The law requires children travelling in cars to use an appropriate child restraint or adult seat belt, if they are available. It is the driver's responsibility
to ensure that children under the age of 14 years are either using an appropriate child restraint or an adult seat belt.
Always choose a car seat that is suitable for your child's age and weight and is correctly fitted according to the manufacturer's instructions. Child restraints are divided into categories according to
the weight of the child. Also check that the seat meets the latest safety standard, ECE R44.03. There are four stages -
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Stage 1 = Groups 0 and 0+
Stage 2 = Group 1
Stage 3 = Group 2
Stage 4 = Group 3
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Group 0 seats are suitable for babies up to 10kg (22lb) roughly from birth to 6-9 months. Group 0+ are suitable for babies up to
13 kg (29lb) roughly from birth to 12-15 months. These seats are best installed at the rear of the car. Under no circumstances install them in the front seat if there is a passenger airbag.
Rearward facing seats provide greater protection for the baby's head, neck and spine than forward facing seats. Therefore, it is best to keep your baby in a rearward facing seat for as long as possible.
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Group 1 seats are suitable for children between 15-25kg (33-55lb) roughly from 4 years to 6 years. They can be used in the front or rear of the car, but if the front has an airbag then it is safer to install the seat in the rear.
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Group 2 seats are suitable for children between 15-25kg (33-55lb) roughly from 4 years to 6 years. They can be used in the front or rear of the car, but if the front has an airbag then it is safer to install the seat in the rear.
Some seats are designed so that they can be converted into a booster seat by detaching the back of the seat.
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Group 3 seats are suitable for children between 22-36kg (48-79lb) roughly from 6 years to 11 years. They can be used in the front or rear of the car, but if the front has an airbag then it is safer to install the seat in the rear.
Booster seats and booster cushions do not have an integral harness to hold the child in place. Instead they use the adult seat belt so it is important that the belt is correctly adjusted. Key points are:
Adjust the belt so that it is as tight as possible (but comfortable)
The lap belt should go over the pelvic region and not the stomach as this can cause injury in an accident
The diagonal strap form the seat belt should go over the chest and not the neck
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| When you place your child in a car seat adjust the harness so that it is quite tight. Only two fingers should fit between the child's chest and harness. Never modify a child seat in any way to get a seat belt to fit, otherwise it may not work properly. Finally never buy a second hand car seat as it may
have been involved in an accident and seriously damaged, although the damage may not be visible. Only accept a seat if you now the history of the car seat.
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