At Car Seats Plus, we’re all about helping families make safer choices - and the latest Axkid report on child car safety in the UK shows there’s still a lot of work to do.

Backed by Swedish safety values and research, the report surveyed over 1,000 UK parents to understand how well we’re really protecting our children on the road. Spoiler: while most of us think we’re doing a great job, the reality isn’t quite as reassuring.

📉 The Knowledge Gap is Real

• 89% of parents say they know the law around car seats.

• But… 3 in 4 don’t know the legal minimum age for forward-facing.

• And only 22% know how long a child must use a restraint (12 years old or 135 cm).

🚼 Rear-Facing: Not Long Enough

• 69% of under-2s travel rear-facing as the law requires (15 months minimum).
• But only 22% of 2–3-year-olds still rear-face - despite strong safety evidence recommending rear-facing to age 4 or beyond.
• Shockingly, one in five babies under 1 already ride forward-facing.

🧒 Older Kids Are Slipping Through the Cracks

• Only 51% of 8–10-year-olds always use a child restraint.
• Nearly 1 in 4 travel with no extra protection at all.
• The most common excuse? Parents think their child is tall enough.

🧠 Parents Want Clearer Guidance

• 83% of parents say they want clearer advice beyond legal minimums.
• Most prefer this to come from trusted sources like the government or retailers (like us!).
  

💡 The Swedish Standard: A Model to Follow

In Sweden, where rear-facing until age 4 is strongly recommended, usage rates are much higher - and their outcomes are safer. The UK currently lacks this kind of national push.

✅ Our Takeaway

This report confirms what we see daily at Car Seats Plus: parents want to make safe choices, but often lack the guidance, confidence, or up-to-date knowledge to do so.

That’s why we:

• Specialise in extended rear-facing and Plus Test-approved seats
• Offer ongoing fit checks with all car seat purchases
• Host parent safety events to empower local families

Ready to level up your car seat confidence?

Book an appointment to try seats in your car, ask all the questions, and leave with peace of mind - because safety shouldn’t be complicated.

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