In a crash at just 30 mph, an unrestrained child could be thrown forward with a force 30 to 60 times their body weight. They would hit the inside of the vehicle, injuring them and possibly killing or seriously injuring other people in the vehicle. They could also be ejected from the car through a window. It is not safe to hold a child on your lap. In a crash, the child could be crushed between your body and part of the car's interior. Even if you are using a seat belt, the child would be torn from your arms - you would not be able to hold onto them, no matter how hard you try. It is also dangerous to put a seat belt around yourself and a child (or around two children).
A properly fitted child restraint keeps the child in their seat, preventing them from being thrown about or ejected from the vehicle. It also absorbs some of the impact force. This means that the child is much less likely to be killed or injured. To be effective, child restraints must be fitted and used correctly. Surveys have consistently shown that a high proportion of child restraints are incorrectly fitted, usually for one or more of these reasons:
Group 0: for babies up to 10 kg (22 lbs) roughly from birth to 6-9 months, or
Group 0+: for babies up to 13kg (29lbs) roughly from birth to 12-15 months
They must not be fitted in a front passenger seat if there is an active passenger airbag. These seats provide greater protection for the baby's head, neck and spine than forward-facing seats. So, it is best to keep your baby in a rearward-facing seat for as long as possible. Only move them to a forward-facing seat once they have exceeded the maximum weight for the baby seat, or the top of their head is higher than the top of the seat.
Group 1: for children weighing 9-18 kg (20-40 lbs) roughly from 9 months - 4 years.
Once children have outgrown a rearwards facing seat, the best option is to use a Group 1 seat with an integral harness, the large area of the harness helps to reduce the risk of injury if there is a crash. The bottom attachment between the legs will also prevent the child from sliding under, and out of, the harness.
They can be used in the front or rear of the car, but it is safer to put them in the rear, especially if there is a passenger airbag in the front.
Once again, it is safest to keep children in this type of system until they have outgrown it. Only move your child to a booster seat once they have exceeded the maximum weight for the child seat, or the top of their head is higher than the top of the seat.
Group 2: for children weighing 15 - 25 kg (33 - 55 lbs) roughly 4 to 6 years.
Group 3: for children weighing 22 - 36 kg (48 - 79 lbs) roughly from 6 - 11 years.
Booster seats and booster cushions do not have an integral harness to hold the child in place. The adult seat belt goes around the child and the seat. So it is important that the seat belt is correctly adjusted. The basic points to note are:
Some booster seats are designed to be converted into a booster cushion by detaching the back rest, and you should always check the manufacturers' advice about when and how to do this.
When children first move out of the forward-facing child seats into booster seats and cushions, initially, ones with backs may provide a better fit for the seat belt. Booster seats with side wings will also help to prevent injury in a side impact by protecting a child's head, and on several seats, the height of the side wings can be adjusted as the child grows.
Booster cushions can be approved for Groups 2 and Group 3, although some are only approved for just Group 3.
You should ensure your child is within the weight range of any booster seat or booster cushion.
Booster seats and booster cushions can be used in the front or rear of the car, but it is safer to put them in the rear, especially if there is a passenger airbag in the front.
A child is not required to use a child restraint:
If you would like more information or the fitting of your child's car seat checked contact the Community Fire Safety Team on 01452 753333 or fill in our request form online. Your contact details will be passed to your local fire station. You will then be contacted and arrangements made for you to visit your local fire station at a convenient time for the fitting to be checked by trained member of staff.