You may have seen recent reports in the media about new regulations coming into place around the use of backless booster seats.
Current regulations state that children must use a child car seat until they’re 12 years old or 135cm tall, whichever comes first. This is still the case today.
The proposed changes to the law will limit the use of backless booster seats to older children. Under the new guidance backless booster seats will only be approved for use in children who are taller than 125cm or weigh more than 22kg (approx. 3 stone 6 lbs).
However, at present, no new law has actually been passed according to the department for transport. So the existing law still remains:
| Child’s weight | Type of Car Seat |
| 0kg to 9kg | Lie-flat or ‘lateral’ baby carrier, rear-facing baby carrier, or rear-facing baby seat using a harness |
| 0kg to 13kg | Rear-facing baby carrier or rear-facing baby seat using a harness |
| 9kg to 18kg | Rear- or forward-facing baby seat using a harness or safety shield |
| 15kg to 36kg | Rear- or forward-facing child seat (high-backed booster seat or booster cushion) using a seat belt, harness or safety shield |
According to reports the new rules for backless booster seats look set to come into effect by March 2017, but nothing has been confirmed as yet.
For further information on the current law around car seats, please click here.
Fostering services have their own policies to guide foster carers on the use of car seats and transporting children, so familiarise yourself with this too.
Additional information can also be found on the Child Car Seats Website.
Fosterline will keep you up-to-date with any developments in this area. Follow us on Facebook, and Twitter for more regular news and information.