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I heard on the news that all children needed to be in a rear facing capsule up to the age of 6 months. Does this include reversible car seats?
Also I drive a carnival so does this mean from the RTA's site that the baby will have to be in the very rear of the vehicle? ( 3rd row ).
If you can help please do as I am about to go and buy a car seat for bubs shortly...
Thanks.. Em
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Hey Em,
I am not sure what you mean by a reversible car seat are you talking about the ones that go from birth to say 18kg? My understanding is bubs need to be rear facing until a certain weight rather than age but they say 6 months because thats the average age for the right weight?? :dunno:
Just to be on the safe side - I would recommend talking to a Vic roads approved fitter person (or equivalent) that way you are getting the best advice.
I'm thinking what you mean by a reversable is it does rear facing and forward facing seating positions, in which case it is fine, that is what I had for DD. Call the RTA hotline to find your nearest fitter and they will put it all in for you and when the time comes you can take it back and get them to turn the seat around for you.
As for the forward facing position, You can sit you bub up when they are in the correct weight range and can sit unassisted, being able to comfortably hold their own head up etc, which is generally around the 6 months mark.
They don't recommend putting bubs in the 3rd row at all, it is best having them in the 2nd row until they are at least in a booster seat (as a toddler).
I hope this has helped, it's always easier (when the time comes) to take your car seat to the RTA fitter and they do go through a lot with you to clear up any confusion you may have.
Rear facing capsule I'm sure would include reversible seats. I have not heard anything to suggest that this has changed. And I would be leaving them rear facing for far longer than 6 months - it's much safer - have you seen the YouTube clip on this?
Also, yes, the second row is the safest place, and that is what is referred to when they say "back". The middle seat in the row is the very safest spot if you have room to put it there.
Not sure if it's the same in NSW but I recently purchased a car with 3 rows and was told by the dealer that it's illegal and unsafe to put a capsual/baby seat in the 3rd row?
Was a bit suprised considering we purchased the car to fit our (soon to be) 2 plus my 2 DSS. We are planning a 3rd down the track, and since children need to be in car seats until the age of 7 it will be squashy in the 2nd row.:D
I live in the US in the state of Louisiana. The law here requires babies up to 1 year be in a rear facing car seat only(the small carrier type). We can't use the the one's that can face both ways until after 1 year regardless of weight. That doesn't make much sense to me because some babies are on the large side and exceed the weight requirement for the seat.
We have a Kia carnival, DD2 is in a capsule atm but will be moving this week into a reversible car seat (facing backwards of course).
She is in the middle row behind the drivers seat.
It's also the easiest spot for me to reach her if I need (only if we're stopped of course!)
GiiGii, you're right, that doesn't make sense.....lawmakers, huh :rolleyes:
Our laws here (I'm in Canada) require children to be rear facing (in either the infant bucket type seat or one of the larger convertible seats) until they are 1 year old AND weigh 20lbs. My son was 24 lbs at 11 months when I went to a car seat clinic at the RCMP office and they were very adamant about him staying rear facing for another month as they physically aren't strong enough to withstand impact fwd facing until then.
The convertible seats they sell these days are suitable from birth. A convertible seat is fine. There is strange info on some websites etc about capsule, then rear facing, then forward facing. Maybe it is just old info from before convertible seats? I don't know, but they recommend capsule, rear, forward on the RAA website here in SA and conveniently they can sell you the ones that they recommend!
Also the traditional capsules (safe and sound polo i think) are only suitable until 6 months (again, I think). So if you use one of these you generally still have to use a rear facing seat because most babies aren't ready to be forward facing at 6 months. The Red Cross recommend that they be 10 months or 10 kg (this was about a year ago so they may have changed their advice). My DD wasn't 10kg until 18 months, but my nephew was at 6 months, so it varies a lot.
sweet i drive a voyager and that has 3 rows, we will be putting bub behind the drivers seat and passenger seat row so in the middle row. We will be putting baby in a rearward facing car seat NOT a capsule only cause thats what we prefer. My understanding is a capsule or rearward facing carseat (convertible) is what the government is asking that u put your child in for minimum of 6 months . Hope this info helps.