When traveling, adult seat belts do not offer sufficient protection for babies and children. They should be in a proper restraint for their safety. You should ensure that any product you purchase carries the Australian Standard (AS/NZS) 1754 label and that when in use, it is correctly anchored to the vehicle using an Australian Standard’s approved anchorage system.
Also ensure that the restraint purchased is suitable for your vehicle, particularly if you have a small car or older vehicle. If in any doubt, seek advice from your local Transport Authority or motoring organisation or Kidsafe. Planning to buy a baby car seat must be done before your baby is born to use it to take your baby home from the hospital.
There are two kinds of car seat: single purpose (only facing rearwards) and convertibles. Convertibles face rearward until the baby reaches a weight depending on a specific model of a baby car seat, and then turned around to face forward. Neither kind should be used in vehicles with seats that face rearward or sideways.
Your baby should be placed on a rearward facing car seat until your baby reaches the specified weight limit. In that position, the force of any crash is distributed evenly in your baby’s torso, and the back of the baby car seat will support and protect your baby’s head and neck. For safety, also never place a rearward-facing baby seat in front of a place with an airbag.
Before you use a child car seat, check that you understand all of the manufacturer’s instructions.
Do not wrap your baby in a blanket or a rug before you place the baby in the restraint. The infant restraint has a harness (safety belt) for your baby. Place the harness straps over your baby’s shoulders and between the legs. The shoulder straps must not be below the baby’s shoulders. Adjust the harness until it fits comfortably yet firmly. If you can fit more than one of your fingers between the straps and your baby, the harness is not tight enough.
If you wish, you may now cover your baby with a blanket or a rug. Check that the baby can breathe comfortably. If you separated the tether strap from the anchorage to make it easier to place the baby in the restraint, remember to connect the tether strap again once the baby is placed in the restraint.
Never use a baby car seat in the front-passenger seat if your car has a front-passenger airbag. The airbag may hurt or kill your baby, especially if your infant restraint faces towards the back of your car. Even if your car does not have a front-passenger airbag, your baby is much safer if you place the restraint in the back seat. In Australia, there have been no known cases of injury to correctly restrained children from deploying side airbags.Side airbags are generally smaller than frontal airbags and consequently pose less risk to small occupants. However, the manufacturer of your vehicle is the best source of information regarding the proper use of child restraint systems near the airbags in your vehicle.