Choosing a child restraint
Browse the links below to find the information you need:
- Guide to selecting a child restraint
- Penalties
- During pregnancy
- Types of infant/child restraints available
- More information about child restraints rules
Road crashes cause many child deaths in Queensland. Children are extremely vulnerable in a crash if they are not using an approved restraint or seatbelt that is fitted correctly.
Some adults mistakenly believe that holding their child in their arms, or including the child in their seatbelt can prevent injuries in a crash. Your body could crush the child if they are sharing your seatbelt. The strength needed to hold a baby in a 50 kilometre per hour (km/h) crash is equivalent to lifting a large washing machine.
You should select a child restraint before the birth of your baby. You will need to check that the restraint fits your vehicle and that your other passengers can still sit comfortably in the vehicle once the restraint is installed.
Your child must be secured in an approved child restraint until they reach their seventh birthday. After this time, your child can be restrained in an adult seatbelt, provided it is safe to do so when considering the size and weight of your child.
When choosing a child restraint, the child's age is the primary factor in determining the correct restraint to use for your child. The size and weight of your child may however, have an impact on what type of child restraint is appropriate.
Guide to selecting a child restraint
The following table is a guide to selecting a suitable child restraint.
| Age | Indicative weight | Child restraint |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 6 months | less than 8 kilograms (kgs) | rearward facing baby capsule or infant restraint |
| 6 months to 1 year | 8 to 12 kgs | rearward or forward facing infant restraint |
| 6 months to 4 years | 8 to 18 kgs | forward facing child restraint with built-in harness |
| 4 years to 7 years | 14 to 26 kgs | booster seat with H-harness or a booster seat with a secured adult seatbelt |
Selecting the appropriate restraint is only the first step in protecting your child. No restraint will work properly or prevent injury if it has not been fitted correctly in accordance with the manufacturer's directions.
Penalties
Under Queensland law, the driver of the vehicle must ensure that all passengers, no matter how young or old, are wearing a correctly fitted child restraint or seatbelt. The penalty for failing to do this is a A$300 fine and three demerit points.
If more than one seatbelt offence occurs within a 12-month period, the driver will receive another three demerit points for the second offence, plus an additional three demerit points because the second or subsequent seatbelt offence is within 12 months of the earlier seatbelt offence.
During pregnancy
Your child needs protection even before birth. It is important that pregnant women wear seatbelts correctly. A properly worn seatbelt puts little pressure on the stomach or the unborn child.
Pregnant women must wear the seatbelt with the lap part sitting over their thighs, across the pelvis and below the unborn child. The sash part should be above the stomach and positioned between the breasts.
Types of infant/child restraints available
Infant restraint
Babies under six months (usually weighing less than 12 kgs) must be secured in an approved infant restraint. Infant restraints are designed to be installed facing the rear of the vehicle as this is the safest way for a baby to travel. A child should be secured in a rearward facing child restraint up until six months of age. The department recommends infants remain in a rearward facing infant restraint as long as possible. The restraints must be anchored to the vehicle at two points — at the anchor bolt/tether strap and with the seatbelt.
Always check the manufacturer's instructions to find out how to properly install the restraint and how to adjust the harness. Make sure the harness is fitted snugly every time you use the restraint.
Child car seats
Note: Some manufacturers sell child restraints that can be converted to differerent types. For example, lying down or sitting upright. With this type of restraint, the manufacturer may specify different weight ranges (for the child) for the different types of use. A child restraint should never be used outside the range specified by the manufacturer.
A forward facing child restraint with a built-in harness can only be used on forward-facing seats. They are attached by an anchor bolt, a tether strap and the car's seat belt.
Booster seat
Once your child reaches their fourth birthday, and up until they reach seven years of age, they should use a booster seat with a H-harness or a booster seat with a secured adult seatbelt.
Booster seats are also available as a base only (commonly referred to as a booster cushion) or with backs and sides. Boosters with backs and sides provide head support for a sleeping child.
A booster seat should only be fitted to a forward-facing seat.
A booster seat enables a child to use an adult lap-sash seatbelt, or a H-harness and lap seatbelt in the centre of a vehicle. The child will then be able to see out of the window and the seatbelt will fit more comfortably.
When using a booster seat with an adult lap-sash seatbelt, make sure the sash part of the seatbelt is not touching the child's neck. In the event of a crash, the back of the car seat provides protection for a child's head against whiplash.
A child is too tall for a booster seat if their eye level is above the top of the booster seat when they are sitting on it.
Booster seat with a H-harness
A H-harness is designed to be used with a centre lap seatbelt or a lap-sash seatbelt to provide extra safety and protection for a child.
If used with a booster seat, a H-harness is suitable for a child weighing between 14 kg and 26 kg.
The manufacturer's instructions should be followed when a harness is being fitted. When using a harness, you must adjust the seatbelt first so it fits firmly over the child's hips, then tighten the shoulder straps, making sure they are not twisted, and adjust the tether strap.
Incorrect and correct use of booster seat/seat belt
| Image | Description |
|---|---|
 | The child is too small for an adult seatbelt. The seatbelt touches the child's neck. |
 | The child is too large for the booster seat.
|
 | Correct use of a seatbelt. The seatbelt does not touch the child's neck. Using an adult lap-sash seatbelt. The child is older than seven years of age and weighs about 26 kg. |
More information about child restraints rules
Download the following documents for more information about child restraints rules.
- Child restraints — questions and answers (PDF**, 48KB) contains more detailed information about the child restraints rules effective from 11 March 2010.
- The child restraints brochure (PDF**, 478KB) contains a guide to choosing a child restraint and safety tips.
- The table of road rules changes (PDF**, 40KB) provides a complete list of all new road rules effective from 12 October 2009.
**While this department has taken every possible precaution with the creation of these files, they are downloaded and used at your own risk. Adobe Reader is needed to open and print Portable Document Format (PDF) files and is free to download from http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html. Various tools to enable access to these files for people using a screen reader can be found at http://access.adobe.com. Further information is available from the "Help with downloading, reading and printing PDF".
Last updated 05 November 2009
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