The best kids’ car seats and boosters in Australia
Because you only want the best for your LO.
Whether you’re driving your kids to and from the shops, play dates or soccer practice, you’ll want them to arrive safe and sound.
But if your kids are starting to outgrow their infant or toddler seats, it may be time to start shopping around for a more suitable car restraint.
With child weight, size and height limits to consider as well as the variety of restraints on offer, it can be a confusing and daunting exercise. Where do you start?
Read on and we’ll help you make the right choice.
Bounty Baby Award Winners – Best Car Seat 2022
The winning baby products of the year have all been exhaustively tried, tested and voted on by real mums, bubs and Bounty’s expert panel.
The awards, proudly brought to you by Baby Village, saw more than 41,000 Aussie parents, plus a panel of industry experts cast their votes on a range of products from nappies and car seats, to prams and breast pumps, judging each one on quality, value for money, user-friendliness and innovation.
Products were put through their paces over a period of six months in three different settings: at home in real-life situations, in a retail environment and online. The products submitted were assessed on quality, value for money, user-friendliness and innovation.
READ NEXT: All of the 2022 Award Winners
The winners of the Best Car Seat 2022 are:
GOLD: Britax Safe-n-Sound b-first ClickTight
SILVER: Nuna REVE™
BRONZE: Joie Baby Australia armour™
Scroll down to read more …
WATCH: Keep kids safe when you’re on the road. Continues after video …
The best kids car seats and boosters in Australia
Britax Safe-N-Sound B-First ClickTight, RRP $849
b-first features CLICKTIGHT Installation System and Advanced Side Impact Cushion Technology (SICT).
CLICKTIGHT Installation System brings a unique patented technology to Australia, designed to provide effortless and secure installation, every time. Dealing with crash energy earlier, the Advanced SICT combines advanced safety and freedom of space.
Designed to reduce everyday misuse, and offer overall increased protection, b-first offers safety and flexibility.
Nuna REVE™, RRP $579
It’s uncomplicated and un-fussy. The REVE convertible car seat is filled with extras like 2D growth™ system, five recline positions and side-impact protection. So you can relax and enjoy every magical, messy, covered-with crumbs moment.
Using ultra-resilient, top of the line plastics and steel reinforcement, paired with all over side impact protection thanks to the smart SIP system including EPO energy absorbing foam, REVE is heavy duty, with a secure shell that is strong yet light and compact.
Its 2D growth™ system works simultaneously with the headrest, expanding out while growing up.
It also comes with two flexible, two-piece inserts with infant head and body support.
Joie Baby Australia armour™, RRP $329
Designed to safeguard your little one through years of adventures, the armour™ car seat features a snug fit for bitty babies to big kids up to four years!
It’s the strongest and smartest safety features to keep your child secure through every growth spurt.
The Grow Together™ multi-height headrest and harness system adjust simultaneously and require no re-threading of harness, making life even easier with your little one.
Armours AutoAdjust™ side wings widen as headrest is raised to provide more shoulder space for growing children, while it also includes Guard Surround Safety™ panels that provide extra side protection and can be individually activated for extra room in your vehicle.
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Bugaboo Turtle by Nuna, RRP $599
The Bugaboo Turtle by Nuna makes your life easier from day one.
You can easily pair it with your Bugaboo pram when using with matching adapters, to smoothly transition your baby from car to pram, and back, without waking them up.
This capsule is suitable for use with all Click & Go™ compatible strollers (no receivers required), as well as selected Steelcraft, Baby Jogger, Bugaboo, Valco and Redsbaby strollers (receivers sold separately).
Britax Safe-N-Sound Unity™ ISOFIX, RRP $549 (down to $469)
The Unity™ ISOFIX compatible baby capsule is Australia’s first baby capsule suitable for newborn up to 12 months (approx.).
It is also the only baby capsule suitable for low birth weight and premature infants without restrictive medical conditions.
This capsule is suitable for use with all Click & Go™ compatible strollers (no receivers required), as well as selected Steelcraft, Baby Jogger, Bugaboo, Valco and Redsbaby strollers (receivers sold separately).
BabyLove EzySwitch Convertible Car Seat, RRP $219 (down to $189)
The EzySwitch offers safety and comfort up to four years.
Start your baby’s journey rear facing in the comfort of EzySwitch up until 12 months, or for longer (two to three years approx). “Switch” with ease to forward facing conveniently as they grow.
The BabyLove EzySwitch is suitable from birth through to four years (approx.).
Joie i-Gemm, RRP $449 (down to $399)
i-Gemm combines security, function, and luxury – with an all-in-one safety cell.
It’s rear-facing to 12 months, with an easy auto-adjust harness and headrest as baby grows.
Also features an extra extendable sun hood with ventilation, as well as dual installation using either the seat belt or ISOFIX connectors.
Infasecure Versatile Folding Booster Seat, RRP $99.99 (down to $74)
Super lightweight for ease of use and portability, the InfaSecure Versatile Folding Booster Seat is built for children of all different ages and sizes.
Crafted from injection moulded plastic with a plush and comfy removable cover for easy cleaning, this unique booster seat folds down flat, with a built-in carry handle that makes transportation a breeze.
Plus, with a high reclining backrest, side impact protection and armrests, this easy-to-install booster is the handy car seat you can rely on for years to come.
Maxi Cosi Trvlr Convertible Car Seat, RRP $749 (down to $449)
The TRVLR includes a convertible car seat, deluxe seat protector, deluxe baby car seat mirror and the deluxe car sunshade, all in
one convenient package.
Rearward-facing is suitable from newborn to approx. 30 months of age, or until the infant’s shoulders meet the middle height marker.
Should be used in forward-facing position with built-in harness from approx. 30 months of age to approx. four years of age, or until the child’s shoulders reach the top shoulder height marker.
Mother’s Choice Nest II Convertible Car Seat, RRP $199
The Mother’s Choice Nest II Convertible Car Seat is ideal from approx. 0 up to four years of age.
It is designed to be used for newborns in the rearward facing position for up to 12 months and then forward facing until four years of age.
When in forward-facing position, this car seat has an easy one-handed three-position recline, making it comfortable for your baby to sleep in.
Infasecure Luxi II Caprice, RRP $599 (down to $299)
The Luxi II Caprice is a convertible car seat that is suitable from birth to eight years.
It offers three modes of use: rearward facing to a large 12-month-old, forward facing with the internal harness to a large four-year-old and booster seat for use with your vehicle’s lap and sash seatbelt.
Vita Pro Convertible Car Seat, RRP $849 (down to $649)
The Vita Pro convertible car seat is best in class for advanced safety and comfort.
Featuring a world-first comfort headrest that ensures a customised experience for your child, this convertible car seat is unlike anything on the market today.
To be used in a rearward-facing position until the child’s shoulders either reach the lower shoulder height marker (approx. 12 months of age), or reach the middle height marker (approx. two to three years of age).
It’s then to be used in a forward-facing position until the child’s shoulders reach the upper shoulder height marker (approx. four years of age).
Britax Safe-N-Sound Graphene, RRP $699 (down to $569)
A member of Britax’s elite feet, the Graphene advances the brand’s compact convertible car seat range with the addition of patented Torso Side Impact Cushion Technology™ – SICT™, which is uniquely designed for optimised safety without compromise.
The Graphene maintains narrow, compact, installed depth, making it great for small cars and growing families requiring multiple seat configurations.
When should my child switch from a car seat to a booster seat?
From the time you drive them home from hospital up until the time they’re ready to use an adult seatbelt, it will be your job to ensure they are in the correct car restraint.
Every child is different, but as a general rule, it’s recommended that you only move them up when they no longer comfortably fit their current child car seat.
Most children will be required to travel in a car seat or booster seat until they’re about 10 to 12 years old.
Child car seat safety guidelines
As important as the type of car or booster seat is, ensuring that it’s correctly fitted and adjusted is equally as critical to safety.
According to Britax, car crashes are one of the leading causes of child death in Australia, yet around 70 per cent of our smallest travellers ride in child restraints that are not fitted or used correctly.
Requirements vary between the states and territories, but all child car restraints are required to meet the Australian Standards (AS/NZS 1754), which covers materials, design, construction, performance, testing and labelling.
As a general rule, buying or using hand-me-down second-hand car or booster seats is not recommended because older models may no longer comply with current safety standards.
However, if you are leaning towards a second-hand model, ensure it’s never been in a car crash, isn’t more than six years old, doesn’t display any cracking or fraying and can be safely installed in your car.
The minimum legal requirements in Australia by age group:
- Babies under six months must use a rearward-facing child restraint with an inbuilt harness.
- Children aged between six months and four years must use a rearward-facing or forward-facing child restraint with an inbuilt harness.
- Children aged between four and seven years must use a forward-facing approved child restraint with an inbuilt harness, or an approved booster seat with a fastened and adjusted seatbelt or a child safety harness.
- Children aged seven years and older can use a child restraint or adult seatbelt depending on their size. If your child is too small for the child restraint specified for their age, they should be kept in their current child restraint until it is safe for them to move to the next level.
