Child Car Seats
They're counting on you
By law, every Australian child less than 7 years old, travelling in a motor vehicle, must use an age-appropriate child car seat. However, many child car seats are not correctly used, increasing the risk of serious injury.
Research
Children who are restrained incorrectly are more likely to be seriously injured in a crash than children who are fitted in the correct child car seat for their age and size.
Rules around child car seats
Rules around child car seats can be found here
The driver is responsible for children being secured by an approved child restraint suitable for the child’s age and size. There are penalties related to child car seats.
When choosing a child car seat
The Child Restraint Evaluation Program has independent and consistent information to help you choose safe child car seats. The program tests child car seats by rating their level of protection in a crash and how easy they are to use correctly.
The results are shown on the Child Car Seats website.
To be approved, all child car seats must meet Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1754.
Using the correct child car seats
Whenever children are in a car, they must be safely buckled up in child car seats that are correct for each child’s age and size.
Children aged under 7 years must use an approved suitable child car seat when travelling in a vehicle. To be approved, child car seats must meet Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1754.
- Children up to the age of 6 months must use a rear-facing child car seat.
- Children aged between 6 months and 4 years must use either a rear-facing child car seat or a forward-facing child car seat with an inbuilt harness.
- Children aged between 4 and 7 years must use a forward‑facing child car seat with an inbuilt harness or an approved booster seat.
Children aged 7 years and over who are too small to use a seatbelt should use an approved booster seat or an anchored safety harness.
The 5 Step Test
Use the 5 step test to determine if a child is big enough to use an adult seat belt in each car they travel in.
More information about moving your child to the next type of child car seat, or from a booster seat to an adult seatbelt is on the Child Car Seats website.
Purchasing or using second hand car seats
Second hand car seats should be used with caution.
Child car seats should not be used if they are more than 10 years old, because they could be unsafe.
All seats sold in Australia are required to meet mandatory safety standards. If the sticker showing the restraint is compliant with Australian standards is missing, do not use it. If it is only rated to an international standard, it is also illegal to use in Australia.
The used car seat should also come with all the parts, including the instruction booklet.
Further information about using second hand child car seats can be found here.
Hiring a car seat with Moree Plains Shire Council
- Forms
- Procedures
Fitting a child car seat
Always follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully when fitting the child's car seat and placing your child in it. If the instructions have been lost, contact the manufacturer, search for the instructions online, or seek advice from specialist Authorised Restraint Fitting Stations.
In booster seats, make sure the sash belt crosses your child’s shoulder and is in contact with the chest. Make sure the lap belt sits low across the pelvis.
If you have trouble fitting or adjusting your child's car seat, visit an Authorised Restraint Fitting Station.
The locations of fitting stations in NSW are on Transport for NSW’s Authorised Restraint Fitting Stations map.
Further information
Best practice Guidelines for the safe restraint of children travelling in motor vehicles