An overview of why child car seats are so important to keep your child safe on the road.
Source: Waka Kotahi - NZTA
An overview of why child car seats are so important to keep your child safe on the road in te reo Māori.
Source: Waka Kotahi - NZTA
Watch in your preferred language.
Key points about car seats
- properly using a car seat is one of the most important things you can do to keep your baby or child safe
- New Zealand law says all tamariki in vehicles must be correctly secured in an approved car seat (restraint) until their 7th birthday
- use a car seat that is made for your child's weight and height
- to be safest, tamariki need to be in booster seats until they are 148cm tall - this is usually when they are somewhere between 10 and 12 years old
- keep your baby in a rear-facing car seat until they are at least 2 years old
Why car seats are important
Child car seats, booster seats and safety belts can prevent injuries and save your child's life when installed and used properly.
It is important you use a car seat that is made for your child's weight and height and carefully follow the instructions to fit it to your vehicle.
Generally, it's best to put your baby in a rear-facing car seat for as long as possible, or until they are 2 or older. Once they have outgrown this, they can go into a forward-facing one.
It's always safest for car seats to be placed on the back seat. This is because during a crash, a front seat air bag goes off at a high speed and can be dangerous to your child.
What to look for when buying a car seat
Waka Kotahi NZTA's videos talk you through the legal requirements for using car seats in Aotearoa New Zealand.
A video about buying a child car seat.
Source: Waka Kotahi - NZTA
A video about buying a child car seat in te reo Māori.
Source: Waka Kotahi - NZTA
Watch in your preferred language.
The Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) website has tips on buying a car seat.
Where to put the car seat in your car
A video on where to install your child's car seat.
Source: Waka Kotahi - NZTA
A video in te reo Māori on where to install your child's car seat.
Source: Waka Kotahi - NZTA
Watch the video in your preferred language.
How to install your child's car seat
A video introduction to installing your child's car seat.
Source: Waka Kotahi - NZTA
A video introduction to installing your child's car seat in te reo Māori.
Source: Waka Kotahi - NZTA
Watch in your preferred language.
Car seats in New Zealand typically meet one of these three standards:
- NZ/Australian
- European
- United States
Find out more about how to install your child's car seat by following the instructions on the Waka Kotahi NZTA website.
More tips on installing car seats
The Waka Kotahi NZTA site has a series of short videos with further helpful tips on installing and maintaining your child's car seat.
Check out all of Waka Kotahi NZTA's short videos for tips on installing and maintaining your child car seat.
Videos include:
- How to identify an ALR or ELR belt
- How to identify if your car has ISOFIX/LATCH
- How to disconnect LATCH connectors
- Using a clothes peg for easy seatbelt installation
- What to do if your belt tongue is facing the wrong way
- How to clean your car seat
What if I have more questions about my child's car seat?
Waka Kotahi NZTA has a series of short videos answering common questions about car seats.
Check out Waka Kotahi NZTA's videos answering common questions about car seats.
Videos include:
- Can my baby sleep in a capsule?
- Why is rear-facing safest?
- How do I know if my child car seat meets New Zealand standards?
- Where is the best place in the car for a child car seat?
- Can I put a child car seat in the front seat?
- When can I move my child into a booster seat which uses the adult seatbelt?
- Is my child ready to ride safely without a booster?
- My child car seat has been in a collision. Does it need to be replaced?
- How do I check my child car seat's expiry date?
- How bulky can my child's clothes be?
How to find a car seat technician in your area
The Waka Kotahi NZTA website offers a list of qualified car seat technicians across the country.
How to tell if your child still needs a car restraint or booster seat
Tamariki must use a booster seat until they are 148cm tall - for most tamariki, that's somewhere between 10 and 12 years of age.
Use Safekids' 5 step test if you're unsure if your child is ready to move out of the booster seat.
If you answer 'no' to any of these questions, your child needs to be in a child restraint or booster seat.
- Does your child sit all the way back against the vehicle seat?
- Do your child’s knees bend comfortably at the edge of the vehicle seat?
- Does the belt cross the shoulder between the neck and the arm?
- Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs?
- Can your child stay seated like this for the whole trip?
References
Safekids car seat safety information for babies (from birth to 11 months), 1 to 2-year-olds, 3 to 4-year-olds, and car safety resources.
