A specialist has finally settled one of the most fiercely contested child safety debates - when youngsters should switch from rear-facing to forward-facing car seats.
Whilst parenting might not arrive with a definitive manual, motoring with children absolutely does.
To assist mums and dads in grasping the latest requirements for child protection on British roads, car seat specialists at Kiddies Kingdom have offered some crucial advice.
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Showroom manager Kirsty Carroll said: "In the UK, children must use a car seat whilst travelling until they're 12 years old or 135 centimetres tall, whichever comes first.
"Not only is your child required to be in a car seat until then, but for babies under 15 months, that seat must be rear facing.
"However, it is recommended to keep them rear-facing as long as possible for maximum safety."
The logic behind staying rear-facing for extended periods relates to how these seats shield a youngster's head, neck and spine during a crash, reports the Mirror.
Studies have repeatedly demonstrated that rear-facing seats cut the risk of severe injury to children.
Industry expert Kirsty emphasised that the law's minimum shouldn't necessarily be a parent's target, as numerous contemporary children's car seats are engineered to maintain kids rear-facing until four years old, or even beyond depending on their height and weight.
Protection must always take priority over convenience in this instance. If parents fail to use an appropriate car seat, they could receive an immediate £60 fine and three penalty points on their driving licence.
Should the matter proceed to court, the financial penalty could escalate to as much as £500.
Whilst there are limited exceptions - such as in licensed taxis or larger vehicles including coaches and minibuses - Kirsty insists that it remains safest for young children to travel rear-facing for as long as possible.
Parents have also been reminded of a crucial legal requirement concerning seat positioning.
Though the front passenger airbag is engineered to safeguard adults, it can prove fatal to a small child in a rear-facing seat.
Kirsty cautioned: "Parents should never place their child's rear-facing seat in the front passenger seat unless they have deactivated the airbag, as not only is it dangerous but it is also against the law, and you risk up to a £500 fine.
"The airbag must be deactivated if you have your child rear-facing in the passenger seat, but even then, I highly advise against it, as transporting your child in the back is always safer."
Beyond the positioning of the seat itself, parents must select wisely when making a purchase.
Kirsty advised: "In the UK, only EU-approved height-based or weight-based child car seats meet legal requirements. Look for an orange label with a capital 'E' in a circle and the R129 stamp for height-based seats or ECE R44 for weight-based seats.
"Using a non-approved child seat is treated the same as not using a proper restraint at all and can result in a court fine of up to £500. But beyond the financial repercussions, using a non-approved seat puts children at a much higher risk of injury, as they haven't been tested against the rigorous EU/UK standards."
Kirsty concluded by reminding parents: "These laws are set in place for the safety of you and your children. Keep clued up on the latest laws and regulations so you don't find yourself with license points, a hefty fine, or potential harm to you, your child or others on the road."
Therefore, ensuring your children remain secure in correctly fitted rear-facing child seats for as long as feasible represents one of the most crucial measures you can adopt to guarantee their safety whilst travelling.