be EU-approved. To check this, look for a label showing a capital 'E' in a circle, and R129. Meanwhile, weight-based seats tend to fall into various categories – for example, kids weighing 0-9kg should be in a rear-facing carrier, those weighing 9-18kg should be in a rear or forward-facing baby seat with a harness, and those weighing 15-36kg, they should be in a rear or forward-facing child car sear, using a seat belt or harness.
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If you're unsure whether your booster seat meets the standards, head to gov.uk/child-car-seats-the-rules for more information on what to look out for.