Child Safety Devices Required in Cars From 2026: Which Type Should Parents Buy?

Less than two months remain until Jan. 1, 2026, when cars carrying children will be required to have safety devices appropriate to the child’s age and height, under the Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety. As a result, many vehicle owners are now looking for suitable safety devices, mainly child seats. Under the law, children under 10 years old and shorter than 1.35 m may not sit in the front row, and must have a separate safety seat or booster cushion in the rear row. If this requirement is not met, the driver may be fined 800,000-1,000,000 dong.

At present, children riding in cars is still often handled freely and unsafely, from sitting alone to sitting on an adult’s lap, or even lying across the seat while the vehicle is moving. In a sudden stop, even a light impact can throw a child’s body forward with extremely high acceleration, causing injury or death. In addition, car seat belts are designed for adults taller than 1.4 m. For small children, the belt runs across the neck and abdomen, which can easily cause serious injuries in a collision.

For these reasons, child safety devices have become an essential item in cars. According to estimates by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), proper use of child seats can reduce the risk of death by about 71% for infants and 54% for children aged 1-4 in cars.

Besides child seats, common “safety devices” for children today include infant carriers and booster cushions, depending on the child’s age.

Rear-facing infant seat

This is the first and most important type of seat for newborns until about 12-24 months of age. Infant seats must be installed rear-facing, opposite the vehicle’s direction of travel, because this is the safest position in all crash situations. When a car stops suddenly, the force is distributed evenly along the back of the seat instead of being concentrated on the neck and head, the two weakest parts of an infant’s body. Studies show that infants seated rear-facing and secured with a five-point harness have a significantly lower risk of head and spinal injuries than those in forward-facing seats.

 

NHTSA recommends that parents keep children rear-facing for as long as possible, until they exceed the height or weight limit set by the manufacturer, because the safety difference between the two positions remains very large.

Forward-facing child seat

Once a child has exceeded the height and weight limits of a rear-facing infant seat, parents can switch to a forward-facing child seat, with various sizes suitable for children aged 2-6.

This type of safety seat is also equipped with a five-point harness that holds the shoulders, chest and hips securely, along with a top tether and seat anchors that help fasten the seat firmly to the vehicle body and limit movement in a crash. Using a five-point harness is far more important than relying on the car’s seat belt, because it is designed to distribute force evenly across the child’s body, preventing force from concentrating on the abdomen or chest.

Children should use this seat until they reach the weight or height limit set by the manufacturer, typically about 18-29 kg. Once they exceed that limit, they are large enough to move to the next stage.

Booster seat

After outgrowing a forward-facing child seat, a child should move to a booster seat. This device is for children aged 6-10, weighing 18-36 kg and measuring 100-135 cm in height.

A booster seat does not have its own harness and uses the car’s seat belt. Its role is to raise the child so the seat belt fits correctly: the shoulder belt should lie across the middle of the shoulder and chest, while the lap belt should rest snugly across the thighs, not across the abdomen. If the belt is positioned incorrectly, the risk of abdominal and rib injuries rises sharply in a collision.

There are two common types of booster seats: high-back boosters, which provide additional head and shoulder protection, and backless boosters, which are more compact and easier to carry. Regardless of which type is used, NHTSA recommends that all children under 13 should still ride in the rear seat, which is considered safer than the front seat in a crash, especially if the front airbags deploy.

Children should stop using a booster and switch to an adult seat belt only when they are taller than 140-145 cm. When seated, their knees should bend naturally over the seat edge, the shoulder belt should lie across the middle of the chest, and the lap belt should rest across the thighs. If these conditions are not met, the child still needs a booster seat for safety.

Notes on using child seats

There are currently many types of child safety seats on the market, from specialized models to multi-purpose versions that can be adjusted as a child grows. Some products are marketed as “all-in-one” car seats, which can be used from infancy until the child is older. These seats allow inserts and pads to be removed or added to suit each stage of development and body size, from rear-facing infant seat to forward-facing seat and booster seat.

However, many seats are designed for only one specific stage of development. Parents therefore need to read the instructions carefully before installation and use, to understand the weight and height limits and the correct installation position for each type of seat.

In addition to choosing a seat appropriate for the child’s age, it is important to make sure the car has a child-seat anchoring system such as ISOFIX (European standard) or LATCH (U.S. standard). These are rigid anchors attached to the vehicle frame, helping keep the seat firmly secured and preventing it from shifting during sudden braking or a collision. For vehicles that do not have this system, drivers can still secure the seat with the car’s seat belt, but it must be tightened properly and checked regularly.

Finally, regardless of the type of seat, parents must strictly follow the manufacturer’s recommended weight and height limits. Using a seat beyond those limits not only reduces its protective effectiveness, but may also cause the harness or the seat frame to fail in a crash. A child seat only provides protection when it is used correctly and at the right stage of the child’s development.