Technology & Cars

Car Seats: The Right Protection For Your Little Super Hero

If your child is under 12 years old AND under 135cm tall, then by law they are going to need a car seat or booster to make sure they are as securely belted as possible in the unlikely event of an accident. In the UK, car seats are categorised into groups. This guide tells you which seat is right for your child. Enlarge

Car Seats: The Right Protection For Your Little Super Hero

If your child is under 12 years old AND under 135cm tall, then by law they are going to need a car seat or booster to make sure they are as securely belted as possible in the unlikely event of an accident. In the UK, car seats are categorised into groups. This guide tells you which seat is right for your child.

Step 1: Group 0 and 0+

Group 0 are rear facing baby seats for infants who weigh up to 10kg. Group 0+ go up to 13 kg. So a baby must use this type of seat from birth until they reach the maximum weight, which should be at around 9-12 months of age, as different children grow at different rates.

Rear facing baby seats can be fitted in the back or front of the car, but if you've got a passenger airbag and it's switched on, DON'T stick the seat in the front. In a collision, the force of the airbag opening will hit the back of the seat and could injure your baby.

Step 2: Group 1

Children weighing between 9kg and 18kg must use a Group 1 child seat. This is roughly when your little superhero is between 9 months and 4 years old.
These seats are forward facing and can be placed in the back or front of the car, although the back is safer, especially if there's a passenger airbag.

You should move your super-nipper to a forward facing child seat as soon as they reach the maximum weight for the rear facing seat or when the top of their head is level with the top of the seat.

Step 3: Group 2

Group 2 booster seats should be used for children who are beginning to grow into their super-powers. They'll weigh 15-25 kg, and probably be between 4 and 6 years old.

You can fit these in the front or back seat, but if it's going in the front then you need to check the car's handbook to see whether it's safe, if there's an air-bag fitted and whether you need to turn that air bag off. If it is safe, you should make sure the car seat is as far back as possible so your mini supergirl is not too close to the air bag if there's a crash.

Step 4: Group 3

For a child who weighs over 22kg, which will roughly be when they are around 6 or older, you'll need a Group 3 booster seat or cushion. A booster cushion is a seat without a back support or side impact protection. Although it is completely within the law to use booster cushions, high backed boosters with adjustable guides for the diagonal part of the seat belt are recommended. These provide support plus some protection from side impacts.

Follow these guidelines, and your little superheroes will be well protected when travelling in your car, so they can grow up and save the world.