No products in the cart.
Car Seat Safety
Australian Car Seat Standards – Improvemennts
Australian Standard 2010
The release of AS/NZS 1754:2010 was the first major update since 2004. The old 2004 standard was age and weight based, which had many problems because every child grows at a different rate and weight is not a good indicator of neck strength or core stability.
The 2010 standard moved away from age/weight and introduced shoulder height / torso length measurements — similar to the European i-Size system introduced in 2013.
Issues with the 2010 Australian Standard
The 2010 standard had several shortcomings. There was no minimum height from the top of the seat to the shoulder height marker, meaning cheaper seats often had very little head protection above the marker.
There was also no maximum height limit for the shoulder marker, allowing some manufacturers to make exaggerated claims about “tallest booster”. Many parents still focus on age/weight instead of the correct shoulder height markers.
| Type of Child Restraint | Min Height of Lower Shoulder Height Marker | Min Height of Middle/Transition Shoulder Height Marker | Min Height/distance of the upper shoulder height marker |
| Type A1 | N/A | N/A | 290mm |
| Type A2 | N/A | N/A | 310mm |
| Type A3 | N/A | N/A | 290mm |
| Type B | 290mm | N/A | 385mm |
| Type A1/B | N/A | 290mm | 386mm |
| Type A2/B | N/A | 310mm | 385mm |
| Type C | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Type D | 290mm | N/A | 385mm |
| Type E | 360mm | N/A | 145mm |
| Type F (converter) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Type F | 360mm | N/A | 155mm |
| Type E with adjustable head restraint | 360mm | N/A | 145mm |
| Type F with adjustable head restraint | 360mm | N/A | 155mm |
| Type B/E | 290mm | 385 mm | 145mm |
| Type B/F | 290mm | 385mm | 155mm |
Australian Standard 2013
On 19 September 2014, AS/NZS 1754:2013 became the mandatory standard. This introduced new categories including:
- A4 – Extended rear-facing up to ~30 months
- G – Extended harnessing up to ~8 years
- Isofix as a recognised attachment method
Shoulder Height Markers
- A2 min height marker: 35 cm
- A2 nominal height marker: 37 cm
- A4 Max shoulder height marker: 39 cm
- Forward Facing Type B Max exit marker: 43 cm
- Extended Harnessing Type G Max: 51 cm
- Booster Type E Entry: 38–45 cm
- Type E exit marker: 50–52 cm
| Type of child restraint / combination of types | Height of the lower shoulder height marker label | Height range of the middle/transition shoulder height marker label | Height of the Upper shoulder height marker label | Height distance of the Upper shoulder height marker label from the top of the backrest/ top of the headrest whichever is higher |
| Type A1 | N/A | N/A | 290-320 | 125 |
| Type A2 | N/A | N/A | 320-350 | 125 |
| Type A3 | N/A | N/A | 290-320 | 125 |
| Type A4 | N/A | N/A | 360-390 | 135 |
| Type A1/B | N/A | 290-320 | 405-435 | 135 |
| Type A2/B | N/A | 320-350 | 405-435 | 135 |
| Type A4/B | N/A | Label 3 320-350 Label 7 360-390 | 405-435 | 135 |
| Type A1, Type B and Type E | N/A | Label 3 290-320 Label 6 405-435 | 475 minimum | 145 |
| Type A2, Type B and Type E | N/A | Label 3 320-350 Label 6 405-435 | 475 minimum | 145 |
| Type A1 and Type G | N/A | 290-320 | 490-510 | 145 |
| Type A2 and Type G | N/A | 320-350 | 490-510 | 145 |
| Type A4 / G | N/A | Label 3 320-350 Label 7 360-390 | 490-510 | 145 |
| Type B | 290 | N/A | 405-435 | 135 |
| Type C1, C2 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Type D | 290 | N/A | 405-435 | 135 |
| Type E | 385 | N/A | 475 minimum | 145 |
| Type H converter | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Type F | 385 | N/A | 530 minimum | 155mm |
| Type E with adjustable head restraint | 385 | N/A | 475 minimum | 145mm |
| Type with adjustable head restraint | 385 | N/A | 530 minimum | 155mm |
| Type B/E | 290 | 405-435 | 475 minimum | 145mm |
| Type B/F | 290 | 405-435 | 530 minimum | 155mm |
| Type G | 290 | N/A | 490-510 | 145mm |
Car Seat Types Explained
Type A Car Seat / Child Restraint
Type A restraints are rear-facing with a built-in 6-point harness. They are designed for newborns and young children who cannot yet sit up unaided. The law requires children to remain rear-facing until at least 6 months, but many safety experts recommend keeping them rear-facing much longer.
A1 Type (Baby Capsules)
For children up to ~70 cm tall (approx 6–9 months).
These are traditional baby capsules/carriers. They can be easily clicked in and out of the car and onto compatible prams.
A2 Type
For children up to ~80 cm tall (approx 12 months).
Can be a capsule or convertible A2/B seat. Most convertible restraints start here.
RECOMMENDED
A4 Type – Extended Rear Facing
For children up to ~30 months (new category in 2013 standard).
This is the safest option for as long as possible.
Type B Car Seat / Child Restraint
For children who have outgrown their rear-facing restraint, up until at least 4 years of age, with a built-in 6-point harness where the child faces the front of the car.
Important Note: Forward-facing restraints (Type B) fit most children up to at least 4 years of age. A new forward-facing restraint with an in-built harness, Type G, is now available which can be used up to approximately 8 years of age.
You should not turn your child forward-facing before they are physically ready — ideally keeping them rear-facing as long as possible.
Type E Car Seat / Child Restraint (Booster Seats)
For children who have outgrown their forward-facing harnessed restraint, up to at least 8–10 years of age. Type E seats use the vehicle’s lap-sash seatbelt to position the belt correctly across the child’s hips and shoulder.
Booster cushions (without a back) are no longer sold in stores and are not recommended as they offer no side or head protection. Tethered boosters (with upper tether) are much safer than untethered ones.
Key Points for Booster Seats:
- • The lap belt must sit low across the hips (on the pelvic bones), not on the stomach.
- • The shoulder belt must cross the middle of the shoulder and chest — never behind the back or under the arm.
- • Continue using a booster until the child is approximately 145 cm tall and can pass the 5-step safety test.
Type G Car Seat / Child Restraint (Extended Harnessing)
The Type G category was introduced in the 2013 Australian Standard. It is a forward-facing car seat with a built-in harness that can be used from approximately 6 months up to 8 years of age.
This is a much safer transition option than moving straight to a booster seat. The child remains harnessed for longer, providing better head, neck, and spine protection in a crash.
Key Advantages of Type G Seats
- • Keeps your child harnessed until ~8 years old (or until they reach the upper shoulder height marker).
- • Easy-adjust harness grows with your child.
- • Far safer than a standard booster seat for children who have outgrown a 5-point harness but are not yet ready for a lap-sash booster.
Popular examples include the InfaSecure Emerge, Britax Maxi Guard, and Babylove EZYgrow.
ISOFIX Type Car Seats
With the introduction of the 2013 Australian Standard, ISOFIX became an officially recognised installation method. ISOFIX connects the child restraint directly to a rigid 6mm bar built into the vehicle’s rear seat.
ISOFIX compatible restraints are currently available in Type A and combination A/B categories. All ISOFIX seats must also be capable of being installed using a seatbelt as a backup method.
Important: A top tether strap must always be used with ISOFIX installations.
Key Points about ISOFIX
- • Provides a more rigid and secure connection than seatbelt-only installation in compatible vehicles.
- • Makes installation quicker and reduces the chance of incorrect fitting.
- • Not all vehicles have ISOFIX anchor points in every seating position.