Between 2016 and 2020, 49 children aged five and under died in cars on Australian roads.
We don’t know how many of those tragedies could have been averted if children had been in a properly installed child seat or baby capsule. What we do know is that up to 70 per cent of child car seats and capsules are incorrectly or poorly installed, according to KidSafe.com.au.
With two kids of my own under two, I wanted to learn how to properly install a baby capsule and a child car seat. As a journalist road-testing two and sometimes three cars a week, going to an accredited fitter every time is not an option.
Britax sent us two examples from its Britax Safe-n-Sound range to help with this article. If your car seat or capsule differs from these, we strongly recommend you also read the manual to account for any differences in design.
First, let’s look at Australia’s road rules to understand the baseline for compliance. As a driver, you need to know this because you are responsible for children being secured by an approved child restraint suitable for their age and size.
As a parent, you also need to know this because you want the best for your child.
Understanding the law
Each state or territory has different road rules, but the laws governing child restraints in cars are the same Australia-wide.
- Children under six months must travel in a rear-facing approved child restraint.
- Children between six months and four years must be in either a rear-facing child restraint or a forward-facing restraint with inbuilt harness.
- Children between four and seven years must be in a forward-facing restraint with an inbuilt harness or a booster seat or occupy a seating position that is fitted with an approved seatbelt.
That said, the law also allows for differences in children’s growth rates.
- Children who are too small for the specified car seat can stay in the smaller seat until they grow into the next one.
- Children who outgrow their prescribed car seat can move into the car seat for the next age group.
Different types of child seats
There are three main types of child seats:
- Baby capsule – usually for 0-6 months of age, though some brands can be used up to 12 months of age
- Rear, forward or convertible child restraint – from newborn to four years
- Booster seat – from four to seven years of age
All capsules and restraints must be securely attached to the seat, must have a top tether strap attached, and must have an inbuilt harness. Booster seats must either have inbuilt harnesses or integrate with factory-fitted car seatbelts.
It’s also the law that capsules, baby seats or booster seats must be installed in the second or third row. The only time they are permitted in the front row is if your car does not have any other rows and you can disable the passenger airbag.
Some cars have built-in booster seats, such as the Volvo XC40 and XC90. If your car has an integrated booster seat, then you don’t need to buy a booster seat for your four- to seven-year-old.
Exemptions
When it comes to children aged under seven riding in cars, the law is clear. They must be in an approved restraint at all times, except:
- Tow trucks – After a crash or vehicle breakdown, a child aged under 12 months can travel in a tow truck. If a suitable child car seat is not available, they can sit on the lap of another passenger. If the tow truck has two or more rows of seats, they must sit in the back seat.
- Taxis – This one varies state to state, but in general taxis (and buses) are exempt from supplying car seats. Therefore children aged under 12 months can be carried on an adult’s lap, but not sharing the adult’s seatbelt. Children over 12 months must sit in either a booster seat or wear a properly adjusted and fastened seatbelt. It is preferable and highly advisable to give the taxi service enough notice to provide a car with a child seat.
- Medical condition or disability – Children aged under seven years with a medical condition or disability can use an alternative child restraint designed for them. They must carry a certificate from a doctor saying they can use this restraint.
Brand new or second hand?
All capsules, car seats and boosters sold in Australia must carry the Australian Standard/New Zealand Standard 1754 label on the seat itself.
It’s always recommended to buy a brand-new car capsule or car seat instead of a second-hand one. That way you’re getting the latest safety technology and a seat in perfect condition.
If your budget won’t stretch to a brand-new seat, then only buy a second-hand seat that has never been in a crash, is less than 10 years old, and has the Australia Standard sticker that says it complies with Australian safety standards.
If you’re buying online, stick with Australian-based retailers selling Australian-approved stock, or retailers selling items that meet Australian standards and carry an AS/NZS1754 compliance sticker.
Get a capsule or go straight to a rear-facing child seat?
There is no law saying you must put infants aged under six months in a capsule. You can, if you wish, buy a child seat that will see them through to the age of four.
But before you do… We strongly recommend starting with a capsule.
Capsules are specifically designed for smaller bodies aged 0-6 months (some go up to 12 months), whereas child seats must take a bigger range of bodies into account (newborn to four years).
Capsules are actually two-part child restraints. The base is fixed in the car and the capsule clicks on and off the base so it can easily be inserted or removed without disturbing the baby.
So, in addition to the inherent safety advantages of a restraint designed for tiny bodies, capsules can be taken into and out of the house without removing the baby. This is a godsend when the baby has fallen asleep on the drive home and you don’t want to wake them.
Most capsules also come with customised mounts that clip onto a pram base, too, which means greater portability when you get to your destination.
When to switch from rear-facing to forward-facing
Firstly, baby capsules for infants aged 0-6 months must be installed rear-facing. There are no exceptions.
As for convertible child car seats, they are called that because they can be installed facing forward or facing back. And, given that children up to four years can face either way, which way is safer?
Firstly, quality convertible child seats come with a ‘shoulder height’ indicator, which helps you know whether your child is big enough to face forward or not. Do not ignore this guide.
Second, according to a report released by Neuroscience Research Australia in conjunction with KidSafe, it’s safer to leave kids facing rearward as long as possible.
“Rearward-facing restraints support the child’s head and neck in severe frontal crashes better than forward-facing restraints,” the report found. “This is important as infants have relatively large heads and weak necks, which put them at particularly high risk of serious injuries if the head and neck are not supported.”
Transport NSW’s research into crashes involving child fatalities found that 50 per cent of crashes were frontal crashes, 27 per cent were side impacts, 11 per cent were rear impacts and seven per cent were rollovers. So leaving a child rear-facing for as long as possible is a safer option.
If you’re installing a convertible seat in a rear-facing direction, remember to extend the rebound bar and recline the seat to place the child at an optimal angle.
When to move into – and out of – a booster seat
Australian approved baby seats have shoulder height indicators on them which tell you when a child is too small or too big for the seat. Once your child outgrows the baby seat’s shoulder guide, they can be moved into a booster seat.
As for moving them out of a booster seat and into a normal adult car seat, this should only be done once they reach 145cm in height. This is the minimum height for which regular seats and seatbelts are designed.
How to install a baby capsule and child car seat
There are two approved methods for installing child restraints in cars. One uses specially designed ISOFIX anchors and ISOFIX latches. The second uses the car’s standard lap-only or lap-sash seatbelt.
The pictures attached to this article give you an overview of the installation of a baby capsule and a convertible car seat in both rear-facing and forward-facing positions. We’ve also demonstrated the ISOFIX method and non-ISOFIX method.
(These photos should not be seen as an alternative to reading and following your seat’s installation manual.)
ISOFIX is the name given to a latching system that is standard in all new passenger cars and SUVs. It was legalised in Europe in February 2004 and in Australia in September 2014.
ISOFIX points are usually in the outboard seats of the second row (and in some, but not all vehicles, the third row if your car has one). Many utility vehicles also have ISOFIX points in their second rows.
An ISOFIX anchor is a metal bar welded to the seat frame on both sides of the seatback base.
ISOFIX latches, which are attached to the baby capsule base or child seat either by rigid arms or belts, lock onto these anchors.
In most of Europe and the USA, this is all that’s required by law. In Australia, a third attachment known as the top tether is also required. This tethers the top of the capsule or child seat to the seat’s back using a strap that passes over the seatback and under or around the headrest.
If your car does not have ISOFIX points, then you will be forced to use the seatbelt to secure the child seat. The top tether is also required when securing a seat by this method.
No matter which method you use:
- Read and follow the manual that came with the seat or capsule.
- Take your time and be methodical when installing, and double-check everything.
- Ensure the child seat is as hard up against the seatback as possible with the child seat base flat on the car seat base.
- If rear-facing, angle the seat so the child is reclined.
- Make sure all securing belts are tight and not twisted.
- Once you’ve installed all belts, tighten each one again to remove any slack.
- Check the belts and ISOFIX latches weekly to ensure they are tight and secure.
Placing baby in the seat
Baby capsules and baby seats have adjustable headrests and harnesses.
For the headrest, make sure the side bolsters are low enough to keep the baby’s head safe, but not so low it squashes the baby’s shoulders.
For the harness, this should also be snug but not too tight – just like a seatbelt on an adult.
As your baby grows, the point at which the harness disappears into the seatback will need to be adjusted. Always use the hole just above (not below) the baby’s shoulders.
Most harnesses have pads to prevent the belts from cutting into the child. Place them on the shoulder.
You can find more about your particular child restraint in its manual, including how to adjust the harness as your child grows.
Seeking professional help
If you’re still unsure or would like the peace of mind of having a professional do your installation, there are a number of ways to get help. Some are free and some charge a fee.
Many baby stores like Baby Bunting take bookings for child seat fitment.
Roads authorities like VicRoads, Transport for NSW, Queensland’s Dept of Transport, and others have links for accredited fitters.
Insurance companies like the RACV, RACQ and NRMA run drive-in sessions from time to time.
You can also check out childcarseats.com.au, which is a brilliant online resource for parents.
Failing all that, have a look at this comprehensive Restraint Fitters Guide.
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