Children over 12 or more than 135cm tall must wear a seat belt by law. Choosing the right car seat for your child is crucial for their safety and comfort during every journey.

This guide provides expert advice on selecting, installing, and maintaining car seats to keep your family safe on the road.

Car Seats Buying Guide 

There’s nothing more important than safety when travelling with your family in tow — whether you’re heading off on the school run or you’re driving abroad. An essential part of keeping your little ones comfortable and secure is choosing the right car seat. But with so many options, how do you know which is the right choice? 

By law, children need to sit in a car seat or booster seat until they’re 135cm or 12 years old, whichever comes first! So choosing the right car seat for your child’s age and needs is crucial for safety on the road, no matter where you’re heading. This is where our car seat buying guide comes in. Find out more below. 

How to choose your car seat 

So, where to start? There are a few factors to think about to help you choose the perfect car seat for your kids, including: 

Weight 

Child car seats are categorised by weight so they fit your child at various times of their lives. Here’s a table to help you work out what to look for when buying a car seat: 

Weight	Seat type
0kg to 10kg - Newborn	Lie-flat or ‘lateral’ baby carrier, rear-facing baby carrier, or rear-facing baby seat using a harness
0kg to 13kg - Newborn	Rear-facing baby carrier or rear-facing baby seat using a harness
9kg to 18kg - approx. 1 year	Rear or forward-facing baby seat using a harness or safety shield
15kg to 25kg - approx. 2 years	Rear or forward-facing child car seat (high-backed booster seat or booster cushion) using a seat belt, harness or safety shield
22kg to 36kg - approx. 3 years+	Rear or forward-facing child car seat (high-backed booster seat or booster cushion) using a seat belt, harness or safety shield

Height 

Along with your child’s weight, you’ll have to think about how tall they are. Height-based seats are known as I-Size seats and they must be rear-facing until your child reaches 15 months to protect your child’s neck and head. Then they’ll be able to face forward — just like everyone else! 

Additional needs 

No two kids are the same, so for your peace of mind, it’s good to know that your child will be catered for no matter what. If your child has additional needs, like a physical disability or autism, there are car seats to suit them. 

Keep in mind any modifications or additional support your child may need from their car seat — whether that’s additional neck or body support or a modified harness — so they can stay comfortable and secure on the road. 

Things to consider when buying a child’s car seat 

So, with your little one’s weight and height in mind, you’ll need to choose a car seat that’s not only going to keep them comfortable on longer journeys, but also keep them safe when you’re out and about on the road. Here are a few things to keep in mind: 

Safety features 

Safety features are incredibly important, and there are loads of them to look out for when choosing a car seat. Look for load legs and anti-rebound bars to absorb energy in a crash. Impact-absorbing materials and side-impact protection give you peace of mind if the worst should happen. Five-point harness systems, adjustable harnesses and adjustable headrests keep your child comfortable as they grow. 

And safety doesn’t end with the car seat you choose, it’s an essential feature when choosing a family car too. Models with high NCAP ratings and a range of car safety tech to give you a helping hand when you need it most are crucial. 

Isofix

We’ve already touched on Isofix, but it’s one of the most important features to look for in a car seat and a family car. Most car seats are compatible with Isofix so make sure the car you choose has 2 Isofix or even 3 Isofix points to suit the number of car seats you need. 

Car compatibility 

Along with Isofix, think about other features of the car that might benefit you when travelling with little ones. This could be wide-opening doors so you don’t have to wrestle the seat into place. Along with keyless entry and loads of interior head and leg space, fit your child’s car seat easily with convenient features you’ll find in a family car. 

How to fit your car seat 

Once you’ve chosen your car seat, you’ll need to fit it. If you’ve never done this before, you might not know where to start, so here’s a quick guide to help: 

• Place your child’s car seat in your desired space
• Use the arms on the back of the car seat to anchor it into the Isofix points. Once it’s in place, check it’s secure by moving the seat back to front and side to side. If it’s done correctly, it shouldn’t move as much as an inch!
• Once your child is in the car seat, make sure the harness is snug to keep your precious cargo in place. 

A few things to keep in mind: you should only use a child car seat if your car’s seat belt has a diagonal strap unless the seat is either specifically designed for use with a lap seat belt or fitted using Isofix anchor points. 

You should also deactivate any front airbags before fitting a rear-facing baby seat in a front seat and make sure you don’t fit a child car seat in side-facing seats. 

Child car seats FAQs

Choosing a car seat can seem overwhelming — there’s so much choice! But it doesn’t have to be. If you still have questions on all things car seats, find the answers you need below.

How tall do children have to be to stop using a car seat? 

Your child has to be at least 135cm tall or 12 years old to stop using a car seat altogether — whichever comes first. Backless boosters should only be used when your child is over 125cm and weighs more than 22kg. 

How long do baby car seats last?

Your child’s car seat will go through a lot, but typically baby car seats can last anywhere from 6 to 10 years. This depends on a few factors including how often it’s used, the temperature within the car throughout the year and the manufacturer you choose. 

How does Isofix work? 

This is the system that secures your child’s car seat to the car. On your child’s car seat, you’ll see two metal or plastic arms that extend from the back. These slot into your car’s Isofix points, which tend to be placed in the gap between the backrest and the flat seat in the back of your car. This feature keeps the car seat anchored so your little ones are safe throughout the journey. It’s worth checking where your Isofix points are when buying a family car. 

Which cars have Isofix? 

Most cars have Isofix, but if you’re looking for a family car with a specific amount of Isofix points, for example, if you have two (or even three) car seats, you’ll need to do a bit of research before making a decision. Typically the larger the car, the more Isofix points and room for manoeuvring your kids inside! Cars like the Peugeot 3008 and the Volkswagen ID.4 all have 3 Isofix points. 

What if my car doesn't have Isofix? 

If your car doesn’t have Isofix, you’ll need to secure your child’s car seat with a seatbelt. The car seat you choose should have slots or guides where you can thread the seatbelt through. Feed the belt through and pull it tight. A seat belt base to help you secure the seat with a seatbelt or Isofix could also be a good choice.