Babies and children up to 4 years old must not sit in the front seat. Children aged 4 to 7 years can only sit in the front seat if all other seats are occupied by children under 7 years old. Children 7 years and over can sit in the front seat.
Children aged 7 years and over can travel in the front seat. However, research shows that children under 12 years are much safer travelling in the back seat.
Children 3 years and over, up to 135cm tall must sit in the rear and use an adult seat belt. Children aged 12 years or more, or over 135cm tall, may travel the front, but must wear the seat belt. (See the Other Vehicles section).
To be safest in a crash, your child needs to be in a booster seat until they are at least 145 cm tall and can pass the five-step safety test (see below). On average, Australian children will not reach a height of 145 cm until about 11 years of age.
Children in the front seat
Children aged between 4 and 7 years must not sit in the front seat of a vehicle that has two or more rows of seats, unless the available seats in the back row are occupied by other children aged under 7 years. They must use an approved child car seat suitable for their age and size.
Children aged between 7-16 years
Children aged between 7 and 16 are required to use a booster seat or adult seat belt when travelling in a vehicle.
Children aged 7 or older can legally sit in the front seat. They can either sit in a booster seat or use a properly adjusted seatbelt. However, it is recommended that children sit in the back seat until they are 12 for safety reasons.
While using a backless booster seat or booster cushion is legal if it met Australian standards at the time it was manufactured, experts strongly advise against them. In Australia, all child restraints and car seats bought, sold or used must meet Australian/New Zealand standard AS/NZS 1754.
Children aged seven and over may legally sit in the front seat of a motor vehicle that has two or more rows of seats, providing they are appropriately restrained for their size. However children are at a greater risk of serious injury when travelling in the front seat.
There is no limit to the number of passengers you can have in your vehicle. It is recommended, where possible, passengers sit in the back of the vehicle.
It must be turned back on if there is an adult passenger travelling in the vehicle. Some people physically remove the airbag to allow their child in the front seat, if you choose to do that, inform your insurance company as it can invalidate your insurance if this has been done without their say-so.
Install in the Backseat
The car seat should always be installed in the back seat. That is the safest spot for your baby. If you can, put the car seat in the center seat. If not, it is fine behind either the driver or passenger side.
Children should stay in a booster seat until adult seat belts fit correctly. Typically, this is when when children reach about 4 feet 9 inches in height and are 8 to 12 years of age. Most children will not fit in a seat belt alone until 10 to 12 years of age.
Children aged between 7 and 16 are required to use a booster seat or adult seat belt when travelling in a vehicle. Find out which is safest for your child.
Children who are 7 years and over may sit in a standard seat with an adult seatbelt, or an approved booster seat secured with an adult lap-sash seatbelt. They may also remain in an approved child restraint that is forward-facing with a built-in harness that is properly fastened and adjusted.
But the child must be in a correctly fitted, properly fastened car seat that meets Australian standards. It is recommended that children 12 years and younger do not sit in the front seat of a car.
Children aged 12 years and under are safest in the rear seat.
Children 4 through 7 years and less than 80 pounds or 57 inches tall require a car seat or booster seat. Adult seat belts are allowed for children at 8 years old; children ages 4 through 7 and more than 80 pounds or 57 inches tall may also use adult seat belts.
Aged 7 years to 16 years are either in a suitable child seat or a seatbelt. Aged under 7 years must not be in the front row of seats if the vehicle has two or more rows of seats. Aged between 4 years and 7 years can travel in the front seat if all other rear seats are filled with passengers aged under 7.
Hi Usha, thank you for your enquiry, the Doona Carseat & Base has a US safety standard rating, therefore, cannot be used in Australia, We hope this helps.
Booster cushions have been deleted from the Australian Standard for child restraints (AS/NZS 1754). Although booster cushions are no longer allowed to be manufactured in Australia, they are still legal to use. A 'dickie seat' is a retro-fitted seat that is usually fitted to the cargo area of a station wagon.
Safety organisations advise against using booster cushions. Some high-backed booster seats have removable backs so that you can convert them to booster cushions, but safety organisations also advise against this.
It is safest — and best practice — for children to not sit in the front seat until they are 13 years old. The Centers for Disease Control, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and, most likely, even your air bag and car manufacturer recommend keeping children under age 13 in the back seat.
The AAP recommends that all children 12 and under sit in the back - so your child can sit up front when they turn thirteen – that's the common knowledge that many parents tend to follow. Seat belts fit properly when children reach a height of 4'9", so they can transition out of booster seats at this height.
Even for a short trip, it's never safe for one of you to hold your baby in your arms while the other drives. Your baby could be pulled from your arms and thrown against the dashboard by a quick stop. Consider buying, renting, or borrowing a car seat before your baby's born, when you have time to choose carefully.