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Car Seat Safety
Australian Car Seat Standards – Improvemennts
Australian Car Seat Standards Explained
From the 2004 weight-based rules to the current shoulder-height system – everything you need to know to keep your child safe.
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 |
Type A1 for children up to 70cm tall (approx 6-9 months)
The A1 type baby car seat is always a Baby capsule / baby carrier. All Child restraints manufactured after the approval of the 2010 Australian Standards has height markers, prior to this the seats are weight based.
Call 0420 516 587 for your Type A Child restraint installation.
Some Restraints have been Designed with premmies in mind and have and extra low harness position and usually 2 buckle positions.
The advantage of the Baby Capsule / A1 Baby Carseat is that it can be taken in and out of the car by clipping and un-clipping the baby capsule from the base, plus with the appropriate adapters it can easily clip onto your pram, all without disturbing your babies sleep.
examples of an A1 type capsule include
Baby Car Seat fitting in Mentone is just a phone call away to get you child restraint fitted by an
ACRI Accredited Professional Child restraint technician
. Call 0420 516 587For Your baby Capsule Hire and baby capsule installation CALL 0420 516 587.
Type A2 for children up to 80cm tall (approx 12 months), and a new category Type A4, for children up to 2-3 years of age.
The A2 type baby car seat can also a Baby capsule / baby carrier but also a A2/B convertible car seat. As a rule of thumb, Baby capsules are generally not A2 as the weight of the baby plus capsule is simple too heavy for many parents to lift; in and out of the car. Example of an A2 Capsule is the Britax Unity Capsule.
Call 0420 516 587 for your A2 Child restraint installation.
Generally most convertible child restraints have a lot of padding to take into account smaller babies and premmies. This padding is usually removed once the babies get close to the first height marker.
The advantage of the Baby Capsule / A1 Baby Carseat is that it can be taken in and out of the car by clipping and un-clipping the baby capsule from the base, plus with the appropriate adapters it can easily clip onto your pram, all without disturbing your babies sleep
examples of an A2 type baby car seat include, the Infa Secure Luxi (type A/B/E – lasts till 8 years of age), The Britax Millenia, and the Britax BFrist.
It should be noted that Most Safe n Sound / Britax A2/B car seats have been upgrade to an A4 type Child restraint, with the introduction of the 2013 australian car seat standard.
Baby Car Seat fitting in Mentone is just a phone call away to get you child restraint fitted by an
ACRI Accredited Professional Child restraint technician
. Call 0420 516 587For Your convertible child restraint installation CALL 0420 516 587.
Type A4 is a new category introduced in September 2014 with the new Australian Standards, for children up to 2-3 years (30 months) of age.
The A4 type baby car seat can be am A4/B convertible car seat or and A4/G extended harnessing car seat. The A4 extended rear facing car seat / restraint has three height markers. The First height marker indicates the minimum height a child must be before they can be forward facing, but can kept rear facing in an A4. The Second height marker is where you must turn your child around to forward facing position (average 30 months of age).
Call 0420 516 587 for your A4 Baby Car Seat installation.
Generally most convertible child restraints have a lot of padding to take into account smaller babies and premmies. This padding is usually removed once the babies get close to the first height marker.
At the time of writing, Maxi Cosi had released their A4 child restraint without being certified from SAI GLOBAL and all Maxi Cosi Seats had to be recalled.
examples of an A4 baby car seat include, The Britax Millenia, Britax Bfirst, and the infa Secure Quattro.
A4 Car Seat fitting in Mentone is just a phone call away to get you child restraint fitted by an
ACRI A4 Accredited Professional Child restraint technician
. Call 0420 516 587Type 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.