A BAN on younger children using backless booster seats has been delayed until next year.

Changes had been expected to come into force this December, preventing smaller and lighter children from travelling in the seats.

But now it's not expected until at least March next year, and even then parents who continue with seats they already have will not be fined.

The rules will only affect new products being sold - so the labelling will make it clear that booster seats will only be approved for use for children taller than 125cm and weighing more than 22kg.

Currently children weighing as little as 15kg, around three years old, can travel in the backless seats, the Manchester Evening News has reported .

So although the safety guidelines will change - and child car seat experts agree this type of backless booster seat is unsuitable for such young children - those continuing to use one will not face any action.

A spokesman for the Department for Transport said: "New booster cushions without a backrest will only be able to be approved as ‘Group 3’ products, i.e. for children over 125cm or 22kg.

"Currently, it is possible for these booster cushions to be approved for smaller children.

"It will only affect new products, not those already on the market. Parents can continue using existing booster seats for children under the minimum height without facing any penalty."

Legislation on who is required to use a child car seat is set by the government, but the technical specifications for child car seats are set internationally by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.

The ruling for new products will 'not be mandatory until implemented into European legislation, which will happen in due course'.

While booster cushions are a belt positioning device, they are simply designed to lift your child up enough so that the adult seat belt restrains them correctly. They do not offer any additional protection.

They don’t pass a side impact test because they do not have a back and side wings to cushion a child from the force of a collision, and they do not place a child near the vehicle's side impact protection.