Current legislation dictates that children as young as three (or 15kg) can use one, however from December 2016 if a child measures under 125cm or weighs under 22kg, they will not be allowed to travel in a backless booster car seat. This amendment to current car seat laws is a reaction to ongoing pressure from safety experts, who have deemed backless boosters as unsafe. Statistics show that 25% of car accidents occur with a side impact, and with backless booster car seats offering no protection from the side at all, it’s clear to see why these changes to children’s car seat laws have been introduced.

However it’s very important to realise that though the legislation change has been said to be in December of 2016 – this is NOT final – it’s only a suggestion as of right now. I do however hope that it changes – the faster the better!

In my professional opinion?

A booster cushion should only be used for older children on the verge of completing the 5 step test or in times of emergency – not as an everyday thing. In other words I believe it has its place – but not in the back of your car to be used on a daily basis. A high back booster (HBB) should be used until the child is 150 cm tall – yes I know the law states 135cm but the law is a minimum – it is not a maximum – and for maximum protection children need the HBB protection for longer than 135cm. We don’t have to travel longer than Ireland before the law is actually 150cm. It is also the recommendation by all major safety organisations in Europe (and UK). Some high back boosters can be quite small though – so I would recommend that if your child has outgrown the high back booster either before 135cm or at 135cm that you look into a bigger one. Most HBB on the market will cater to 150cm but some are as I said small (Graco as an example) so make sure to check.

For a child to not need any booster at all – despite what the law declares OK – they will need to have passed the “5 step test”. Which is this: