Choosing the correct child restraint is one of the most important decisions you will make as a parent, so make sure you are fully up-to-date with current Australian safety requirements.
Children need different restraints as they grow. The car seat must match your child’s age, size and weight.
Here’s a quick summary highlighting which restraint is required for your child’s age group:
Birth to 6 months – An approved rear facing child seat with a 5 or 6 point harness (it is advised that rear facing is safest, so try to keep your baby in this car seat for as long as possible – check the weight advised on your baby capsule)
6 months to 4 years – An approved rear or forward facing car seat with a 5 or 6 point harness
4 years to 7 years / over 145cm tall – An approved forward facing child car seat or booster seat
However, we advise that if your child is too small for the child restraint specified for their age that they should be kept in the previous restraint a little bit longer. Likewise, if your child outgrows their existing car seat before the suggested age, then move them into the next restraint.
There are a number of convertible child car seats on the market now that overlap between restraint types.
Rear/forward facing convertible – can be converted from a rear facing to a forward facing car seat suitable for use from birth to 4 years
Forward/booster convertible – can be converted from a forward facing car seat to a booster seat suitable for use from 6 months to 7 years
Make sure your car seat is correctly installed in your car and the straps are adjusted so that they fit snuggly. They should firm, yet comfortable with no slack and ensure that they sit flat with direct contact to your child.
Remember, studies show that the correct child restraint system, correctly installed significantly reduces the risk of injury or death in a car accident by preventing contact between the child and the car’s interior, protecting the child from impact and spreading any impact force onto stronger parts of the body.
If you would like further advice on selecting the right car seat or baby capsule to hire for your child, please contact us today for your obligation-free quotation.