Car Seat safety-common sense but now we have laws to back them up!

Around 500 children each year are either killed or injured by not being restrained correctly. Personally I feel that many parents are not properly informed about the safety of childrens car restraints. Because the law says that a child only needs to be correctly restrained in a car this has

left a big gap where parents assume because their child is objecting, taller, heavier etc then that is fine to put them into a booster from an early age.

The new laws will be rolled out state by state so it's worth checking your states transport authority to see how this effects you (it will be nationwide law within the next 2yrs).

The new laws are as followed (the italics are my opinion or some extra facts that can help):-

Children up to 6mths should be restrained in a reward facing seat or capsule.

From what I've seen around me many parents move their child the minute the can hold their head up (which can be as young as 3mths). Ideally children should reward face for as long as possible even if their legs are poking out the end of the car seat (it's better to break a leg in an accident then a neck). In places like Sweden children rear face until 4yrs of age and they have one of the lowest incidents of childrens injuries/deaths in road accidents. If you are looking at buying a child seat try to get one that has the highest weight for reward facing (some are as low as 8kgs and some as high as 12kgs).

Children up to 4yrs should be restrained in a child seat-ie the ones with the 5 point harness attached.

There are a % of children that are too tall/heavy for a normal car seat and the new laws cater for a child to be moved to the next level of seating if this is the case (ie if your child is too tall they may be moved to a booster). A child over 4yrs can still remain in their child seat until either they reach the weight limit of the seat, their eyes are level with the back of the seat or their shoulders are over 22cm above the top harness setting.

Children from 4-7 need to be seated in a booster seat.

When using a booster seat the safest option is to use one with a H harness. H-harness can be used up to 26kgs with a booster and then up to 32kgs without the booster. These harnesses are only $40-which is a cheap way to prevent death or injury. A child over 7yrs should remain in their booster if they  are too small to fit into an adult seatbelt properly. If your child is too tall for a booster(their eyes must be level with the back of the seat) under 7yrs of age then the safest option is to use a H harness.

The front Seat-Children under 7yrs cannot be restrained in the front seat unless all rear seats are filled with younger children.

Unless it is absolutely necessary it is best never to put your child in the front seat. Cars especially those with airbags on the passenger side are dangerous for children. A child under 12 shouldn't go in the front seat with an airbag if it can be avoided. If it can't be avoided then the seat should be placed all the way back. My boys will not be sitting in the front seat unless the back seats are filled with younger people or they have their license and therefor are in the drivers seat. If they want to object to this they can walk!

You can view the entire child restrain safety brochure here:-

www.nct.gov.au/filemedia/bulletins/SaferRestraintofChildrenFed08.pdf

IMO a child objecting to being restrained is not a valid reason to forgo safety in the car. My children at one time or another have objected to being put in their car seat. Their safety is more important. They can yell and scream all they like and it won't change a thing( and if you feel a screaming child is unsafe for driving then pull over until they stop). I spent a little over $700 on 2 Maxi rider car seat. These seats take my boys from 8kgs to 26kgs. The 5 point harness that is included is safe up to 18kgs after which a H harness is used. They can then remain their until they are 7yrs of age and also big enough to go to just the H harness which they can wear until they are 32kgs. This is an expense that a lot of parents can't afford but their are cheap alternatives or better still save and save until you can get one.

Small children are not able to stop wriggling in an adult seatbelt. Many of the injuries and deaths of young children are from the adult seatbelt causing abdominal injuries in an impact. A H harness ensures the child cannot wriggle about and can prevent this from happening. Many parents claim that the adult seatbelt is fine if it's not cutting into their childs neck. It's not necessarily the neck that parents should be worried about but the abdominal risks in an accident.

There are many options available for children that are too tall, too heavy etc. Don't sacrifice your childs life. Some car restraints are expensive but if they are the safest option then save and sacrifice to get them. The fine that parents will receive($225) for failing to restrain their child is tiny compared to the lifelong pain and anguish you will live with if your child or a child you are carrying is injured or dies as a result of not being restrained.

If you want to see proof of how dangerous adult seat belts are or how a 5 point harness/H harness is safer then just visit places like u-tube. There are plenty of clips on there to convince you that what is now law should just be common practice for parents.