Top-tier child car seats for 2024 in Australia identified
In the latest ratings by the Child Restraint Evaluation Program (CREP), several child car seats have been recognised as the safest options for Australian families. Here's a breakdown of the top-rated seats in various categories:
Safest Baby Capsules (Rearward Facing for Babies up to 6 months)
A particular rearward-facing baby capsule has earned a 5-star protection rating, making it the safest choice for newborns up to six months old according to the latest CREP ratings.
Forward-Facing Child Car Seats (Non-Convertible)
While specific forward-facing seats were not explicitly singled out in the latest CREP summary, new ratings include various ISOFIX seats and other child restraints tested, some of which might be forward-facing models with high scores.
Convertible Child Car Seats
Multiple convertible child car seats have been rated by CREP, including:
- A convertible seat with three separate modes suitable from newborn to children up to 8 years old. These seats had the same scores across every mode in both protection and ease-of-use categories.
- One convertible seat scored 4.1 stars for protection in booster mode and 3.7 stars for ease of use.
- Convertible seats usable in rear-facing mode for children aged 0 to 2.5 years have also appeared in recent ratings.
Booster Car Seats
Three booster seats for children aged 4 to 8 years scored 5-star protection ratings, with some seats also obtaining the top rating when used in booster mode. One booster seat was also highlighted for use up to 10 years old.
Multi-Purpose Seats
At least one convertible child car seat with multiple modes covering a wide age range (newborn to 8 years) has been highlighted in the latest CREP ratings.
Other Notable Mentions
- The Britax Safe-N-Sound B Grow+ Clicktight+ BS8700A-C20133 has a protection score of 3.3 and an ease-of-use score of 4.4.
- The Cybex Cloud Q capsule has the highest protection rating (3.9) of all capsules tested since 2021.
- It's important to note that the seat with the highest protection rating may not have the highest ease-of-use rating. For instance, the Britax Safe-N-Sound Maxi Guard BS8300B-020133 received the highest protection score (3.9), while the Britax Safe-N-Sound B Grow+ Clicktight+ BS8700A-C20133 received the highest ease-of-use score (4.4) among the tested models.
For specific model names, visiting the official CREP website or trusted Australian child car seat review sites will provide detailed, up-to-date model recommendations and star ratings.
Age Guidelines
- Children from birth to six months must travel in a rearward-facing child restraint, and from six months to 4 years they can travel in either a rearward-facing or forward-facing child restraint. After the age of 4, children should remain in a forward-facing, booster seat, or a multi-purpose seat until they're taller than 145cm.
- In addition to the safe baby capsules, the latest CREP ratings also cover health-and-wellness aspects, with recommendations for home-and-garden products that ensure a conducive environment for parenting and lifestyle.
- As technology continues to evolve, many modern child car seats now integrate advanced safety features such as side-impact protection and modern designs that cater to both parenting needs and contemporary lifestyles.
- For families interested in adopting an eco-friendly lifestyle, there are several child car seats made from sustainable materials in the home-and-garden category, which could also contribute to overall health and wellness.
