Child Car Seat Law: What Parents Need To Know About The 'Booster Seat Ban' | HuffPost Life

The changes came into effect on 9 February 2017.

By

Life editor at HuffPost UK

A change in the law on child car seats has come into force earlier than expected.

The change sets out new rules for manufacturers, who are no longer allowed to introduce new models of backless booster seats for children shorter than 125cm or weighing less than 22kg.

It was reported in October 2016 that the change on when kids can have backless booster seats would come into effect in March 2017.

However a Department for Transport spokesperson confirmed to The Huffington Post UK this came into effect on 9 February 2017, after a notice came from the United Nations.

Parents will rest assured that existing booster seats and cushions are not affected by new rules.

Antonio_Diaz via Getty Images

“The change doesn’t affect existing models of seats or cushions and doesn’t mean that they are unsafe or illegal,” the Department for Transport states.

“Though parents are still being encouraged to make sure they know the rules for using child car seats.

“The change to the technical standards means that the range of products available on the market are better suited for younger children.”

Previously, children weighing as little as 15kg (around three years old) could travel in backless booster seats.

The change in law was dubbed the “booster seat ban” in 2016, in reference to the reduction in the number of children using backless booster seats.

In August 2016, Lisa Galliers, Which? child car seat expert said the law was changing because “a decent high-backed booster seat provides better protection in a front crash, as they’re designed to guide the adult seat-belt across the child’s body properly.”

For more information on the current UK laws on car seats and when children are able to travel without one, visit the government’s website.

What shop staff should ask parents when buying a car seat, as reported by Good Egg Safety.
Child’s weight
Child’s height
What vehicle the seat will be used in
If the seat will be used in any other vehicles
If the vehicle has ISOfix
If the seat is fitted to the front of the vehicle - (the shop staff should advise on airbag risk)
They should also advise on the safety benefits of rear facing child seats and demonstrate the fitment of the car seat.

Before You Go

10 Things All Toddlers Really Want To Do

Post things(01 of10)

There is something so brilliantly intriguing about putting something through a hole and it just, well, disappearing. Forever. So, if they can’t reach the letter box to post valuable items from the inside of your house to the outside of your house (car keys for example), they will definitely settle for your credit cards and a gap between the floorboards. (credit:Lumi Images/Elsa Dunkel)

Swing on the curtains(02 of10)

Yes, they’ve been told time and time again that if they hang on them the whole pole will fall off the wall... but they don’t believe you, they think you’re just being mean. (credit:RJW)

Cover the bathroom with toothpaste and stick stuff to it(03 of10)

It’s frustrating for them that something which looks like glue is only ever dispatched in tiny, pea-sized amounts – and disappears in their mouth. (credit:Getty Images)

Touch the toilet brush(04 of10)

Simply because ever since they have been able to move, they’ve been told not to touch it, or indeed go anywhere near it. They don’t just want to touch it though, do they? No, actually they want to clean the floor, and the walls, and the bath with it. (credit:Getty Images)

Cut their own hair(05 of10)

It’s something they have been thinking about for AGES. Leave a pair of craft scissors unattended at any point, even the non-pointy ones, and you’ll find your child 15 minutes later, hiding behind the sofa, sitting on tufts. (credit:Summer Derrick)

Write on your work(06 of10)

Yes, they have their own paper, but it’s just not the same. They might do one or two pictures on their own pad, but in your diary? They really want to do a picture and ‘writing’ on every last page. Just for you. (credit:Claudia Gopperl)

Take their wheeled toy/buggy/scooter up the stairs(07 of10)

Warnings about the dangers of wheeled toys at the top of a staircase fall on deaf ears when all they can focus on is HOW FAST THEY COULD GO DOWN! (credit:Frida Marquez)

Drink squash with no water in it(08 of10)

They might not even drink squash as a general rule, but they have a very strong suspicion that neat squash is amazingly delicious. First chance they get, they’ll grab themselves a cup/bowl/vase, fill it with neat squash and hide somewhere, grimacing as they persevere and force it down (because, surprisingly enough, it’s actually quite foul). (credit:Getty Images/Gallo Images ROOTS Collection)

Make an actual successful phone call(09 of10)

This usually results in having a proper person on the other end – even if they are saying “HELLO? HELLO? WHO IS THIS? PUT THE PHONE DOWN!” or, alternatively “Emergency services, which service do you require?” They’ll never give up. (credit:Getty Images/RooM RF)

Give the cat a bath(10 of10)

When they try, and fail, they’ll really want to make the cat wear a doll’s outfit. When they try this, and fail again, they’ll really want to decorate the cat with very sticky stickers. Bingo! (credit:jurgita.photography)

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