How often do you use your car now? Go to the shops, getting some take out, visiting friends and relatives, go to the park or the beach, etc. We cannot imagine a world without cars anymore. As your baby will depend on you and be with you most of the time, you will transport your baby in the car an unimaginable number of times. As child restraints are compulsory in Australia up to 145 cm length (about 12 years old), you will need a car seat for the foreseeable future. No car seat is able to restrain a child from 0 – 12 years old, so there are a few different options on the market for the different age groups. Newborn babies can go in a bassinet for up to 1.5 years of age or they can go straight into a car seat that will last them up to 4 years of age. From 6 months old, babies can also use a car seat that will go up to 8 years old. Booster seats are there to support your child up to 12 years old when they reach at least 145 cm length. As you can see, there are a few different combinations possible to safely transport your child.

Our mums have shared their preferences and the things they believe one should consider when buying a car seat. The things they consider most important when buying a car seat are the following:

• Rear facing as long as possible – it has proven to be safest for small children to be rear facing when in the car. Many car seats allow kids to be rear facing up to 4 years of age.
• Second hand buying – be careful to buy second hand. Car seats safety is under development all the time and an older seat might not be up to standard anymore. Also you will not know what happened to the seat: better be safe than sorry!
• Safety reviews – all car seats sold in Australian shops do meet Australian safety standards, but additional safety features might give you even more peace of mind.
• Best choice – when looking for unbiased reviews, Best Choice is a good source for more information on the car seats in the market.
• Age range – there are 4 different age ranges for car seats: capsules up to 1.5 years of age, car seats for 0 – 4 years of age, car seats for 6 months – 8 years of age, booster seats for up to 12 years of age.
• Price – car seats come in very different price ranges. As all car seats sold in Australia have to meet Australian standards, a more expensive car seat is not necessarily a better and safer choice.
• Slimline – owning a smaller car or having to fit in multiple car seats? Consider slimline car seats to safe space on the back seat.

• Reclining options – until about 7 months of age, babies cannot sit up independently and are safest lying down. For the long road trip it will be great if your baby can lay back to sleep.
• Forward/rear facing options – most car seats have markers for when a child can no longer be rear facing. With some brands, children reach these markers sooner than with others. It might be worth considering which car seat will last your child the best.
• Padding – the difference in price for car seats of the same brand is often to be found in the padding. Padding is for comfort, but check whether the cheaper version is indeed that much less comfortable.
• Isofix – often need to remove and reposition your car seat? Isofix is an easy click system available in most modern cars to position a car seat. If not available, car seats are positioned using seat belts.
• Ease of adjustment – your child will likely be in the car seat for a number of years and grow as they go. You will find yourself in need of adjusting the height of the head rest, belts, reclining position etc and the easier this is, the happier you will be with your car seat.
• Extended harnessing – children are safest in a harness, so consider car seats that allow for extended harnessing (up to 8 years of age) instead of booster seats that use the seat belt.