Using a child safety harness

A child safety harness can be used in conjunction with a booster seat or with a normal adult seat after a child has outgrown their booster seat.

You must install a child harness in accordance with the manufacturer's directions. This will involve attaching the harness to a restraint anchorage and the vehicle's seatbelt. The seatbelt must be adjusted to fit firmly across the child's hips and thighs. The shoulder straps should be correctly adjusted and then the tether strap adjusted to a snug fit.

A child safety harness can be used from approximately four years of age through until the child reaches the maximum weight capacity for the harness or approximately seven years of age.

There are a number of different types of child safety harnesses.

If using in conjunction with a booster seat, please refer to the booster seat user manual as the manufacturer may recommend a specific type of harness that is required to be used in conjunction with that booster seat.

A specific harness is recommended by a manufacturer as this is the harness that the seat would have been tested with during the testing and manufacturing process.

It is also recommended you check what weight capacity of the harness as they can range from 14kg - 32kg or 36kg.

Children over the age of seven that have grown out of their booster seat, yet still fit in the harness from a weight prospective, can use the harness in conjunction with the adult lap/sash belts on the normal vehicle seat, until they reach the maximum weight capacity of the harness.

See the wide range of child safety accessories available from the RACQ's online shop.

Discount prices on all child restraints and accessories are available for RACQ members. Not an RACQ member? Join RACQ now!

Adult lap / sash belts

Once your child has outgrown the harness they can then use the normal adult seat belt. However, before you let your child use an adult seat belt, you must make sure they know how to use the seatbelt properly. Also, the seatbelt must never come into contact with the child's neck or face.

Always encourage your children to buckle up. Set a good example by doing the same. Remember, lap / sash belts offer greater protection to all passengers (regardless of age) than lap belts.

Where possible, avoid putting anyone in the centre rear position with a lap belt only. Never put two children into one seat belt.