Car Seats

What age should babies be in a car seat?
A car seat can be used from the newborn stage, however, there are multiple car seat regulations in the UK that centre around how a child seat should be used. For instance, babies under 9kg (so those who are around 9 months old) will need to sit in a rear-facing baby seat while in the car. However, this won't limit your choice of secure car seats. From Maxi-Cosi to Britax Romer and more, there are a number of trusted and approved brands to choose from at Direct4Baby that are built to see you and your infant through journeys big and small.

Is ISOFIX better than a seatbelt?
UK law states that all child seats will need to be fitted in place using ISOFIX or secured using a diagonal seat belt strap. You will remain legally compliant as long as you use one or the other. With that being said, however, using an ISOFIX is generally considered to be the safer option. The main reason for this is that the car seat can be fixed directly onto the ISOFIX base, which means there will be less chance of movement in the seat in the event of an accident, in comparison to if a seatbelt was to be used.

What does Group 1 2 3 car seat mean?
Child seats come under certain groupings that parents will need to pay close attention to depending on the age of their infant. For instance, Group 1 applies to children weighing between 9kg and 18kg (around 9 months to 4 years), while Group 2 means you'll be able to move on to using a booster seat for your child, and by this point their weight should be from 15kg upwards, from around 4 years of age. Finally, in the next stage, which is Group 3, booster cushions can be used for children who are around 6 years old and above, and are over 125cm tall.