Types Of Baby Seats

There are four types of baby seats and I am going to explain what each one is designed for and best age gaps they are designed for.

Remember there are a number of different makes and design’s which I will talk to you more about in my Best baby car seat section.

Rearward-facing baby seat. 

This seat is best for birth up to 6-9 months age groups. Group 0 

They are designed to be used both in the front and rear seat of the car, For the safer option I would suggest using it in the rear, never and I mean NEVER put them in the front seat with the airbag switched on, you can turn them of you need to refer to you cars user guide book for instructions but if you could as forgetful as me it’s just not worth it. It is best to keep your baby in a rearward position for as long as possible as this give’s greater protection for baby’s head, neck and spine rather than a forward facing seat. 

Forward-facing child seat 

This seat is best suited for children from 9 months to 4 years. Group1

Once baby has grown out of their rearward facing seat the next step will be a group 1 seat with an integral harness. The main reason for this is the large area of the harness is to help reduce risk of injury in case of an accident. They are also designed with an attachment which sits between the Childs legs to stop them from sliding under and out of the harness. 

Again these seats are designed for both front and back seats but I highly recommend using them in the back seat because of the front passenger air-bag. 

Again only upgrade once your child has out grown it or has reached maximum weight for the seat which should be provided in the user guide book which comes with the seat. 

Booster seats and Booster Cushions 

There are two groups your child could fall under for these seats. 

Group 2- for children roughly 4 – 6 

Or 

Group 3 - for children roughly 6 – 11 years 

Booster seats that only fit into Group 2 or only into Group 3 are no longer produced and modern booster seats are designed for children between 15kg and 36kg (33 - 79 lbs).  

Booster cushions can be approved for Groups 2 and Group 3, although some are only approved for just Group 3. You should ensure your child is within the weight range of any booster seat or booster cushion. Which again should be provided in the user guides or better ask for advice when deciding on purchasing one. Any good retailer will have trained staff to give you some advice. Remember guys always ask if you’re not sure, knowledge is the most powerful thing to gain. Now back to our original topic 

Some booster seats are designed to be converted into a booster cushion by detaching the back rest, and you should always check the manufacturer’s advice about when and how to do this. 

Booster seats and booster cushions do not have an integral harness to hold the child in place. The adult seat belt goes around the child and the seat. So it is important that the seat belt is correctly adjusted. The basic points to note are: 

• the belt should be worn as tight as possible  
• the lap belt should go over the pelvic region, not the stomach  
• the diagonal strap should rest over the shoulder, not the neck  

When children first move out of the forward-facing child seats into booster seats and cushions, initially, ones with backs may provide a better fit for the seat belt. Booster seats with side wings will also help to prevent injury in a side impact by protecting a child's head, and on several seats, the height of the side wings can be adjusted as the child grows. 

Booster seats and booster cushions can be used in the front or rear of the car, but it is safer to put them in the rear, especially if there is a passenger airbag in the front.