Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

Car Seats

Children grow rapidly. To keep up with them, child seats increase in size, although some can be adjusted as children get bigger.

Like children, restraints come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but the key factors for getting it right are the child's weight, height and age.  Size also matters, as children can often be big or small for their age.

Before you buy

• Always look for the United Nations ECE R44.03 or R44.04 mark.
• Try the seat in your car before buying; make sure it fits properly.
• Never fit a child restraint in a seat protected by a frontal airbag.

The baby seat
The Infant Carrier is designed for a weight of up to 13kg and an approximate age of birth to 9-12 months and is normally rear facing and can be fitted in the front passenger seat, but only if there is NO airbag present, and can also be installed on the rear seat using the adult lap-and-diagonal seat belt or by its own retention system.

A combination seat
This type of seat is designed for a weight up to 18kg and approximate age of birth to 4 years old.

This type of seat can be converted to face forward once your child reaches 9kg in weight and then can be used up to 19kg (approx four years old)

The child seat
The child seat is designed for a weight of 9-18kg and the approximate age of 9months to 4 years.

The child is restrained by the seat's integral harness.  The harness should include a "crotch strap" to prevent the child from sliding out feet-first in an accident.

This seat has a separate frame, can be used in the front or rear of the car and may have a choice of upright or reclined positions.
The booster seat
The booster seat is designed for a weight of 15kg upwards and the age of 4 years and upwards.
This type of seat can be used in the front or rear of the car, and lifts the child so that an adult seat belt can be used and positioned correctly.  This seat also has slots to guide the adult belt around the child and has raised sides to give extra protection for a child's undeveloped hips.

The booster cushion
The booster cushion is designed for a child who has grown to big for other restraints this cushion lifts the child so that an adult seat belt can be used and ensures that the seat belt is positioned safely.  The cushion should also be used only with a lap-and-diagonal seatbelt, not just a lap belt.

The adult seat belt
When your child is over 12 years old and is greater than 135cm (4ft 5ins) tall,  a lap-and-diagonal seat belt should be used (with an appropriate booster) until the belt can fit properly across the hips, shoulder and breastbone.  If you only have a lap-belt it should be adjusted manually for a snug fit over the hips, not leaving any slack.  If your seatbelts are fitted with height adjusters, the diagonal strap must be fitted to lie centrally over the shoulder and away from the neck.