AIBU to say the new booster seat law totally confuses me?

[CharlieDimmocksbosoms]

Just that really. I know from April the law changes on what age/weight/height child can use a booster seat but can someone clearly explain it for me please?

But in theory o wouldn't be able to buy one. I know we have some but in ten years time the children height 126 will all be in high backed boosteres

Firstly is the law definitely changing in April. I know it was meant to be December and changed.

It is only for seats bought after the law change. So anything you already use will be legal.

If your child is over 135cm, or over 12 then they don't need any car seat.

If they are over 125cm and over 22kg they can have a backless booster seat. If they are between 15kg and 22kg they need to have a car seat with a back. I think.

If you have a non back booster you can use post April. You won't be able to buy one post April.

My understanding is that you won't be able to buy a booster cushion (non high back booster) for a child under 125cm and/or under 22kg after April, but you will still be able to buy a booster cushion for a child taller than 125cm and heavier than 22kg after April. And any booster cushions bought before April can continue to be used for children under 125cm/22kg.

How they police this though, I don't know. I assume at some point the law will change again and children under 125cm/22kg won't be allowed to use booster cushions. Probably once they have assumed all the current children have grown!

You will still be able to buy them but they won't be approved for use by children under 125cm and 22kg. It's the approval that is changing for new seats. Ones already approved will continue to be approved.

Thank you for explaining

I emailed trunki about this as I was looking at the boostapak for holidays. I emailed to ask if it could be used in uk as I don't reckon it can possibly qualify as a hub. I think They told me the new regs and the old regs run in parallel - can anyone tell me what this means:

We can confirm that our BoostApak confirms to the new car laws as per our statement online.

“ECE R44 and Regulation R129”

The new i-size regulation (R129) does not replace the existing R44 standard. The two regulations will continue in parallel.

BoostApak meets the safety standards outlined in R44 and our manufacture and testing processes are independently audited by an approved body to ensure continued conformance to that standard.

It is important to note that Regulation 129 does not yet cover booster cushions and no target date exists for their inclusion.

If you have any more detailed questions or queries about BoostApak, please contact us and we will be happy to discuss them with you.
“Please check the law in the country you intend to use the Boostapak in. We are only approved to ECE R44.04 for groups 2 and 3 which means it is approved to be used in the EU”.

Blankiefan- well that's clear!!

It's height and weight based until age 12 at which point even petite folks are allowed to be without a booster.

So shorter than 125cm = high back booster or full car seat

125cm to 135cm and weighing at least 22kg = backless booster is fine

135cm or age 12 and older no booster required by law.

Thank you Pebble that's very clear 😁

Blankiefan thank you for posting that. I use a BoostApak as my in boot spare for DD when we travel with friends they're all a bit under 125 but the shoulder strap holder makes it feel safer to me than just a booster cushion.

Its a PITA to need to have multiple high back boosters. I used to regularly cart four DC around then adults and storing so many full car seats would have been a real challenge.

flouncingdo you know what it means? I don't understand if it'd be legal for my 4yo (I don't own one yet but was planning on buying for hols)

Yes it will be legal if you purchase it before April.

I've got a question if that's OK? I'm buying new high back booster seats; do I go for isofix or no isofix? I've never used isofix before. Is it worth paying extra for? Is it definitely safer? The seats will be secured by car seat belts, not a harness.

We have a high back booster from Kiddy. Dd is 144cm and still fits in it.

Sorrel

Isofix basically ensures the seat is correctly installed. So it's a fail safe. I think it's worth it if your car has that option. Especially as your child will strap themselves in when they're older.

SOrrel - we use isofix seatbelt fixed high back boosters. We were told they are far safer as means the seats iare secure when not in use. So if you have two children for example and just one on car, the other seat would still be isofix secure in car in an accident so wouldn't become a hazard to other child or adults in car in case of an accident. A non isofix would be loose to fly around.

In the rest of Europe it's 150 cm to us a car seat. So we will aim for that. My 6 year old is almost 125cm and 22kg, he is tiny to not be using a full back booster, and only stopped rear facing at 5, so I would feel very bizarre letting him ride with no seat. We use the cybex solution isofixed

Thanks for the information. I'm going for the Cybex Solution too! Will go for the isofix version then.

I remember travelling in the boot with the dog, sitting in the footwell or sometimes on my dgp's lap. There were a lot of kids in the car, and no seat belts in the back. Not that I'm saying they were "the good old days", it's just that we've come a long way since I was a kid.

Artandco, or if you don't have the option of isofix, simply plug the seatbelt in over the hbb, then it can't fall around either!

Igg - well yes but realistically how many people would remember to strap car seat in every time they used car without child in seat? I just like the reassurance if I drive and drop child/children off, and carry on driving without one or both of them, the car seat is secure.

I've never thought about what an unstrapped car seat could do to other passengers in an accident, that's food for thought.

Glad to hear we are moving to a new height of 150cm, ds is 137cm and is way to small not to be in a car seat imo

I have the Cybex Solution (M-Fix) isofix HB for my 5 year old - it's a great car seat. I do use a Trunki when travelling - it's great as an emergency seat for the odd lift or taxi ride. The seat clip positions the seat belt in the correct place which I really like.

Apparently the Cybex Solution stops the head falling forward when sleeping, is that right?

Trunki have replied in relation to the wrong rule change. They've misinterpreted your question and so their info isn't helpful.

To understand the change all you have to understand is the group system. Group 0 is baby seats. Group 1 rear or forward facing harnessed [toddler] seats, group 2 and 3 refer to boosters. The boundaries of groups are calculated by weight, so group 2 is 15-25kg, and group 3 is 22-36kg. (They always overlap a little.)

Up until now the regulations for group 2 and 3 were the same which was a bit pointless in practice, although manufacturers could choose just one weight category to classify their seats. In reality nobody did which meant that many backless booster seats were approved for 15kg which a child can weigh at 2 years old.

All the new law means is that in future seats will have to have a back to be classed as group 2, backless ones will only be sold as group 3, and a height restriction is being added because most little children in group 2 backless boosters have the belt resting on their neck.

Nobody is going to come with a tape measure and stop you from buying any seat. It's just the weight category they are approved to be used by.

Another question while all you knowledgable peeps are gathered please can someone tell me what weight a child has to be when they move to seatbelt rather than harness. Halfords told me that the harness only holds up to a certain weight then you need to use the seatbelt but didn't say what weight it was