Travis weights 8.8kg, and my carseat says it can only be reverse for babies to 8kg then turned around for babies bigger. Does that mean he needs to face forward? His only 5 months. Im very confused.

Is there a company contact number in your instruction book or on the seat? I'd ring the company, as the rules keep on changing and i think (but don't trust me on this one) the recommendations are now that babies remain rear facing for longer. You're right though, it's confusing. My 3 year old was 8 kg at 4 months, and I turned him around but only because he didn't fit in the capsule, and the seat we had was front facing only.

Travis weights 8.8kg, and my carseat says it can only be reverse for babies to 8kg then turned around for babies bigger. Does that mean he needs to face forward? His only 5 months. Im very confused.

I believe you are supposed to leave your child rear-facing until they are around a year (In Europe they must be rear-facing til 2 years as it is considered safer - NZ and Oz always seem to be behind the times)...we certainly tried to. It may be that you need a different car seat to allow this??

Perhaps talk to plunket or someone equivalent who is able to provide advice about carseat safety for babies.

Good luck

The law in Australia has recently changed (last couple of years) and is now stated based on age and not weight. Up till 6 months they are to be rear facing. The law is the same in all states - people may tell you differently but the change was to make the laws uniform.

To be certain I would contact Kidsafe in your state - google their website and check out their fact sheets. If you can visit them they are very helpful too.

Here's a link (this is ACT but the laws are national)
http://www.kidsafeact.com.au/new_road_rules

Edited to change the stated age from 12mths to 6mths

Travis weights 8.8kg, and my carseat says it can only be reverse for babies to 8kg then turned around for babies bigger. Does that mean he needs to face forward? His only 5 months. Im very confused.

I'd go to the rta website in your state. In NSW it is against the law to have a child less than 6 months old to be forward facing and you will be fined if you are caught. (Although imo it should be rear facing till 12 months! Or longer.)

And remember; just because the seat says they can be turned from 8kg doesn't mean they should be, it's a guideline not a rule, all that means is that the seat is unsafe if you face your baby forward when they weigh under 8kg.

WOW! I was under the impression it had to be forward facing from 6 months - am glad I read this as my bubs will be 6 months next week and I had it booked in to be switched around. Would much rather leave him in rearfacing position as to me it seems to be safer.

I'd go to the rta website in your state. In NSW it is against the law to have a child less than 6 months old to be forward facing and you will be fined if you are caught. (Although imo it should be rear facing till 12 months! Or longer.)

And remember; just because the seat says they can be turned from 8kg doesn't mean they should be, it's a guideline not a rule, all that means is that the seat is unsafe if you face your baby forward when they weigh under 8kg.

It says the the baby should not be rear facing until they are 8kg, then they cant be. Im soo confused

What seat do you have?

I thought the law changed in all states to twelve months also. It is sooooo much safer to have them rear facing. There was a threadon here not long ago about car seats that go to older, 3-4. However the european ones don't have the australian standard. It's got interesting statistics about how many injuries/deaths in countries such as Sweeden as opposed to Australia because of the rear facing til 3-4yrs seats. Something to think about...

I've had a look at the Kidsafe website (the NSW one) which says the child should stay rear facing until they outgrow the seat, which will likely occur between 6 and 12 months. My 10.5kg 6 month DS is still rear facing, and will stay that way until his knees are past his ears roll eyes it's so much safer in an accident. My seat however also says rear facing to 8kg. As PP said, it just means that you shouldn't turn them before they are 8kg.

I have a mother choice one.... I might have to call them.

The law in Australia has recently changed (last couple of years) and is now stated based on age and not weight. Up til 12 months they are to be rear facing. The law is the same in all states - people may tell you differently but the change was to make the laws uniform.

To be certain I would contact Kidsafe in your state - google their website and check out their fact sheets. If you can visit them they are very helpful too.

The law in Qld, and i presume other states, is reward facing til 6 months,then it's up to parents whether to put them rearward or forwards. http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Safety/Driver-guide/Child-restraints/Child-restraint-laws.aspx
Qld Ambulance that installed ours told us it was better to leave them in rearward as long as possible. If the seat can hold his weight forward, I assume it can rearward too, but worth a phone call to check.

If your going to call anyone call kidsafe, its what they do, they are lovely and so helpful

All states have a uniform law regarding child restraints now. They must be in a rear facing position until 6mths or 8kgs (which ever keeps them rear facing for longer. They must be both not one or the other) After that providing the car-seat you have supports it they can stay rear facing OR be turned to front facing. The is no law stating they MUST be rear facing until 12mths, only a recommendation.

Just to add to this. My rear facing capsule had a limit of 9kg. My baby had a massive growth spurt and I was worried that he would reach 9kg before he was 6 months old! I did a bit of research and found that offically, they should stay rear facing until 6 months but if your baby reaches the maximum allowable weight for the seat before six months, then it is ok to change it.

The new laws no longer go by weight. They now go by age only. Each state has the same regulation. So you can change your bub to forward facing from the age of 6 months if you like, but they do recommend to keep bub rear facing for a long as possible.

i had a simalar problem my little girl is 9kg and only 4 and a half months so no longer fitted in her capsule went down to our local police station and ask what the law was they informed me at they had to be rear facing til 6 months minmuim at is in victoria not sure bout other states hope this helps smile

My DD is 13 months and isn't yet 8kg. She was weighed last week and was 7.96kg. I turned her seat around to forward facing when she was about 9 months as she no longer fit that way as she is quite long. Obviously I've done the wrong thing by the law. sad

My DD is 13 months and isn't yet 8kg. She was weighed last week and was 7.96kg. I turned her seat around to forward facing when she was about 9 months as she no longer fit that way as she is quite long. Obviously I've done the wrong thing by the law. sad

I dont think you have Layla?

I have taken this from my states kidsafe website

Please be aware that the latest Australian Standard of child restraints does not have a maximum weight limit and should provide age-appropriate restraints for most children.

0-6 months: children should be in an approved, properly fastened and adjusted rear facing child restraint. Either a convertible car seat OR a baby capsule.

Between 6 months and under 4 years: Children should be in an approved, properly fastened and adjusted rearward facing OR forward facing child restraint with an in-built harness. Either a convertible car seat OR a forward facing car seat, or a convertible car seat/booster in car seat mode

Between 4 years and under 7 years: Children must be in an approved, properly fastened and adjusted, forward facing child restraint with an in-built harness OR a properly positioned approved booster seat with a seatbelt that is properly fastened and adjusted. Booster seats can be aused with a lap/sash seat belt, but if there is a lap-only belt then a harness must be used.

Integrated booster cushions/seats are suitable for this age group as long as the child meets the minimum and maximum weight restrictions for the integrated booster seat.

Dickie seats installed in the luggage area of station wagons will be permitted for use by children aged between 4 years and under 7 years, provided that the seat is suitable for the child's height and weight and a lap/sash seatbelt or a lap-only bet with a harness is used.
Exemptions

Exemptions from the requirements are permitted only in the following situations:
The driver has a medical certificate stating that the child cannot wear a restraint/seatbelt.
A sudden or extraordinary emergency arises
The child is traveling in a taxi or hire car that is not equipped with a restraint (in this case, however, children may not ride in the front seat)

Oh, that's good! Thanks for reassuring me Snowflake. smile

I'm in NZ and here the law is to wait until the baby is 12 months before turning forward, even then it is suggested to keep them rear facing as long as possible as it is SO much safer for them.