Which type of restraint for what age?

Infant restraints for babies

For babies up to 9kg, 70cm long and from birth to 6 months, an infant restraint should be used.

An infant restraint must be correctly installed in your vehicle and adjusted properly to fit your baby. If it is not, the restraint may not offer full protection in the event of a crash.

Make sure you have a restraint installed in your car before your baby is born, ready for their first car trip which will probably be on the way home from the hospital.

Child seats for young children

For young children 8 - 18kgs and from 6 - 9 months to approximately 5 years old, a child seat should be used.

To use a child seat, your child must be able to sit and easily hold their head upright.

You will know that your child has outgrown their child seat when their shoulders no longer fit comfortably within the child seat or when their eye-level is higher than the back of the top of the child seat.

Booster seats for older children

For children 14 - 26kgs and until they are large enough to be safely secured by an adult seatbelt, a booster seat should be used.

Children should travel in a booster seat that is secured by an adult seatbelt, never a lap belt only.

A booster seat should be used until your child's shoulders no longer comfortably fit within the booster seat or when their eye-level is higher than the back of the top of the booster seat.

A child harness which is used in conjunction with an adult seatbelt can be used with or without a booster seat.