Most car accidents occur close to home. While children’s car seats can be fiddly to use, failing to use them properly, even on short journey’s is putting a child at unnecessary risk.

Ensuring you have the correct car seat, and it fits your vehicle, can save a child from serious injuries.    

Should I use a car seat or a seat belt for my child?

Children must normally use a child car seat  until they’re 12 years old or 135 centimetres tall, whichever comes first.

Children over 12 or more than 135cm tall must wear a correctly fitted seat belt .

 You can choose a child car seat based on either your child’s height or their weight.

What are the approved car seat safety standards?

You must check a height-based seat to make sure it’s suitable for the height of your child.  Only EU-approved height-based child car seats can be used in the UK. These have a label showing a capital E in a circle and R129

For weight-based seats, the seat your child can use (and the way they must be restrained in it) depends on their weight. Only EU-approved weight-based child car seats can be used in the UK. These have a label showing a capital E in a circle and ECE R44

 The website www.childcarseats.org.uk has more information on car seat laws and choosing the correct car seat for your child.

Urgent child car seat recall

Parents have been warned to urgently check their car seats after the Solar Group's 1 2 3 Isofix car seat was recalled due to a risk of injury. The affected models were sold between February 1 and 23. You can find more details on the government website .

Who’s responsible for faulty car seats?

Car seat manufacturers are responsible for making sure that their products aren’t faulty.

The Consumer Protection Act 1987 makes a manufacturer liable for any injuries or damages caused by a faulty product. A defective product is one that doesn't provide the level of safety that people would generally be entitled to expect. You can find more information on faulty product claims on our website.

Retailers also have a duty to ensure that products they sell are safe and they can’t get away with passing the blame to the manufacturer.

We're pleased to be supporting Child Safety Week 2024 . As a firm we're committed to ensure our clients and consumers better understand their consumer rights. Together with The Child Accident Prevention Trust , our aim is to promote safety awareness and to encourage sellers and retailers of products to help raise standards.

If you've suffered an injury because of a faulty product of any kind and would like a chat about your options, call and speak to a member of our personal injury team on 01302 320621 or email help@switalskis.com.