Easy rider . . . choosing a car seat

Let’s get this out of the way now. I am in no way an expert in child restraints; however, I can tell you a bit about them and where to go to get some expert advice.

Child restraints sold in Australia meet some of the most stringent safety standards in the world and are marked with the Standards Australia ‘tick’.

The following is a general guide to the different types of car restraints on the market.

Infant Carriers – reverse facing – suitable from birth to 9 or 12kgs.

Convertible car seats – reverse facing, converts to forward facing – suitable from birth to 18kgs.

Forward facing car seats – forward facing – 8kgs to 18kgs.

Convertible boosters – forward facing – 8kgs to 26kgs.

Boosters – forward facing – 14kgs to 26kgs.

There are also H shaped harnesses which can be used in conjunction with booster seats or on their own to provide additional protection to a seat belt in the event of an accident.

Generally an infant should be placed in a rear facing seat for as long as possible but at least until they are 9kgs. This is to prevent head and neck injuries occurring from whiplash. The safest Infant Carriers and convertible car seats will accommodate an infant facing rear up to 12kgs.

Never continue to use a child restraint that has been in an accident. Chances are the plastic shell has been damaged, you can never tell. Some child restraint distributors like Safe-n-Sound offer a crash exchange program with some of their products which allow you to replace your restraint free of charge if it has been involved in an accident.

Car restraints should not be used if they are over 10 years old in any circumstances, because the plastic deteriorates. If you are unsure check the sticker on the underside for date of manufacture.

Correct installation is very important; it’s worth paying a little extra to get a professional to install your car restraint for you. Some of the larger retailers now offer special deals or days that include professional installation at a discounted price like Toys R Us Buckle Up and Boogie promotion. Also some State Ambulance Services will check and adjust your car restraint for free. Contact your local service to find out if they can assist you.

Finally, only move your child out of their current child restraint when they have physically grown out of it. In some circumstances using the wrong sized restraint is as dangerous as not using one at all.

Periodically the NSW RTA updates its Safer child restraints guide which not only contains lots of useful information on child restraints but tests and ranks Australian child restraints in the categories of protection and ease of use.