New laws are now in force regarding child restraints. The laws apply to all children up to the age of seven.
The new laws were introduced to reduce the amount of children killed or injured in car accidents. It is estimated that 70% of car restraints are not used correctly. Many children are upgraded to larger car seats or to an adult seatbelt alone earlier than is safe.
What seat does my child need?
Up to 6 months : Your baby must be restrained in an approved rearward facing child restraint like an infant capsule or a convertible car seat specifically designed for newborn babies.
6 months to 4-years-old: Your child must be in either a rearward facing or forward facing child restraint, such as a child safety seat.
4-years-old to 7-years-old: Your child must be in either a forward facing child restraints or a booster seat restrained by a correctly adjusted and fastened seatbelt or child safety harness.
When can my child sit in the front seat?
The back seat of the car is the safest place for all children to sit. Until a child turns four, he must be restrained in the rear of the vehicle if your car has two or more rows of seats.
Children between the ages of four and seven years must not sit in the front seat unless all the other seating positions in the car are taken by children under seven-years-old.
What if my child doesn't fit in the seat that is required for their age?
The large majority of children will fit in the seat that is outlined in the law as appropriate for their age group. If your child is too heavy or tall to fit in the car seat designated for their age, they are able to sit in the next age category. Make sure that your baby, toddler or child is in a seat that is safely adjusted to give them the most protection.
How do I know if a car seat is approved?
To be an approved child restraint a car seat or booster must comply with and be labelled with an Australian Standards sticker for the standard AS 1754. All car restraints sold in Australia must comply with the standards that cover materials, design, construction, performance, testing and labelling.
Look for the sticker with five ticks to ensure that the car seat meets the new standards, not the earlier E46 standard. Car seats bought overseas will not comply with the Australian standard and not approved and it is illegal to use them in Australia.
Further information can be obtained by checking the Roads Authority in your State or Territory.
This product was added to our catalog on Friday 18 February, 2011.
