To be worried about breaking the law: car seats!

[QueenofmyPrinces]

My sister has got two children aged 8 and almost 12. She doesn’t drive so has never had car seats and there’s never been any issues.

However, next week my mom is taking them away and all she has available in terms of car seats is a little booster seat (quite flimsy, not
fixed to the back seat in any way) for the 8 year old and nothing for the older child. She said he’s fine just sitting in the main seat with the seatbelt on.

Is this ok?

I’m worried it goes against current laws and she could risk getting herself in trouble?

She said I’m overreacting.
Am I?

Why doesn't she just buy a cheap one? Halfords do high backed booster seats for £25, they might be even cheaper elsewhere

If the child is 135cm or above then it's fine.

I'm pretty sure that there is no law stating that such big children must be in a car seat.

If the child is over 135cm it's fine. The 8 year old is also fine in a booster seat. Calm down.

I think it goes on the height/weight of the child? It depends how big they are I guess but it sounds ok to me. I know of 4/5/6yr olds who only travel on boosters, a couple have nothing at all

Backless boosters aren't illegal, they've been deemed to be not as safe as a high backed booster and are not allowed to be sold anymore (I believe) however you can still use one if you have one.

As for the almost 12yo it comes down to the child's height. My 10 year old nephew is now tall enough to not require one

At 12 they probably are above height to need one.

It’s only because a women was telling me about seats that accommodate children up to the age of 12 so I assumed that it was a requirement for children to be in car seats until that age?

I will get my sister to check the height of the 9 year old because she’s pretty dainty.

lmgtfy.com/?q=Uk+Law+car+seats

know of 4/5/6yr olds who only travel on boosters, a couple have nothing at all shock

My friend once had my 2 year old
for me and when she bought him back he was in a little HB seat with the normal seatbelt across him. I was a bit horrified.

I'm fairly sure the 12 year old will be fine unless they are teeny tiny. The other one, they would need to check the weight of the child I think, but I expect it would be fine.

How tall is the 11yo? If they are over 135cm then she's not breaking any laws.

Booster seats are legal for 8yos if you already have one, you just can't buy non-backless ones anymore.

Once a child reaches 12 they don't have to use a car seat any more, even if they're still under 135 cms.

The 11 year old is definitely over 135cm, he’s really tall. I was just worried about the mention of car seats designed to hold children up to 12, I didn’t realise their height played a part too.

It's 135cm or age 12 whichever comes first. Ds was 135cm by the age of 9 tbh

A lot of booster seats aren't fixed to the car anyway unless it's an isofix one. The 12yo will probably be big enough not to need a seat at all. The 9 yo may not either depending on her height.

You are over reacting a smidge.

http://www.childcarseats.org.uk/the-law/cars-taxis-private-hire-vehicles-vans-and-goods-vehicles/