The child car seat checklist

Which car seat does my child need?

• All children are required to be safely and correctly restrained in an appropriate car seat when travelling by car.
• By law, children up to the age of seven must be fastened in an age appropriate child seat.
• Children under 145 cm should remain in an appropriate car seat even if they are more than 7 years of age.
• All child seats must comply with the Australian Standard (AS 1754) and be properly fitted in your vehicle.

See Choosing the Right Car Seat and Laws Governing Car Seats in Australia for more information about making the right choice of car seat.

When should I change my child’s car seat?

The specific type of seat that your child needs will depend on their age and size:

• 0-6 months: Baby capsule (rear facing restraint).
• 6 months to 4 years: Baby capsule until they outgrow it, then forward facing restraint.
• 4-7 years: Forward facing restraint until they outgrow it, then a booster seat.
• Over 7 years: Booster seat until they can properly fit in an adult seatbelt.

See Types of Car Seats for more information.

Where should I position my child’s car seat?

• All children who are 12 years of age and younger should be properly restrained, sitting in the back row of seats.
• To fully protect your child, it is important that the car seat is correctly anchored to your vehicle and it is not impeded by car seat accessories.

See Installing a Car Seat Correctly for a detailed description.

References

1. Neuroscience Research Australian and Kidsafe. Best practice guideline for the safe restraint of children travelling in motor vehicles. 2013 (cited 13 August 2015). Available from: URL Link
2. New South Wales Government. Child car seats. 2015 (cited 30 July 2015). Available from: URL Link
3. Tasmanian Government. Child restraints: A guide to car seats. 2015 (cited 30 July 2015). Available from: URL Link