What’s the UK law around using backless booster seats?

The current rules on backless booster seats is that they can only be used by children who weigh 22kg or more. In March 2017 a law was passed meaning manufacturers in the UK were allowed to sell backless booster seats for smaller children, so if they weigh less than 22kg, they’ll need to either use a car seat or a high-backed booster seat. But what does this mean for you and your toddler? Is your backless booster now unsafe? Here’s everything you need to know about the backless booster car seat laws.

What is the point of a backless booster seat?

Child car seats have their own safety system to fasten a child into the seat. Backless booster seats, however, do not. Therefore a child sitting in one of these must use the normal car seatbelt. A booster seat is designed to fit on the back seat of your car for a child to sit on, in order to raise their body to a safer height to be secured into the seat using the adult car seatbelt.

There are two types of booster seat to choose from: a high-back booster seat and the backless booster seat. High-back booster seats, as the name implies, have a back. The back also includes a headrest, offering padded protection for the head and neck. Because of this, they are seen as the safer option, offering more effective side-impact protection. Backless booster seats, on the other hand simply help to position the child correctly to use the car's seatbelt more safely, and they don't have a back or a headrest.

Are backless boosters still legal?

It is legal to use booster seats or booster cushions as car seats for children, but the rules in thr UK are different depending on whether the seats are old or new. This means that if you want to still continue using a backless booster seat, you'll need to know how to use them correctly and safely, according to the UK law.

Here are the current laws you need to know:

To clarify, backless booster seats can only be used with children taller than 125cm and weighing more than 22kg. However, backless booster seats made before this date are still legal and approved for use by children weighing 15-36kg (although this isn't necessarily our recommendation).

Will backless boosters still be sold?

Manufactures will no longer be able to sell a seat if it does not meet these revised safety standards. The new rules mean children using new seats will have to weigh more than 22kg and be taller than 125cm, so you will no longer be able to buy a backless booster for your child if they are smaller than this.

However, shops can sell backless booster seats that are approved for use by children weighing between 15kg and 36kg. It's important that you check the label before you buy to make sure the booster seat corresponds with the size and weight of your child.

Why are booster seats no longer deemed safe?

Many parentss believe that a backless booster seat offers the same protection as a high-back booster. this isn't true. For years’ experts have debated the safety of the backless booster, yet these changes have come about after the UN warned seats without backs will not protect smaller children from side on-collisions, in the way that high-back booster seats can.

You may be able to have some peace of mind if you have a more modern car that has a side airbag feature to provide extra porotection for passengers. However, your child's head isn't guaranteed to reach the safety airbag, despite them sitting in a booster seat.

Plus, although booster cushions raise a child’s position in the seat, some struggle to keep the shoulder strap of a three-point adult seatbelt in the right place on a child, which is also a concern. It's also easy for small children to wriggle out of position when using a backless booster seat. This could happen while you are driving, which is very worrying.

Car seat expert Kevin Macliver has worked in test centres all over the world and told Mother and Baby: "From years of testing we know that children aged between four and 12 do not get the best support from a booster cushion and instead recommend parents opt for a high back booster with head supports for side impact protection instead."

How to use a backless booster seat safely

If you don’t want to buy a new car-seat, or if you drive a smaller car and use a booster seat for convenience, it is crucial you make sure both seat and seat belt are properly fitted each time you pull off.

In recent research conducted by car seat manufacturer Britax, results showed approximately half of seat belts used to secure child seats may be fitted incorrectly. If the seat belt is twisted, too high, or fitted around the seat and not the child, it will be ineffective in the event of an incident.

Will backless boosters be banned all together?

The BPA (Baby Products Association) have confirmed they have no plans to completely ban backless boosters from the market. Instead, we can expect to see manufacturers designing new products that will meet the safety regulations. After March, you may also be asked to confirm your baby’s weight and height when buying a car seat.

When can a child use a backless booster seat UK

Your child will probably grow out of their child car seat around the age of four, and they'll transition into a high-back or backless booster seat for safety. However, the correct backless booster seat age will depend on your child, as they won't be able to legally and safely use a backless booster seat unless they weigh more than 22kg or are taller than 125cm.

At what age can I stop putting my child in a car seat?

Although it may not be deemed ‘cool’, your child should remain in a car seat until they are 12 years old, or reach 135cm in height. This is because the bones in children’s hips aren’t fully developed until they are 12-13 years of age, meaning the seat belt will sit across their stomachs instead of staying low on their hips. In the event of a crash, this can cause injuries to a child’s abdominal organs.

What about using booster seats in taxis?

Sometimes you may have to travel with a child in a taxi or in someone else's car. Should you use a booster seat in these situations? As with all of the the advice above, you should avoid using a backless booster seat in any situation where the child is too young or weighs less than 15kg. As a general guide, this is around 3-4 years old, but will depend on the child.

If you do use a booster seat in a taxi here are some safety tips:

Do backless booster seats have ISOFIX?

No, backless booster seats are not secured to the car at all - either by the seat belt or Isofix connectors. They function simply as a kind of structured cushion to raise a child up to the correct height so they can safely be fastened in using the car's adult seatbelt. This is safer than the child being fastened in without the booster seat as the seatbelt is in a safer position. This means that in the event of a collision, the child's abdomen will avoid being injured.

Why do backless booster seats expire?

Booster seats generally have a lifespan of around five years, this is because the materials wear down and lose their strength. For this reason backless booster seats, like high-backs and child car seats, come with an expiry date. They may be able to last longer if they are properly cared for, but it's important to take safety instructions seriously when it comes to car safety for kids.

Proud aunt to her teen niece, Zara Mohammed is a Digital Writer for Mother&Baby. She has 10 years freelance writing experience creating lifestyle content for various platforms, including pregnancy, women’s health, parenting, child development and child mental health, plus lots of fun seasonal family articles and celebrity news.