It is vital a child restraint is installed and used correctly to keep your child safe.
We know installing a child restraint isn’t the easiest thing to do, so we’ve created resources to explain which restraint to use and how to correctly install your child restraint.
Video guides for installing your child restraint
Child restraints save lives is a guide for parents and caregivers on the correct installation of child restraints. This is available in various languages.
Child restraints save lives brochure
My booster comes with me is a brochure for parents/caregivers to use with their children to help them understand how to safely use a booster seat.
My booster comes with me brochure
The backseat is the best place for any child. It is illegal to install a child restraint in the front seat if there are active airbags as these can go off and move the seat and child inside.
In a crash, the force of impact causes the car to stop, but the objects inside to keep moving at speed. During a crash, the rear facing seat is designed to support and cushion their body. If they are in a forward-facing restraint there’s nothing to support their head and neck, and may lead to injury.
If there are no airbags, while it is strongly discouraged, you can install a rear facing child restraint in the front seat. Remember to move the seat as far back as possible before installing.
Some seats can be installed using either the ISOFIX/LATCH system, but they should not be installed using both. To know if your car has the ISOFIX/LATCH system you need to look for the anchors in the backseat, or a small icon printed or sewn into your back seat.
The video below demonstrates how to disconnect LATCH connectors.
The type of seatbelt your car has will change how you install your seat and determine whether or not you need to use a locking clip. The video below demonstrates how to identify ALR or ELR seat belt.
Use a clothes peg on your seat belt to prevent the belt from retracting while installing your child restraint. When you are finished remember to remove the peg and let the belt retract.
Capsules and car seats/restraints should not be used as a place for your baby to sleep in when they are not travelling, as this can increase the risk of sudden unexpected death in infancy.
Always make sure to check on your child throughout your drive and plan for stops on long drives to allow baby to spend time outside of the restraint.
Babies and children have outgrown their restraint when they’re over the restraint manufacturer’s recommended weight and height restrictions.
It is important to keep your child in a restraint with a harness until they have outgrown it and fit safely in a booster seat. When using a booster seat, the seatbelt must fall safely over the child’s shoulder and chest away from their neck to prevent injury.
International best practice recommends keeping a child in a booster seat until they are aged 7 or older, and 148cm tall.
Your child may be ready to progress from a booster seat to the adult seatbelt when:
If the answer is no to any of these questions, then your child should use a booster seat to keep them safe.
When securing your child in a restraint, make sure that they are not wearing bulky clothing. They can make the harness less effective as it’s hard to know if it is tightened correctly, and babies can easily overheat. If you are concerned about warmth, a blanket over the top of the secured harness.
