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

[melbel]

oops double post...

[melbel]

That would be before the new national laws came into effect then......the laws are different now since March 2010 in NSW

The new national child restraint laws state:

* Children younger than six months must be secured in a rearward facing restraint.
* Children aged six months to under four years must be secured in either a rear or forward facing restraint.

Taken from the NSW Govt website

[willow5]

M2R That's terrible! I feel for your friend When did that happen? The laws are supposed to have changed recently, or at least that is what I thought. I am trying to find out exactly what the laws are now as new seats are coming into stores now. It's ridiculous that you can be charged for trying to make your child safe Is your friend going to get her baby back soon? I really do feel for her, there are parents out there doing horrible, neglectful things and still have their children it's just wrong.

[melbel]

Two things or two sets of regulations have changed which is where it gets confusing. The regulations on the use of carseats have changed, they used to be diff from state to state but over the last eighteen or so months new national laws have been phased in so everyone has to follow the same laws regarding usage...also to confuse the issue the design standards by which carseat manufacturers make the carseats have changed mean carseats have to meet new regulations to be approved...this is still being phased in and new seats are coming the market all the time....it's all a bit confusing in the carseat world at the momentwith everything changing so rapidly......

and yes I am very sorry for your friend M2R it is worng that a person who is trying to keep her child safe should be punished like that....

If you go here you can get a link to the appropriate information for your state willow
2010 National Car Restraints in Each State (map view) | Baby Car Seat: a place to learn Australia standard of infant seat, convertible seat, booster seat

[willow5]

Thanks melbel, I didn't see your other post when I posted before. It is sooo confusing! I want to rear face as long as possible, I think DS is just over 12kg now, but we haven't turned him as length wise it still seems ok, as in his head isn't at or above the seat at the moment. I guess that could be the wrong thing to do but I read that fit is as important as weight too. We want to import a seat but not sure on what happens with insurance. Going on a previous post insurance could be void if you do Shouldn't be this bloody hard !

[buliej]

M2R - that's horrible - and also hard to believe that your child could be taken away for trying to keep them safe by rear facing for longer in a seat that properly fits. Was something else going on (not to insult your friend, but I do find it hard to believe that this was the one & only factor). With plenty of proof that rear facing is safer, the standards in Australia do not make me happy.

[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).