Have the rules changed regarding car seats???

[chody47]

Today I noticed that my 5 month old nephew was forward facing in the car. When I questioned it my SIL said "he's been forward facing for ages now as he's over 8kg". I did mention whether she'd seen the video clips and info regarding the difference between rear facing and forward facing in accidents and she dismissed it with a 'yeah'. Still curious, I asked if the laws had changed, and she said she was told 6 months OR 8kgs and decided that since he was 8kg he could forward face. I left it at that cause she clearly thought I was being rude, but I'm curious, have the laws changed? I'm worried about my nephew (not that I think they'll change him back around).

[willow5]

I think it's 6 months or 9kgs (sadly)

[willow5]

Here you go ...

The national child restraint laws require that:

Children aged under 6 months must use an approved, properly fastened and adjusted rearward facing restraint.
Children aged between 6 months and under 4 years must use an approved, properly fastened and adjusted rearward facing child restraint OR a forward facing restraint.
Children aged between 4 years and under 7 years must use an approved, properly fastened and adjusted forward facing restraint OR an approved booster seat which is properly positioned and fastened.

So now that seats are going by height not weight they have removed the weight along with the age, so now it's just 6 months. If she has an older weighted seat she needs to go by what the weight is in the instruction book, which should be either 9 or 12kgs for rear-facing.
If she has a height marked seat she should go by the height markers on the seat, they will say when it is 'safe' to forward-face.

[LuluHB]

I thought it was 6 months or 8kgs, whichever comes first. A little guy born a couple of weeks before Miss A was turned around about a month ago. He's a really big boy so probably made the weight, but I had such an enormous urge to rip his seat out and put him back rear facing. I did ask her (I hope it came across as kindly but concerned, even though I was feeling anything but kindly) and she responded by saying that her husband was sick of the front passenger seat being so far forward.

[glenny_c]

I've always been told it has to be 6 months AND 8 kgs.

[willow5]

There's no reference to weight any more in the standard. I honestly can't remember if it was 8 or 9 before, either is too light anyway. Australian rear-facing seats were tested to either 9 or 12 kgs. They are still tested with weighted dummies now but all references on forward-facing, rear-facing or boosters go by height, not weight. I do know that some of the new height marked seats are now tested to 15kgs for rear-facing. Safe n Sound have confirmed and another manufacturer too, I just can't think which at the moment. So it's a great start for Aussie kids but still a way to go. You won't find any reference to weight on boxes or in manuals though, you'll need to contact the manufacturer direct for confirmation. SnS have posted on their facebook page with the info but you might have to scroll to find an old post or ask on their wall.

[chody47]

Thanks everyone. I'm not crazy then. I did a quick Internet search before posting here and couldn't find any reference to what she'd said. Maybe I should sneak over to their house tonight and turn it round lol.

[willow5]

Hahaha I have that urge often!

[Chrispe]

The rule is (as I understand it from booklet handed out by our RAA)
Rearward facing until at least 6 months (as they don't have the head control before this)
And 8kgs is the 'average' weight of a 6 months old.

Even going by height indicators doesn't give a true reading for everybody (as my SIL found out with her big baby boy, 10kgs at 6months)

If you put all the factors together you get the 'ideal' time to change seats around.

Age + weight + height.

[AlligatorsMum]

My DS is 9.5 months and 9.5kg and still rear facing. I don't know why everyone is in a rush to change the little ones around!

[Freya]

Im under the impression that seats are now manufactured to facilitate rear facing to 12mths but I could be mistaken. Some people just dont realise how important proper car safety is

[willow5]

Im under the impression that seats are now manufactured to facilitate rear facing to 12mths but I could be mistaken. Some people just dont realise how important proper car safety is

Some are some are still only tested to 9ks rear-facing. The new 0-8 Luxi won't rear-face as long as the SafenSound Meridian. I think the new Neon(Infa Secure but don't quote on that I'd have to check) has the highest rear-facing markers. Some people have their 2 year olds still RF in that one with room to go.

Addit: The Neon is an Infa Secure seat only available at BigW I think. The 0-8 Luxi (also Infa)is targeted as "The only seat you'll ever need" That's only if you want to forward-face early though.

Addit again: The SafenSound Meridians have the same height markers as the Neon, so these are the 2 seats that will allow rear-facing the longest so far.

[shadow77]

Apparently in the States they must rear face until they are 12 months but 2 years is recommended. I think to myself......wouldn't it get a bit squashy for their legs?

[Freya]

Some are some are still only tested to 9ks rear-facing. The new 0-8 Luxi won't rear-face as long as the SafenSound Meridian. I think the new Neon(Infa Secure but don't quote on that I'd have to check) has the highest rear-facing markers. Some people have their 2 year olds still RF in that one with room to go.

Addit: The Neon is an Infa Secure seat only available at BigW I think. The 0-8 Luxi (also Infa)is targeted as "The only seat you'll ever need" That's only if you want to forward-face early though.

Now I know why I am importing! Pretty sure the 'recommendation' is rear facing to 12mths but only legally required to 6mths/8kgs. You would think the manufacturers would run with that but considering they arent even organised with the Isofix changes yet and its legal in 2 months.........................

[willow5]

The rule is (as I understand it from booklet handed out by our RAA)
Rearward facing until at least 6 months (as they don't have the head control before this)
And 8kgs is the 'average' weight of a 6 months old.

Even going by height indicators doesn't give a true reading for everybody (as my SIL found out with her big baby boy, 10kgs at 6months)

If you put all the factors together you get the 'ideal' time to change seats around.

Age + weight + height.

I get what you're saying. Head control in reality has nothing to do with how much force a little body can take in an accident, so it's a very unreliable factor, and outdated.
It is about ossification, the strength and fusion of bones ad muscle/tendon/ligament strength etc. Even a 6 month old baby that has great head control will not withstand the forces of a car accident if forward-facing. There are seats used in Europe that have passed a test called The Swedish Plus Test. There is the Plus test and Plus test gold. There are only about 4 seats that have passed the Gold test. This test mainly focuses on how well the seat will protect the head and neck/spine in an accident. If a seat passes it is near impossible to sustain life threatening injuries to the head/neck in an accident. Short of an absolutely catastrophic accident that would be un-survivable for anyone, child or adult seat or no seat. There is not one forward-facing car seat in the world that could ever pass this test, as it just isn't possible to protect the head, neck and spine to that degree while forward-facing.
A child's body is more likely to be developed and ossified enough at around four to better withstand an accident forward-facing, but not fully developed as an adult until in to the teens.

The Australian manufacturers and legislators will argue that we have top tethers so we don't need extended rear-facing seats. While the top tether is absolutely a great safety feature to a forward-facing seat and does stop a fair amount of seat travel, it still can not match the safety of a rear-facing seat. Lots of variables even with the top tether too like the size of the car and space between front and back seats. Most ERF seats produced overseas now also have top tethers, some have a much better tethering systems than our too safer and more user friendly, ie no top tether strap in the way when getting babies/kids in and out of the seats and no need for lifting over, under or readjusting.

[xXHopeXx]

Chody - i've just PM'ed you a link for the rules in your state

[trishalishous]

we waited until DD hit every marker, she didnt get to 8kg until nearly 11 months old, but was way over the height marker by then.
I figure no harm having the RF for a bit longer, especially as we are mainly country driving at high speeds

[Indadhanu]

Argh! The "head control" reasons drives me batty! Adults have excellent head control but this does not stop whiplash or neck injuries because they force of a crash can outweigh pretty much any and all head control a person has!