By law, all children must use a child car seat until they are twelve years old or 135 centimetres tall, whichever comes first. Child car seats can be chosen based on your child’s weight or on their height
Weight Based Seats – Only EU approved weight-based car seats can be used in the UK, and these will have a label showing a capital ‘E’ in a circle and ‘ECER44’. Here is a list of the criteria when choosing the correct seat:
| Child’s weight | Group | Seats |
|---|---|---|
| 0-10kg | 0 | Lie flat baby carrier, rear facing baby carrier, rear facing baby seat using a harness. |
| 0-13kg | 0+ | Rear facing baby carrier or seat using a harness. |
| 9-18kg | 1 | Rear or forward-facing baby seat using a harness or safety shield. |
| 15-25kg | 2 | Rear or forward-facing child car seat using a seat belt, harness or safety shield. |
| 22-36kg | 3 | Rear or forward-facing child car seat using a seat belt, harness or safety shield. |
Height Based Seats – Only EU approved height-based child car seats can be used in the UK. These have a label showing a capital ‘E’ in a circle and ‘R129’. Height-based car seats must be rear facing until your child is over 15 months old
Fitting a Seat – You must:
The same rules apply for children with medical conditions or disabilities. However, children are allowed to use a disabled person’s seatbelt, or a child restraint designed for their needs. If a child is unable to use a restraint/seatbelt due to their condition, a doctor can issue an exemption certificate
« Are Your Tyre’s Rain Ready?Can I Still Drive My Car If It Fails It’s MOT? »
