Children in the car: child restraint systems

Seatbelts are designed for adults. On a child, the belt can sit across the neck or the stomach and, in a crash, do more harm than good. That is why child restraint systems exist: child seats, booster seats and baby carriers. Using them properly is one of the things that best protects children in the car.

What the rules say in Spain

The general rule is that children under 135 cm tall must travel in a restraint system suited to their height and weight, and must sit in the rear seats. There are specific exceptions, for example when the car has no rear seats or when they are already occupied by other children in their own restraints. If a child travels in the front in a rear-facing seat, the passenger's front airbag must be switched off.

Between 135 and 150 cm, children can use the car's seatbelt or stay in a restraint system. It is often best to keep using a booster until the belt fits properly: across the collarbone, not the neck, and over the hips, not the tummy.

Choosing a seat

• It must be approved under European rules. The label shows the approval reference; the most recent seats follow the i-Size standard (R129), which classifies seats by the child's height.
• Choose according to the child's height and weight, not just age.
• Check it is compatible with your car. Not every seat fits well in every vehicle.
• If your car has ISOFIX anchor points, they make correct fitting easier and reduce mistakes.

Rear-facing is safer

For the youngest children, travelling rear-facing is the most protective option: in a frontal crash, the seat back spreads the force across the whole back and supports the head, which in babies is heavy relative to the body. Road safety advice is to keep children rear-facing for as long as possible, within the seat's limits.

Common mistakes

1. Loose harness straps. If you can pinch the strap at shoulder height, it is too loose.
2. Thick coats under the harness: they create slack. Take the coat off and put it over the child instead.
3. Seat not firmly fitted, moving more than the manufacturer allows.
4. Seatbelt routed wrongly through the booster's guides.
5. Moving the child up to the next stage too early.
6. Loose objects in the cabin: under hard braking, anything can become a projectile.

Visiting and hiring a car

Many visitors to the south of Tenerife hire a car and travel with children. Book the seat in advance, check when you collect it that it suits your child's size and is in good condition, and take a few minutes to fit it calmly following the instructions. If you bring your own seat, check it is compatible with the hire car.

The passenger airbag

If you ever need to fit a rear-facing seat in the front, learn how the airbag is switched off in your car: on some it is a key switch, on others it is done through the menu. Always check the dashboard indicator confirming it is off, and switch it back on when an adult sits there. If in doubt, the car's handbook explains the exact procedure for your model.

If you leave your car with Green Car Service Tenerife and use our courtesy car, remember to move the child seat across. And if your car has been in an accident with the seat fitted, check the seat's manual: many manufacturers recommend replacing it even if no damage is visible. For everything to do with the accident itself, see our claims page, and you can book an appointment by phone or WhatsApp.