What Car? Q&A - Baby seat? Child Seat? Booster seat?

Q: What are the differences between a baby seat, child seat and a booster seat?
Lisa Teale

A: A baby seat is rear-facing and designed specifically for the very young child. It can be fitted in the front or the back of the car, using the adult three-point seatbelt, although the back seat is the safest place for a child of any age. Never put a rearward-facing seat in front of an active airbag.

A child seat is intended for toddlers and small children. It is a separately framed seat, which is also designed to be secured by the adult diagonal seatbelt. The child is restrained by the seat’s integral harness, which should include a crotch strap to prevent a child sliding out of the seat in the event of an accident. A child seat can be rear- or forward-facing. Toddlers might find forward-facing seats more fun, but a rearward-facing design is always safer.

A booster seat is designed for children who have outgrown child seats but who are not yet big enough to be safely secured by an adult seatbelt. The booster seat lifts the child to a suitable height, enabling the adult belt to be used effectively. Both the child and the seat are restrained by the diagonal belt – there is no integral harness.

For older children there are booster cushions available; as with the booster seat, these simply lift the child into a higher seating position, enabling the adult seatbelt to be used safely.

Many cars now come with the option of integrated booster seats, which see a portion of the seat cushion lift out when needed to raise a child to the appropriate height.