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The trials and tribulations involved in getting a car seat, fitting a car seat and then using a car seat are well documented. When researching this article I was overwhelmed by the number of parent forums discussing whether its acceptable to leave their babies in the car napping, which models are best and how young is too young for non car seat travel – but one topic that seemed to consistently appear and reappear was regarding how the differing laws in different counties affected the standards of baby seats made in those countries. As a not-quite-ready-to-be-pregnant journalist; I had no idea these safe-traps could cause such dilemmas although given the statistic that last year 37 children were killed or seriously injured on the road in the UK, it is not hard to see how this debate is an important one! I started pilfering the automobile regulations and forums to discover car seat valleys and peaks.
Starting with the UK as a basis for comparison; the UK’s standards and regulations regarding traveling with little ones is actually reassuringly strict. In May 2006 new regulations were bought in to comply with the EU directive. Stephan Ladyman, the then Road Safety Minister believed the new laws would save up to 2000 child deaths and injuries every year. "Small children,” he said explained, “need the protection that baby seats and child seats are designed to provide. Seat belts are designed for adults. Children who have grown out of child seats still need to use booster seats and booster cushions."
This change in legislation has meant that it is illegal in this country for children under 11 years of age, not to be strapped in a child or baby seat. This is great news for child safety and even better news for baby and child seat buyer in the UK as the quality of these products have consequently risen with the emphasis on safety.
Mark Blewett from Babyoka.co.uk, a supplier of a vast range of select baby products including fully compliant baby seats agrees. He worries that although many companies advertising cheap baby seats from abroad have very competitive prices; the lax regulations mean that the quality doesn’t ensure safety: “Lots of people are buying car seats from America and Europe and these areas have different laws and safety standards. One key difference is that UK safety approved car seats are far more resistant to fire and much less likely to catch fire in an accident. We are actually just about to launch a Strapped-in campaign and hope to get other companies to commit to only sell car seats with the necessary UK kite marks.”
American laws are particularly diverse, and completely differ from state to state. In Arizona, for example, children can ride legally without a seat from the age of three upwards; whereas in the state of Wyoming, children under eight must be safely positioned in a baby car seat. The regulations in America, although less strict, must be met of course and it is advisable for children under eight to be safely positioned in a car seat – particularly if traveling from state to state, just to be certain.
The American laws, of course, do impact the quality of car seats on the market. Yes, the American market can entice buyers with extremely affordable prices but as one blogger rightly put it: “I think we probably all have driving safety at the front of our minds with the treacherous road conditions we’ve been having. And when there are children in the car, being safe becomes even more crucial.” Far more crucial than the change in your pocket for example!
Spain are advising that all children under 12 have suitable seat, if one is available but are less progressive than other EU countries like Italy and Germany which have laws to ensure all children under 12 have proficient safety equipment and the slightly more liberal France, who applies similar legal restriction for under tens. Italy, like many states in the US, is less safe only really acknowledging the need for children under three to sit with a seat and only condemning children under 12 using adult seatbelts if they are unaccompanied.
Mark Blewett from Babyoka says that when travelling abroad car hire firms usually offer child and baby car seats which are compliant to their countries standard. He advises to take caution and take your own UK compliant car seat with you in a easy to store car seat tote carry bag.
The UK’s national standard is the ECE. The ECE is aware that children are not simply little adults. When looking at your little ones you will notice that all their proportions are different, and that goes for internally as well as externally. Two and three point seat belts are designed to restrain and protect adults for crashing into parts of a vehicle if there is a crash but the way the belts strap the adults in can actually be detrimental to a child in the event of a crash. It only takes a minor blow to damage an infant’s skull, so protecting the head area is obviously of much higher importance than an older child or adult. Equally, an infant’s rib cage is much more flexible than ours, and the focused restraint of the two or three point belts on their mini-ribs could cause fatal injuries in the event of a crash, no matter the severity.
The bone making process isn’t complete until between the age of six and seven and up until the age of 12, the child skull is far more fragile than the adults. Consequently, protecting the head from the kinds of movement which would cause a child brain damage or severe spinal injury is a not a function that the adult belt can provide.
Mark Blewett from Babyoka explains further that, “all modern car seats sold in the UK must comply with the strict EU directive. Baby seats from afar often adhere to their own countries regulations which do not reflect our country’s, rightly imposed, emphasis on safety. You must be so careful buying seats off the internet for this reason. This is why we have launched Strapped-in.”
When it comes to baby products safety should always come above both cost, and aesthetics regardless of your country’s regulations. We are strict in England for a reason and there is no reason why you should be more relaxed when travelling abroad. As one passionate blogger eloquently puts it: “As a paediatric trauma nurse, I cannot say strongly enough that the legal requirement of a country isn't the issue - it's about what is the safest for your baby. I spent 3 days last month with a mom trying to come to terms with her 16 month old being a paraplegic all her life because she chose not to put her in a car seat. I've also seen children disfigured and/or seriously brain injured from going through glass windshields.”
To help parents still a little unsure what the specific law in the UK is – here is a basic summary:
• All children under 3 years old must use an appropriate child restraint when travelling in any car.
• Children above the age of 3 years and up to 135 cms tall have to use an appropriate child restraint when travelling in any vehicles fitted with seat belts (very few exceptions are permitted).
• Baby seats which are rear-facing must not be used with active frontal air-bags.
• When seat belts are in a vehicle, the number of people carried in the rear of that vehicle must not exceed the number of seats available which have been fitted with seat belts or child restraints (this part is to apply from May 2009);Stay safe, Buckle up!
Jo-Rosie is writing on behalf of Babyoka. Babyoka are a leading internet based supplier of quality babyoka.co.uk/aboutus.aspx>baby equipment and nursery goods including babyoka.co.uk/car-seats/c-87 >baby car seats. They committed to baby safety and are about to launch the Strapped-In campaign, which pledges allegiance to the British Safety Standards. All products from Babyoka are offered at low prices and they provide unrivalled baby product customer service, aiming to deliver all goods the day after orders are placed. They offer top brand name products along with other high quality baby products from some less well known, but reputable manufacturers.
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