#When does a baby change car seats drivers#

ISOFIX anchor points are fitting points built into a car's chassis that let child car seats clip in without the need for a seatbelt to secure them. It's also allowable when travelling in a taxi, but they should still be belted in.Д¬hildren can only travel in cars where the child car seat has been fixed via a seatbelt with a diagonal strap вЂ“ the only exceptions are when the child car seat has been specifically designed to work with a lap belt, or both the car and child car seat come with ISOFIX anchor points. Euro NCAP safety regulations demand that it be obvious when the airbag is switched off, too.Д¬hildren over 3 can travel without a car seat if the journey is short, unexpected and necessary.

On most cars this is a hidden function, to avoid accidental switchoffs - check your owners manual. You cannot fit a car seat to a side-facing seat and if you need to put it in the car's front passenger seat then the passenger airbag must be turned off. The car seat must be fitted according to the manufacturer's instructions, and they are not designed to fit in those few cars that still come with sideways-facing rear seats. The only exceptions are when it's an emergency, and also in taxis, although again children should be belted and sitting. These rules apply to children under 12 or less than 135cm tall, and children can ditch the seat as soon as they reach one of these milestones. If you are carrying a child in a car, then they must be seated in an appropriate child seat or baby carrier, or sitting on a booster seat. However, while a child's age is an obvious guideline as to how long a child fits into a seat, every child grows at a different rate, so UK car seat laws are based on the size of your child, as well as their age. The recommendation is that a child should be sitting facing backwards when riding in the car for as long as possible, and some iSize specification seats will allow them to do this up to the age of four. Tests have shown that a rear-facing position is better for small children, because their necks have yet to fully develop, and in the even of an accident, facing backwards helps to spread the forces of a collision over the child, rather than focusing them on the head and neck area where serious injury could occur.

The reason for the extended period in a rear-facing seat is that research shows that it's the safest position for a baby or toddler in the event of an accident. However while some developments from car manufacturers themselves are geared towards improving child safety, most of the safety hardware in your car such as seatbelts and airbags are developed to protect adult occupants.Д®uro NCAP is the body that performs independent crash testing of new cars, and while they provide child safety ratings alongside adult scores, even their tests are carried out using approved child seats rather than вЂbuilt-inвЂ™ safety kit.

#When does a baby change car seats drivers#

Thanks to pressure from consumers and governments, car safety has become one of the most significant drivers of new technology, and happily national accident statistics reflect the year-on-year improvements. Because failing to comply doesnвЂ™t just mean the possibility of facing the financial penalty of a fine - if the worst should happen, the safety of your most treasured possessions is at stake. Which means if youвЂ™re a parent who drives, itвЂ™s essential to be fully briefed on the latest laws and advice regarding the choice and use of child seats in the car.

ItвЂ™s not just babies either, as the rules apply even to quite big kids. Over the years an increasingly rigorous regimen of child seat rules and regulations mean little ones must now be securely strapped-into one of the extensively tested and officially approved options now available. Well the kids might, as you try to keep them entertained in their car seats on long journeys, but thereвЂ™s no doubt they are a whole lot safer in the car these days. Older readers may enjoy reminiscing about life before car child seats, when babies slept in footwells or on parcel shelves as their older brothers and sisters roamed all over the back seats fighting, but few would argue things havenвЂ™t changed for the better.