Tell me about car seats - for over 12kg (post capsule) - and a Britax/Safe N Sound Q?

[Twinklestar]

Hi. Was just reading down through this thread. Am preparing for a move to Oz in a few months and joined up here to get a grip on being a mom in OZ!! My DD1 is nearly 3 and travels in a Norwegian BE SAFE Izi Combi with Isofix - rearfacing. She should get another six months or so out of this seat before I have to turn her forward facing. This is one if not the best rear facing seat on the market in Europe - I have done my homework. I have two of these seats and was hoping to use them with DD2 when DD1 grows out of them. DD2 is now 6 months! I have been searching the net for information on rearfacing seats in Australia but cannot find one that goes past 12kgs, but it was my understanding that a child could be rearfacing up to age 4. I find this baffling!! And the temptation to bring my seats with me and hope for the best but to end up in court charged with child endangerment!!! Do cars have Isofix points in them in Australia? Thanks a million!

[meow]

I think some imported cars have isofix but it's not common in Australia. We've just moved to the states and I'm liking our new seats more than the ones back in Oz.

[buliej]

We have a VW and it has anchors in 2 places - on the "panel" under the rear view mirror as well as between the seat backs and the seats. I think I also checked our Honda and I think it also has the same 2 anchors - I will check again tonight because I need to know anyway. I know you can use the front seat rails as anchor points in lieu of anchor points that would be on the floor of the back seat. The seat rails are just as secure as the real anchor points (I emailed the Swedish company that exports all the major European car seats to various countries including Australia). I'm not up on the terms for the various anchor points so I'm just describing them to you.

I agree that the law here makes no sense - and your research is correct - there is no rear facing Aus car seat that goes beyond 12kgs - it's crazy. If I was you, I'd bring in your seats and use them - but I'm not providing legal advice (although I find it hard to believe that the someone's child was taken away because they were rear facing at an older age) and you will have to weigh the benefits and risks like I have.

[melbel]

Twinklestar, most imported European models of cars have isofix points in them but as yet they are not legal to use here in Australia....our design standards state that the seat must have a top tether strap.....if you buy an australian or some of the asian manufactured car it will not have isofix points. As BulieJ says it is up to you to make the best decision for you..the seats may be safer but they won't be legal so you have to take that chance...for what it is worth the isofix standard is currently being investigated by the Australian authorities and it hopefully won't be too much longer before it is incorporated into the standards here.....maybe if enough of us keep hassling the relevant authorities they might get the message that they need to pull their finger out and do something about it!

[buliej]

As an FYI - our VW jetta (I think it's a 2009) has true ISOFIX points - I inspected them and confirmed in the owner's manual. Our Honda CRV (also 2009 I think) has "hooks" in the same back seat spot but not ISOFIX hooks - I think they are more of the US LATCH system. So, it is possible to get a car in Australia that has these points but the above considerations re: legality remain. Meanwhile I've watched more videos on you tube re: rear facing benefits as well as installation - with these fixed latches in the car and the video and brochure instructions, the overseas seats should be very easy to properly install. I was pretty impressed with the videos (Britax USA has a whole library of them).