Until what age do you need a car seat?

It is extremely important for the safety of your child that you transport him or her in the right way in your car. You can transport your child safely by means of a child car seat. Up to what age do you need such a car seat? In the Netherlands, it is not so much about the age, but about the length of your child. Up to a length of 135 centimetres, your child must sit in a car seat or a booster seat. In this article, we will delve deeper into the regulations regarding the car seat, whereby we look at up to what age, length and weight a child seat is required.

Up to what age is a car seat necessary?

Until what age does your child have to remain in a car seat? In the Netherlands, there is no attention to the age up to which the car seat is mandatory. The height of your child is taken into account. Children under 1.35 meters must be placed in a child seat. Depending on the weight and height, you must choose a baby seat, child seat or booster seat. If your child is already taller than 1.35 meters, they can sit in the back seat without a child seat. They must then wear a seat belt. This way you can transport your children safely on your next family outing through South Limburg, vacation or road trip.

When is a child car seat not mandatory?

There is an exception to this rule. In many cars fits three child seats not and you can only attach two car seats. If you have a third child who is smaller than 1.35 meters, then this child may sit on the back seat between the two car seats. This applies to a child from the age of three and only if the child can wear a seat belt. In exceptional cases, a child from the age of three may be transported with only a seat belt, when they are transported by someone other than the parents. This only applies for short distances, for example picking them up from school or transporting them to a children's party. Furthermore, the child must sit in the backseat. If someone else regularly drives your child around, then it is no longer an incidental event and the normal rules simply apply.

Which car seat is required up to what age?

The i-Size standard covers the regulations on car seats and this regulation has only been active since 2013. Some key points of this regulation are:

• A child up to fifteen months old must be transported facing against the direction of travel.
• Car seats are classified based on length and no longer based on weight.
• Car seats with ISOFIX attachment points may only be used.

Based on these points, a baby up to fifteen months old and up to 83 centimetres tall must be transported rearward-facing and may sit in a car seat of car seat group 0/0+ (0-13 kg according to the old standard). From 15 months old and with a length between 60 and 105 centimetres, your child may also be transported facing forward. According to the old standard, this was car seat group 1 for a weight between nine and eighteen kilograms. From 3 to 12 years old and with a length between 105 and 135 centimetres, your child may be transported facing forward. This used to be the car seat group 2 and 3 with a weight between 15 and 36 kilos.

When are booster seats mandatory?

A booster seat is a child seat, but it differs from a normal car seat. A booster seat secures your child with the belt from the car, while a car seat has its own belt system to hold your child. You can buy booster seats without a backrest or with a backrest. Whether you are allowed to use a booster seat is also not dependent on age. The length and weight of your child determines whether a booster seat may be used. Children weighing more than 22 kilograms and a height of more than 1.25 meters may sit in a booster seat. A booster seat is also mandatory for children who are smaller than 1.35 meters, so a child from 1.25 to 1.35 meters must sit in the booster seat.

How do you transport a child in the car?

The i-Size standard stipulates that children up to 15 months must be transported facing backwards. Why is this? In the event of a car accident, this is much safer. In the event of a head-on collision, transporting your child against the direction of travel prevents the neck of your child from being subjected to significant G-forces. These forces are now absorbed by the entire body, which significantly reduces the chance of serious injury. If you use a safe car seat, you can transport your child in both the back and the front of the car. This makes less difference for safety. Please note that you must deactivate the airbag on the front passenger seat. The impact caused by the airbag in the event of an accident can seriously injure your child.

What about seat belts?

In general, you can say that you are not allowed to transport people if you do not have seat belts. Furthermore, everyone has their own seat belt, so that no more people may be transported than there are seat belts. Two children in a seat belt is also not allowed. Everyone also has their own seat in the car. So no one is allowed to sit on someone else's lap.