Types of Restraints

Rearward facing seats are the safest form of restraint and you should keep your child rear-facing for as long as possible.

Rearward facing seats are the safest form of restraint and you should keep your child rear-facing for as long as possible.

It’s important to keep your child in this type of restraint for as long as possible. Move your child to a booster seat only when he or she no longer fits into the child restraint.

Newer designs of convertible boosters allow for the use of an installed 'H' harness (bought separately) right up to 26kg. We only recommend the use of these harnesses if your booster has a crotch clip or other 'anti-sub' features.

‘Must haves’ when buying a booster seat:

• It's anchored to your car.
• It has a crotch clip (or similar ‘anti submarining’ device) for seatbelt ‘lap’ section.
• It can be used with an ‘H’ harness or ‘Protecta’ harness (which should anchor to your car and be held down by a crotch clip or ‘anti sub’ features).
• It has a seatbelt sash guide near the shoulder.
• It has a high back and side wings for head protection (eg when your child is sleeping).

When you're using a booster seat never:

• use a lap only belt with a booster seat.
• fit a booster to a rearward facing seat.
• place the belt under the arm or behind the back as it increases the risk of injury in a crash.

Make sure:

• you keep your child in a restraint as long as possible and only move the child when he or she no longer physically fits.
• your child uses the sash part of the belt correctly. Don't put it under his or her arm.

You should never:

• use an adult belt alone on a small child. The only thing worse than this is not restraining your child at all!
• put your child in the front seat until they're 16 years old. The back is safest!
• put your children in lap-only belts unless there's no alternative. They're not a safe option.