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Car safety for babies

To be as safe as possible when travelling in cars, children and adults need to be using restraints or seatbelts that are properly fitted and suited to the age and size of the person. There are rules in each Australian state and territory which regulate which car seat you need for your child.

In summary, the rules state the following:

• Children up to 6 months are to be seated in a properly fastened and adjusted approved rearward-facing child restraint. Before your baby is moved into a safety seat, they should also be able to sit, and control their head.
• Children aged between 6 months to under 4 years are to be seated in a properly fastened and adjusted rearward-facing or forward-facing approved child restraint with an inbuilt harness.
• Children aged 4 years to under 7 years are to be seated in a properly fastened and adjusted forward-facing approved child restraint with an inbuilt harness, or an approved booster seat with a properly fastened and adjusted seatbelt or child safety harness.
• Children under 4 years cannot travel in the front seat of a vehicle that has 2 or more rows of seats.
• Children aged between 4 and under 7 years are not permitted to sit in the front seat unless all other seating positions are already occupied by children under 7.
• Children aged from 7 to under 16 years are strongly recommended to use an approved booster seat if they are too small to be restrained by a properly adjusted and fastened seatbelt.

It’s illegal, and very dangerous, to carry a baby in a rear-facing baby seat in a front car seat that has an active airbag. Forward-facing seats in the same position, while not illegal, are not ideal for toddlers. Use the back seat for all under-7s if you can.

Child safety seat

Always use a baby or child car seat that’s right for your child’s height and weight. If they’re too large or small for the type of car seat that’s right for their age, find a car seat that is suitable for their size. Make sure the seat is fitted properly in the car and that your baby or toddler is securely strapped.

When buying a seat, try it in your car before buying it. A badly fitting seat can provide less protection in a crash.

Keep the same child restraint or booster seat until your child reaches the maximum shoulder height limits. If you put them in the next type of restraint before they are big enough, it might not protect them properly.

Safety standards

Approved child restraints, booster seats and child safety harnesses must meet the requirements of the Australian/New Zealand Standard (AS/NZS 1754). This should be clear on the packaging and the restraint.

Second-hand child restraints and booster seats

It's advisable to not buy a second-hand baby or child seat. It could have been damaged in a crash, and it may not have all its parts (including the instructions). It may also not be the safest and most user-friendly model, nor might it fit your car properly.

If you must use a second-hand restraint, make sure you check:

• its age and condition
• its history
• that it’s approved
• that it isn’t more than 10 years old
• that all the parts, including the instruction booklet, are included

To make sure your child will be kept as safe as possible, don’t accept or use a restraint that has:

• been in a crash, even if there’s no obvious damage
• splits, cracks or large stress marks in the restraint shell
• straps that are frayed, worn or damaged
• a buckle that doesn’t work smoothly

Never leave your baby or toddler alone in the car

Cars turn into ovens very quickly, even on cool or overcast days. Never leave your child alone in the car, even for a moment. The temperature inside a car on a hot day can rise to dangerous levels very quickly. Also, they may play with window and door switches or the cigarette lighter. It’s especially dangerous if you leave the keys in the ignition.

Leaving your child alone in a car is not only extremely dangerous, but also illegal in every state and territory in Australia. You can be charged and convicted.

Other important safety guidelines

• Don’t drive unless all seat belts are done up. If your child removes the straps or undoes the buckle, stop the car and do up the belt again. Explain what you’re doing. If you need to give your child a reward or incentive for leaving the belt or buckle alone, it’s best to use one that will distract your child’s attention and last until you reach your destination. Never drive while the belt is twisted or undone.
• Your child should always keep arms, legs and head inside the car when it’s moving or parked on the side of the road. You can also activate the childproof locks so your child can’t get out when the car is moving or standing still.
• Loose items can fly about in a crash, so keep loose items in the glove box, the boot or behind the cargo barrier in station wagons and four-wheel drives. When travelling with an empty booster seat in the car, fasten the seatbelt around it to prevent the booster seat from injuring someone. You should also restrain any pets travelling with you.

Seat belts and pregnant women

Every person travelling in a motor vehicle must use an approved restraint where one is available, properly fastened and adjusted. This includes pregnant women no matter what stage of pregnancy.

Further information

You can find information on selecting a child restraint on the Child Car Seats website.

To find out more information about car safety and child restraints, visit your state road authority.

• Australian Capital Territory — Access Canberra
• New South Wales — Transport for NSW
• Northern Territory Government
• Queensland Government
• South Australia Government
• Tasmania — Transport Services
• Victoria — Vic Roads
• Western Australia — Department of Transport