Child restraints
Children up to 7 years old must sit in an Australian-Standard-approved restraint.
You must only use restraints that are Australian-Standard-approved. It is recommended that you use a child restraint that is less than 10 years old. The restraint will have a sticker showing approval and have a date stamp for when the restraint was manufactured.
Don’t use a child restraint that has been in a crash. If you use a second hand child restraint, make sure you get a copy of the manufacturer’s instructions for that restraint, so you understand how to use it safely.
Children 7 years and over must use a seatbelt or a booster seat (if they are small for their age).
In addition to the safety risks, if a child isn’t secured correctly in a car, the driver can be fined $330 and lose 3 demerit points.
Where children should sit
Cars with more than 1 row of seats
- Babies and children up to 4 years old must not sit in the front seat.
- Children aged between 4 and 7 years can only sit in the front seat if all other seats are occupied by children under 7 years of age.
- Children over 7 years can sit in the front seat.
Cars with only 1 row of seats
- Children of any age can sit in the front seat as long as they are properly restrained.
- If a car has 1 row of seats and a passenger airbag, a rear-facing child restraint shouldn't be used if the restraint is positioned close to the airbag.
Motorbikes
Children must be at least 8 years old to ride a motorbike, and they must wear a secure fitting, Australian Standard approved motorbike helmet.
Types of child restraints
The type of child restraint you install will depend mainly on the child's age, but you may need to consider the child's size.
Babies up to 6 months old
Babies must be in an approved rear-facing restraint that is properly fastened and adjusted. They should stay in a rear-facing restraint for as long as their size allows.
You can hire a rear-facing restraint from:
Babies and children—6 months to 4 years
Babies and children must be in an approved rear- or forward-facing restraint with a built-in harness that is properly adjusted and fastened.
Children—4 to 7 years
Children must be in an approved booster seat secured with an adult lap-sash seatbelt. An alternative is a booster seat with a fastened and adjusted H-Harness but recent research has indicated that this provides a lower level of safety in some types of crashes.
When to move to the next type of restraint
If your child restraint complies with the latest version of the Australian Standard it will have markings on the seat that show the upper and lower seated shoulder height of the child. You can move your child to the next type of restraint when your child’s seated shoulder height is above the top mark on the restraint.
If your child restraint complies with an older Australian Standard, your child can move to the next type of restraint when:
- their eye level is above the back of the restraint
or - the harness straps are more than 25mm below the child’s shoulder height.
Installing a child restraint
You should always read the manufacturer’s instructions when installing a child restraint. Check your vehicle owner’s manual to find out where the anchor points are located in your car.
Queensland Ambulance Service can install your child restraint, or check if you’ve installed it correctly
For a fee, you can also get your child restraint installed at:
- an RACQ vehicle inspection station
- Kidsafe House in Brisbane.
Exemptions from using a restraint or seatbelt
Public transport
Child restraints are not required to be used on buses and trains.
Taxi companies aren’t required to supply child restraints. However, some may offer this service. You may be able to pre-book a taxi with a child restraint, or you can use your own child restraint.
Medical conditions
If your child has a medical condition or a physical disability that prevents them from using a child restraint or seatbelt, you should discuss this with your doctor. If the doctor believes it is necessary, they may provide an exemption from wearing a seatbelt.
The driver must carry this certificate and provide it to the police if asked.
Read more about child restraints (PDF, 441KB) and how they should be used.
