Comments on: New national car seat safety laws announced

By: cassie

cassie — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:31:12 +0000

You can actually get a proper car seat that has a built in 5 point harness that goes up to 26kg. we have one for our son who is 2 1/2 yrs.
The brand is Hipod, found at target.

By: Rod hannig

Rod hannig — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 02:40:15 +0000

Does a booster seat for a child between 4-7 need to have a 5 point harness fitted by the manufacturer (already fitted to the seat) or can you buy a booster seat without a harness and add the harness later?

By: Kively09

Kively09 — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:02:10 +0000

I think the new laws are great, they should be enforced, like if the police pull over someone they can get a hefty fine, as they not keeping their children safe. Good on them for the new law. I just brought a booster seat for my 3 year old which comes with a harness and I am having another baby in 6 weeks, so I have been reorganizing her old car seat and it is still in good nick. So for everyone out there make sure your children are well restraint, your children s life will be in danger if not probably restrained.

By: Liz

Liz — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 03:40:55 +0000

I have a four year old who is very petite and weighs just 12kg.
Does this mean we will be in the car seat for mant years to come?

By: Louise

Louise — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 12:00:57 +0000

Hi,

I am trying to find out why it is recommended to stop using the Safe-n-Sound Maxi Rider inbuilt 5 point harness once a child reaches 18kg. My 4 year old still fits perfectly in the seat and seems very safely restrained by the 5 point harness, but has just reached 18.5kg.

Do I need to stop using the 5 point harness and start using either a separate harness or the lap sash belt?

Thanks x

By: Sergey

Sergey — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:59:41 +0000

Seat producer are probably happy to get more revenue. We do not care about educationg drives to prevent car accidents but only how ” safley to get involved into it”, we do not care about old unsafe cars on aroads or stupid and arrogant drivers who does not know how to use indicators we found easy way… revenue way covering it by “care” about children. Revenue is first!!

By: april

april — Sun, 17 May 2009 01:14:03 +0000

Hi all,

Am actually wondering about the status of the new regulation about child car seats.

Kirsty wrote on March 28, in 2 posts above: “Although we have some of the safest restraints n the world, the law use to only actually apply to under 1 yo, after that it was all up the parent to use a “suitable restraint”. So use your head, and keep it safe!!!”

I will be traveling to australia for a holiday sometime in August with 2 young children – 6 yr old weighing 18kg and 33 mth weighing 12kg. Because we are flying in from another country, carrying in our existing seats would be very unwise. We are therefore looking to hire a car and get relevant seats. But would like to keep the hassel to just comply purely to government requirements. Coming back to Kirsty’s quote above, is it really true that the law – meaning what authorities will only impose – is applicable to children 12 months and below? And that would mean my 2 children will not be subjected to using car seats purely based on the law?

Please advise?

By: Tamika

Tamika — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 04:46:10 +0000

I am expecting my first child in 10 weeks, i understand a child cannot be in the front seat in a rear facing restraint when an air bag is fitted but does anyone know about single cab utes that have not got a back seat and are not fitted with a passenger air bag?.

By: Kirsty

Kirsty — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 04:59:20 +0000

Oh, and one last thing… all this is great, but if people don’t make sure their children keep their arms in their restraints, or that the restraint is fitted securely at all times… then the restraint is almost useless. I have been fitting restraints for 4 years and people worry so much about whether to buy the $150 seat or $600 top of the range, and it is about so mucch more than that! If you are unsure… find a qualified fitter! It can be a simple thing, but sooo worth it.

By: Kirsty

Kirsty — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 04:55:59 +0000

Hi, You have all hitted on some clear problems many can see. The problem was that it needed to bekept simple. It is written in the law that that a child under 4 is cleary excempt from being in a “car seat” and may then go onto a booster. The same as a 6 year old over the 26kgs. Once they outgrow the seat appropriate for the age, they may move up and it is not against the law (for obvious reasons.) One of the tings this law is trying to prevent is paernts of 18month olds who are just over the 14kgs mark (which is where boosters have been tested to comply from) putting their child in a booster to make the car seat avail for the new baby. people were too fast to advance their children on. If a child is too tall for a car seat (based on eye level above the back of the seat, not head touching over the top) then they can move up. To some it would appear easier to make it by height and weight, but then people would be all oer the place. The other best law they have introduced is a child 4-7 can not sit in the front seat unless all rear seats have been taken up by under 4 yolds.

Although we have some of the safest restraints n the world, the law use to only actually apply to under 1 yo, after that it was all up the parent to use a “suitable restraint”. So use your head, and keep it safe!!!