Car seats in Australia Post Reply

[Wandsworth Mummy]

Hello

My family and I are relocating to Australia in October and I'm wondering if I can take my maxi cosi car seats with us. We have the Tobi and also the cabrio. From looking on google it's not looking promising but I'm hoping there might be some Aussies on here, who take their kids home for holidays, who can enlighten me!

Thanks heaps!

WM

[moops]

Hello

Unfortunately not. ISOFIX does not comply with Aust standard.

To comply a seat needs to teathered to the car by the seat belt & anchor strap to the rear of the car.

Each state has different rules, you need to check the state government for there rules & regs.

A lot of people still use them but if you are in an accident and your child is injured I suspect you wouldn't be covered by your insurance plus it's a £165 fine, 3 demerit points and a criminal conviction!

[Wandsworth Mummy]

Ok, thanks Moops! Looks like we'll be buying new car seats then! Do even the rear facing baby seats have to be straped in with the back strap? Could we get away with our baby seat do you think? We'd only need it for about 4 or 5 months before our baby grows out of it. Do you know any info/costs on hiring them?

Thanks heaps!

[erinisle22]

In NSW, you have to go to a registered installer to get the car seat put in. So my parents did that for us in their car when we went to visit a few months ago with our 3 month old. We preferred our UK one (maxi cosi) but we had no choice! Our son's head kept on lolling forward onto his chest when he rode in it.

[new_mum]

HI Wandsworth Mummy,

Not sure which state you are going too, but in NSW, all car seats (including baby capsules) must, by law, use the tether strap that attaches to the anchor point in the car. (ie, not just the seat belt).

Please see the NSW RTA (New South Wales Roads and Traffic Authority) website for more info:
http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/roadsafety/ch ... index.html
See the FAQ page for info re all car seats must use anchor point. (ie tether strap)
There will be a similar RTA website for other Australian states and Territories.

The most popular, and well regarded, brand of car seats in Australia is 'Safe and Sound', and they sell a whole range of car seats for all ages.

I'm guessing if you think you only have 4 or 5 months of use left in your existing car seats your child is quite young? There are car seats in Aus known as 'convertible' car seats, which are initially rear facing, and then can be turned around once your children reach the required weight or height limit. (note in some states, there is a move towards using height limits instead of weight). So you will get quite a number of years use out of these.

In summary... I would not use your precious airline baggage allowance for transporting a car seat if I were you. I would organise a hire car and hire the car seat until you can get there and buy one yourself, or else buy it online, and have it sent to an Australian friend / family address.

Good Luck with your move!