Car seats in Australia - What you need to know

[Guest]

NEWS UPDATE ON AUS STANDARDS (Will also be included in the first post of this thread)

You can download the draft HERE . You need to register and then download the PDF.

 

 

From a Britax press release -

 

 

On the 13th August 2012, Standards Australia released a draft of the revised Child Restraints Standard AS/NZS1754. The draft introduces a number of significant changes to the way Australian and New Zealand children will be restrained in cars in the future.

 

The key changes in the draft include:

 

• Child restraints will be made available in Australia that include lower attachment connectors allowing them to be engaged with ISOFIX low anchorages available in many cars. This new category is similar to systems offered overseas. As with all Australian child restraints, the upper tether strap is required for use;
  
• A new category of child restraints will be introduced to the Australian market, allowing most children to stay rear facing up to approximately two to three years of age;
  
• A new category of child restraint with an in-built harness for children from approximately six months up to eight to ten years of age will be introduced. Previously restraints with an in-built harness have only been available for children up to approximately four years of age;
  
• Introduction of testing and defining child restraints that are suitable for babies that are of low birth weight or premature, and
  
• Introduction of marking of child restraints suitable for aircraft travel.
  

 

The draft will be open for industry, government and consumers to review and comment until the 16th October 2012. Once the standard is approved for publication, expected to be early next year, Britax will endeavor to certify and release restraints that are compatible with ISOFIX low anchorages and within the new requirements of the standard. (Source Britax/Safe n Sound).

 

 

 

 

 

[pwkl]

Well, that suggests to me that even though your seat uses Isofix, you still need the top tether too, so still makes any UK seats redundant regardless of Isofix.

[Guest]

Well, that suggests to me that even though your seat uses Isofix, you still need the top tether too, so still makes any UK seats redundant regardless of Isofix.

 

Yes. That was always going to be the case. Only Aus standards approved car seats are legal to use in Aus. That won't change. The top tether is a legal requirement in Aus and I didn't expect them to leave it out of the standards for Isofix seats. If anything its another safety measure which isn't a bad thing IMHO. It'll be that all car seats will still require a top tether so non Isofix and Isofix will be covered in the same way.

[Guest Tolley Family]

Really pleased to read abou the introduction of ISOFIX to Aus.

 

Do you know where they will be available to purchase?

[Guest]

Really pleased to read abou the introduction of ISOFIX to Aus.

 

Do you know where they will be available to purchase?

 

Usual places where you buy car seats now. Online and in store. Won't actually be available to purchase till next year or even the year after but its getting closer.

[Guest Levimouse]

Hi Snifter

 

I wonder if you could help. I have a 2.5 yr old and a 6 mth old. We will have to buy the 6 mth the next car seat up (here in the UK) soon and I wondered whether it would be worth buying an Aussie one to use here, as we plan to move out there next summer.

 

What do you think of this? Do you know if Aus car seats are legal in the UK? I was just trying to save a bit of money as otherwise we will buy my daughter a new car seat this yr and then have to buy them both a new one next year.

 

If it helps we do not use ISOFIX.

 

Annoyingly our eldest's seat came out better than some ISOFIX seats because of its impact shield technology. It's a Kiddy one. Do you know if they sell those in Aus. I haven't been able to find any.

 

Thanks

[Guest]

Hi Snifter

 

I wonder if you could help. I have a 2.5 yr old and a 6 mth old. We will have to buy the 6 mth the next car seat up (here in the UK) soon and I wondered whether it would be worth buying an Aussie one to use here, as we plan to move out there next summer.

 

What do you think of this? Do you know if Aus car seats are legal in the UK? I was just trying to save a bit of money as otherwise we will buy my daughter a new car seat this yr and then have to buy them both a new one next year.

 

If it helps we do not use ISOFIX.

 

Annoyingly our eldest's seat came out better than some ISOFIX seats because of its impact shield technology. It's a Kiddy one. Do you know if they sell those in Aus. I haven't been able to find any.

 

Thanks

 

I'd have to double check the laws for imported seats but I seem to recall EU approved ones were ok but not others. Each country/region has its own laws and so on. Aus seats are not tested the same way as UK/EU seats.

 

Do you perhaps know anyone with a car seat they can pass on to you for a while? That is reasonably new and you trust and know their car hasn't been involved in an accident or something? We have a friend we lent our old car seat to for a few months as they were moving overseas and didn't want to spend money on a car seat they would only use for a few months. We got it back in good condition and knew they had not crashed their car or anything.

 

I don't know if Kiddy is in Aus. They may be there under another brand name. I'd have to do some reading and see.

[JoandJon]

Snifter - just wanted to say a great big thank you on behalf of everyone who's questions you answer so thoroughly

 

You're an angel

[Guest Bazinga]

We were advised to leave ours and buy new ones here.

[Anna333]

Hey,

 

I thought I'd follow up on my earlier posts about the 'letter of the law' regarding the use car restraints from overseas, as opposed to the purchase of them. A lovely lady at VicRoads responded to my online enquiry with the following.

 

"Restraints from overseas are illegal to use in Australia. Only restraints that comply with the Australian and New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1754 are legal to use in Australia.

 

For the purpose of Victorian Road Rule 266(7), a child restraint must be an approved child restraint as gazetted in Victorian Government Gazette S396 (9 November 2009).

 

This Gazette is available to view at http://www.gazette.vic.gov.au

The specific location of this Gazette is:

http://www.gazette.vic.gov.au/gazette/Gazettes2009/GG2009S396.pdf#page=7"

 

I'm now satisfied that I have the legal word, so will happily comply when we get over in a few weeks.

[Guest Alice2]

Hi Anna. Thanks for the update. I have since given up trying to figure out if it's legal and opted for let's just buy new ones there. So, if anyone is returning to the UK and is interested in 3 booster seats (no backs), 3 booster seats (with backs) and 2 car seats (for up to 4 years approx.) let me know cos we need to sell them. Haha. :-D

[Guest]

Hi Snifter

 

I wonder if you could help. I have a 2.5 yr old and a 6 mth old. We will have to buy the 6 mth the next car seat up (here in the UK) soon and I wondered whether it would be worth buying an Aussie one to use here, as we plan to move out there next summer.

 

What do you think of this? Do you know if Aus car seats are legal in the UK? I was just trying to save a bit of money as otherwise we will buy my daughter a new car seat this yr and then have to buy them both a new one next year.

 

If it helps we do not use ISOFIX.

 

Annoyingly our eldest's seat came out better than some ISOFIX seats because of its impact shield technology. It's a Kiddy one. Do you know if they sell those in Aus. I haven't been able to find any.

 

Thanks

 

I double checked and from what I've read (all searchable via a quick online search) its a similar sort of situation as when going to Aus. Car seats used in the UK need to meet the EU standards. So buying Aus ones to use in the UK would not be acceptable.

 

ETA - I did reply further up and suggested about borrowing a car seat from a trusted person as a temp measure in the UK. Is that possible?

[Guest]

Hey,

 

I thought I'd follow up on my earlier posts about the 'letter of the law' regarding the use car restraints from overseas, as opposed to the purchase of them. A lovely lady at VicRoads responded to my online enquiry with the following.

 

"Restraints from overseas are illegal to use in Australia. Only restraints that comply with the Australian and New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1754 are legal to use in Australia.

 

For the purpose of Victorian Road Rule 266(7), a child restraint must be an approved child restraint as gazetted in Victorian Government Gazette S396 (9 November 2009).

 

This Gazette is available to view at www.gazette.vic.gov.au

The specific location of this Gazette is:

http://www.gazette.vic.gov.au/gazette/Gazettes2009/GG2009S396.pdf#page=7"

 

I'm now satisfied that I have the legal word, so will happily comply when we get over in a few weeks.

 

Glad to hear you found a satisfactory source

[Chardy]

Ok so here are our thoughts, we have a 9 and 7 year old so theoretically they don't need any seat/booster but for safety we have been using base only boosters in the UK to keep the seat belt off their necks so we are thinking of bringing them as they are better than nothing and not risk the seatbelt slicing their necks in an accident.

 

Our 3 year old is in a very good Maxi Cosi Priory XP but we don't want to buy a new car seat straightaway in Perth as we don't know what car we will buy yet - so we are thinking of bringing this for max 2 weeks to allow us to get about in a hire car until the car is bought then we can get a new seat to fit it.

 

Opinions on risk please !?

[Guest Trueblue22]

Our 3 year old is in a very good Maxi Cosi Priory XP but we don't want to buy a new car seat straightaway in Perth as we don't know what car we will buy yet - so we are thinking of bringing this for max 2 weeks to allow us to get about in a hire car until the car is bought then we can get a new seat to fit it.

 

Opinions on risk please !?

 

If you get stopped by the Police the first thing they will look at is the car seat once they realise you're from the UK.

 

I believe you can hire a car seat from most hire car companies and there are also companies who specialise in hiring out baby equipment.

 

Thanks

[Chardy]

If you get stopped by the Police the first thing they will look at is the car seat once they realise you're from the UK.

 

I believe you can hire a car seat from most hire car companies and there are also companies who specialise in hiring out baby equipment.

 

Thanks

 

Best not get stopped then !

 

Seriously though, for the amount the car hire companies want for 2 weeks I could've bought one !

 

Have you got any links for companies doing cheaper options on a seat - although we'll need it at the airport on arrival ??

 

No comments on the base only boosters then ?? :wink: If we can't use them maybe we'll sit them on some books/beach towels ! :laugh:

[Guest Trueblue22]

Best not get stopped then !

 

Seriously though, for the amount the car hire companies want for 2 weeks I could've bought one !

 

Have you got any links for companies doing cheaper options on a seat - although we'll need it at the airport on arrival ??

 

No comments on the base only boosters then ?? :wink: If we can't use them maybe we'll sit them on some books/beach towels ! :laugh:

 

No it's always good to avoid being pulled by the cops :biglaugh:

 

I don't have any links for cheaper options sorry, all hire companies seem to be robbing in this department.

 

Accoring to Oz law only under 7's require boosters, unlike UK where it's 12, but like you say it helps with the seatbelt across the neck.

 

The Oz law applies to all car seats, including boosters unfortunately.

 

Probably not the best advice but I personally would take them with you and buy new ones as soon as you get there, or if there is anyone you know already over there that could get some ready for you? Pain in the bum I know! :eek:

[Ken]

Chardy, Hertz only charge for a maximum of 4 days hire of a baby or child seat regardless of the length of time the car is hired for. Of course they're not the cheapest car hire company around so you may well find a total hire price that beats them even with paying for every day of baby seat hire, but it's worth mentioning to look out for this. Also check how flexible the budget hire companies are to changes - we booked 3 weeks hire with Hertz but returned the car after 10 days as we bought a car sooner than expected. The price we paid is the same as if we'd booked 10 days in the first place i.e. no penalty for the early return. I know many of the budget firms would have invoked a surcharge.

[bigbadcon]

Hi folks,

 

Ive read through this whole thread and I didnt see anyone mentioning what car seat they took on the plane with them if they have booked a seat for their child.

 

Our son is 8 months old now but will be 13 months when we are travelling. At the moment he is in a maxi cosi cabrio but we cant take this on the plane as it will only attach to the isofix base (which you cant use on the plane)

 

So Im in the dilemma where I need a car seat for the plane but dont want to buy one just before I leave and then have to buy another when I get there as the european one wont be legal.

 

What did everyone else do in this situation? Maybe I should buy one off an australian website and get it shipped to Ireland??

 

Thanks in advance folks...

[Shigella]

 

If you get stopped by the Police the first thing they will look at is the car seat once they realise you're from the UK.

 

 

And what will they do when they see you have a UK seat?

[Shigella]

...

 

Our son is 8 months old now but will be 13 months when we are travelling. At the moment he is in a maxi cosi cabrio but we cant take this on the plane as it will only attach to the isofix base (which you cant use on the plane)

 

...

 

Maxi Cosi Cabriofix? It is also belt-fix. You should be fine with it on the plane and it will fit in pretty much any car.

[bigbadcon]

I may have found the answer to my own question....

 

From the Singapore Airlines website ...

 

The use of booster seats is not permitted. However, you can use approved car-type child seats and FAA-approved child harness.

 

http://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/travel-information/travelling-with-children/

 

I had never heard of these harnesses, I found a website that says they are suitable for a child weighing 22-44 lbs. Cant weight my son now cause he's asleep but If he's 22 lbs by the time he's 13 months this seems waaaaaaaaay easier than looking at car seat and carrying them. Better start fattening him up :biggrin:

 

http://kidsflysafe.com/buy-now/

 

EDIT: Just found out you can only use these harnesses when you are in the back seat of a particular sectoin so the strap is not blocking the tv screen of the person behind you...

 

These seats are usually the ones with limited recline and are near the toilets and galleys so can be quite noisy..... Hmmm what to do

[bigbadcon]

Maxi Cosi Cabriofix? It is also belt-fix. You should be fine with it on the plane and it will fit in pretty much any car.

 

Yeah your right actually, I was told by someone in mothercare today that it wasnt but I could have sworn it was. I wasnt sure because we always use the Isofix.

 

Either way its only supposed to be for babies up to 12 months and so he might be bursting out of it at that stage.

 

Thanks though :biggrin: Nice to know I can use it if needs be. If he does fit in it still we could use it in Australia for a day or two until we buy an Aussie one...

 

EDIT: Just found out you can only use these harnesses when you are in the back seat of a particular sectoin so the strap is not blocking the tv screen of the person behind you...

 

These seats are usually the ones with limited recline and are near the toilets and galleys so can be quite noisy..... Hmmm what to do

[Guest Trueblue22]

And what will they do when they see you have a UK seat?

 

I don't know what the penalty is for this.

[Guest Alice2]

 

No comments on the base only boosters then ?? :wink: If we can't use them maybe we'll sit them on some books/beach towels ! :laugh:

 

I posted this question awhile ago but did not get any answers then either. Like you, our boys are 7 and 10. I have done more reading since and various documents indicate that booster cushions (that's what they refer UK boosters without sides as) are not recommended/allowed (depending on which page of the website you read...)

 

Also, in the UK there are allowed to use adult seat belts over 135cm. In Australia, it's 145cm. Below that, they need to have proper car seats or integrated booster cushions (ie. cushions that are in-built into the car).

 

So, I have come to the conclusion that I will actually need to buy them new car seats with sides(!) when I get there. The websites seem certain on one thing - if there is no label/sticker on the seat that says AS/NZS 1754 it ain't legal

 

hth