Car seat: Until what age?

No matter what type of vehicle you drive, one thing is for sure: taking a child with you is out of the question if they are not securely seated in their car seat. But do you know exactly up to what age you should abide by this rule? And how do you know when it's time to change your car seat or switch to a booster seat? Here are the things to know absolutely.

Until what age is the car seat compulsory?

In France, since 1992, any child under 135 cm traveling by car must use a car seat or booster seat, regardless of their age. However, the age of 10 is cited as the moment from which to switch to the seat belt without a booster. 10 years is generally the age from which children reach the size necessary to be able to do without booster seats without risk. It is also the minimum age for the pelvis to be sufficiently well ossified to be able to withstand the pressure exerted on the seat belt in the event of an accident.

By law, children under the age of 10 must also always be seated in the back of the vehicle. A child under the age of 10 may only sit in the front if the seats in the rear bench are unusable, or if the child is installed in a rearward-facing car seat.

Even if your child 10 years or older may be in a hurry to do without a booster seat, be vigilant! A belt can be more dangerous than protective if used improperly. It is therefore better to be patient and perform a test before abandoning the car seat: the child must be able to rest his back straight against the back of the car seat, while having the knees protruding naturally from the seat. Before you have reached the height necessary to sit in this way and within 10 years of age, it is strongly recommended not to use the seat belt alone.

To facilitate the transition between the harness or the shield and the seat belt, we recommend this 3 in 1 kit including 2 protective cushions to be placed around the belt for the comfort of your child as well as a belt adjuster that helps to keep the belt away from the neck and face, while absorbing shock.

Is it time to change your car seat?

There are currently two standards in force, cohabiting with each other for many years to come: the R44 / 04 standard, the oldest, and the R129 standard (known as i-Size) which will replace it in 2020. According to the regulation R44 / 04, car seats are divided into 5 groups. Each group corresponds to a different weight: from group 0, usable from birth, to group 3 for children up to 12 years old (or 36 kg). But don't worry, there's no need to equip yourself with 5 different car seats to keep up with your child's growth: most car seats are upgradeable and correspond to several groups at the same time, i.e. different types of seats in one.

At a minimum, you will need to change your car seat at least once: to go from group 0 to group 1/2/3, or from group 0 + / 1 to group 2/3 for example. Indeed, even if some manufacturers are very ingenious, it is for the moment impossible to transform a cozy (also called shell) or a carrycot (the most suitable shapes for a newborn) into a car seat which will then evolve. as a booster seat to protect babies weighing 6 kg and children weighing 15 or even 36 kg in the same way.

In the event of an accident, regardless of the type of car seat, you must replace your seat immediately. Even though it was a slight shock and the child was not present, the car seat may have suffered invisible damage! In terms of road safety, it is well known that you shouldn't take any risks. See the car seat as an airbag: it is not an element that is intended to be reused.

When to switch to a booster?

From a minimum of 15 kg (group 2) according to the R44 / 04 standard, or when it measures more than 1 m according to the R19 standard, the child can be attached using the seat belt and no longer a harness or shield. The car seat therefore acts as a booster in order to reach the height necessary for the use of the belt. However, it is recommended to wait as late as possible before switching to a booster seat, so that the child has the necessary maturity to keep his seat belt properly in place. In addition, changing to a booster seat means in some cases an installation for the first time facing the road, but it is advisable to stay in the rearward facing position as long as the child's build allows it.

Note that there are two types of booster seats: with backrest (from group 2 and for children from 3 to 8 years old on average) and without backrest (from group 3 and for children from 6 to 12 years old in average).
Booster seats without backrest are however set to disappear under regulation R129. They should be avoided for various reasons:

  • the low booster may slip
  • the backless booster seat does not guide the belt over the child's body and it ends up too close to the neck
  • the backrest absorbs the kinetic energy released during an accident
  • the backrest supports the head of the sleeping child

The best booster seats

That's it, your child is over 3 years old, and his size is suitable for the use of the booster seat? We have selected for you the best models of group 2 and 3 car seats, with safety and crash test results as the first criterion of choice. Without forgetting of course the comfort of your toddlers, nor the practical side.

Chicco Oasys Evo Fixplus group 2/3 car seat

Car seat group 2/3 Baby comfort Rodifix Airprotect

Britax Römer KIDFIX SL group 2/3 car seat

Car seat group 2/3 Cybex Solution X-Fix