Buying Tips/Buying a Car Seat

Buying a Car Seat

Making sure your baby’s car seat complies with the latest safety requirements is imperative. It is also a good idea to seek the services of a professional child car restraint fitter. Your baby car seat retailer should be able to assist you, or alternatively visit the Royal Automobile Club in your state or territory and see if they provide restraint fitting services close to home.

If traveling with one child only, place them diagonally opposite the driver’s seat, so they are not traveling on the ‘traffic side’.

Remember your baby’s car seat needs to fit the baby – and the car! It might sit nicely in the back seat, but when the baby grows and needs leg room, is there sufficient space, or will you be pushing the front seats forward?

The following is a guide only – your state or territory legislation might differ slightly.

Child Age & Weight	Seat	Features/Tips
Under 6 months	Must use approved, properly fastened, rearward-facing restraint such as a capsule	-Compliments certain pram models, making it easy to move baby between car and pram -Harness straps must be level with or above child’s shoulders -Make sure harness has no twists -Make sure child’s arms are secured correctly in harness straps
6 months – 4 years (Or when child has out-grown the highest slot in the harness straps) The child's weight is to be at least 9kg	Must use approved, properly fastened, rearward-facing car seat restraint OR a forward-facing restraint	-Harness straps can be up to 25mm below shoulders -Make sure harness has no twists -Make sure child’s arms are secured correctly in harness straps
4 years – 7 years	Firmly fitted booster seat	-Make sure lap part of seatbelt passes over upper thighs and across hips (not stomach) -Sash part of seatbelt should be positioned on child’s shoulder
Over 7 years	Normal car seat – front seat allowed	-Secure-fitting seatbelt with no twists worn at all times -If child sits in front seat be mindful of airbags; if they open in an emergency they should not cover the child’s entire face (and therefore make it difficult to breathe)

Child Age & Weight

Seat

Features/Tips

Under 6 months

Must use approved, properly fastened, rearward-facing restraint such as a capsule

-Compliments certain pram models, making it easy to move baby between car and pram

-Harness straps must be level with or above child’s shoulders

-Make sure harness has no twists

-Make sure child’s arms are secured correctly in harness straps

6 months – 4 years

(Or when child has out-grown the highest slot in the harness straps)

The child's weight is to be at least 9kg

Must use approved, properly fastened, rearward-facing car seat restraint OR a forward-facing restraint

-Harness straps can be up to 25mm below shoulders

-Make sure harness has no twists

-Make sure child’s arms are secured correctly in harness straps

4 years – 7 years

Firmly fitted booster seat

-Make sure lap part of seatbelt passes over upper thighs and across hips (not stomach)

-Sash part of seatbelt should be positioned on child’s shoulder

Over 7 years

Normal car seat – front seat allowed

-Secure-fitting seatbelt with no twists worn at all times

-If child sits in front seat be mindful of airbags; if they open in an emergency they should not cover the child’s entire face (and therefore make it difficult to breathe)

Buying a Car Seat

Child Age & Weight

Seat

Features/Tips

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