Car Seat Law Changes

New laws regarding the sale of backless booster seats are coming into force this year.  The changes affect the weight and height of a child suitable for a backless booster seat. The new rules will mean children have to weigh over 22kg (3st 7lbs) and also be over 125cm (4ft 1ins) tall in order to use the seats.

However, this change only affects new backless seats entering the market, meaning current booster seats will not need to be replaced as they meet current safety guidelines.

The new guidelines, set and approved by the United Nations, must now be implemented by the EU and will affect the whole of the UK. The Government have advised that the earliest that they can come into force will be March 2017.

The change is because many child car seat experts have deemed that smaller children are not held securely in the seat, that the adult seatbelt is not guided across the body in the best way, and that they offer limited protection for a side-on collision.

Detailed guidelines for child car seat safety can be found here

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