Booster seats

When you’re driving with children in your car you have a responsibility to keep them safe. Even though you don’t have control over the other drivers, you can make sure that children are properly protected in your own car.

Here are some ideas on how to protect a child at all times in your car: It is extremely important to make sure that your child is wearing an appropriate child restraint at all times when driving; which is:

Suitable for your child’s weight and size.

Correctly fitted according to the instructions.

There are many different types of child restraints available and they are put into different categories. The different child restraints correspond to the child’s age group, but it is the weight of the child that is most important when deciding what child restraint to use.

Height Based Seats

Also known as “i-Size” seats, they must be rear facing until your child is over 15 months old. Your child can use a front facing car seat when they’re over 15 months old.

Weight Based Seats

The seat your child can use depends on their weight.

0kg-10kg – rear-facing baby carrier / rear-facing baby seat using a harness.

0kg-13kg – Rear facing baby carrier / rear-facing baby seat using a harness.

9kg-18kg – Rear or forward-facing baby seat using a harness or safety shield.

15kg-25kg – Rear or forward child car seat (booster seat or booster cushion) using a seatbelt, harness or safety shield.

22kg-36kg – Rear or forward child car seat (booster seat or booster cushion) using a seatbelt, harness or safety shield.

Children over 12 or more than 135cm tall must wear a seatbelt.

Distracted driving not only puts everyone around you in a dangerous situation, but it teaches young people bad habits. You should expect your children to pick up the same habits as you.

Be aware to make sure you know where your child is at all times. Many children die or get seriously injured by playing around cars and getting struck by a car as it’s backing up. Take care to assure no children are behind your vehicle, by walking around your car past the trunk to get to the driver door. And then checking once more for children or pets that are behind your vehicle before you put it in reverse.

It is dangerous to hold a child in your lap. In a crash, the child could be crushed between your body and the car’s interior. Even if you are using a safety belt, the child could be torn away from your arms. It is also dangerous to put a safety belt around yourself and a child (or around two children).

Young children should never be left in a vehicle unattended. A variety of hazards can arise such as:

An outbreak of fire.

Breathing problems on warm days.

Accidently trapping children in electronically operated windows.

Leaving your car keys in your car when you are not in it.

If you want more information on how to fit a child’s car seat or you want to know which car seat best suits your child, please visit http://www.childcarseats.org.uk/choosing-using/