Choosing Booster Seats and Convertible Booster Seats
A convertible booster seat is suitable for babies from eight kilograms up to young children weighing 26 kilograms (about four years old).
Your child can use the convertible booster seat as a harnessed child car seat until they weigh 18 kilograms. They can then use it as a booster seat up until they weigh 26 kilograms.
Some new designs also allow for the use of an installed harness right up to 26 kilograms. This provides for safer transport of older children.
Booster seats
Booster seats are suitable for children between 14 and 26 kilograms or children who have outgrown a child restraint seat. However, a child seat is the preferred restraint for children up to 18 kilograms.
Before you put your child in a booster seat, it's important that they understand not to touch the seatbelt without your permission.
Booster seats are used to correctly position a child for effective fitting of the adult lap/sash seatbelt. Your child can use a booster seat until their eyes (in the normal sitting position) are level with the top of the booster seat. The height of the booster seat is important in providing support for your child's head.
Booster seats come in two types: those that have a back and those that have a base only. If you want to use the booster as a portable seat, one without a back may be suitable. However, a design incorporating a back provides extra safety for your child, particularly in the event of a side collision.
See the wide range of booster seats available from the RACQ's online shop.
Discount prices on all child restraints are available for RACQ members. Not an RACQ member? Join RACQ now!
How to use a booster seat
Booster seats are held in place by the child's weight and the car's seatbelt. They should only be fitted to a forward facing seat. If used with a lap belt only, you must also use a child harness to hold your child's head and shoulders back.
The sash part of the seatbelt must cross your child's shoulder and must not come in to contact with their neck. Most booster seat manufacturers provide a sash guide to stop this from happening.
