Children needing postural support

Many Australian standard car seats have features (as part of the restraint) that can assist in supporting a child’s posture, such as additional padding and recline.

For older children there is a type of Australian standard car seat (forward facing only) with a built-in harness that is suitable for 50 per cent of children up to at least 10 years. This may be suitable for some children’s postural support needs. However once the child has outgrown this type of restraint they may need to transition to a special purpose car seat.

Most infants can be accommodated in Australian standard car seats, however as they grow their needs can quickly change.

Parents have shared their experience of travelling in situations where their child’s head/neck/trunk is not adequately supported. This can be both stressful and dangerous. Therefore, it is important that a child’s transport needs are regularly reviewed from birth to ensure their safety and comfort.

The Child Car Seats website provides consumers with independent and consistent information on the levels of child protection from injury in a crash provided by Australian standard car seats and the ease with which they can be used correctly.

It uses a star rating system to indicate the comparative safety a seat provides its occupant under certain test conditions, and how easily it can be used. As this program tests products once they are in the market, there is a time delay in testing products which means there may be additional restraints available that are not on this list.

Modifying Australian standard car seats is not recommended. However, there are situations where there may be no other option (e.g., hip spica transport).

There is new and emerging research investigating the safety impacts of modifying Australian standard car seats. This research is explored in MACA's online training course for allied health professionals.

All special purpose car seats offer some features to assist with postural support. This includes, for example, abductor wedges, lateral support pads, trays for upper limb positioning, supportive built-in harnesses, footrests, recline options and swivel bases.

All special purpose car seats have a built-in harness. This is different to Australian standard car seats, which include booster seats that do not have a built-in harness, and are used with the vehicle seatbelt only.

Some built-in harnesses provided with special purpose car seats are for postural support only or other purposes (e.g., anti-escape features). It is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and where indicated always use the vehicle seatbelt over the occupant and the restraint at all times

All special purpose car seats comply with one or more overseas standards. In addition, our Australian Safety Assessment Program (AuSAP) independently assesses special purpose car seats to ensure that allied health professionals and families have access to all the information they need to support safe use.

Our national survey found that transferring children in and out of vehicles is the most significant challenge reported by parents.

Some special purpose car seats provide an optional swivel base which can assist, whilst some Australian standard car seats have a low side profile that can make it easier for the parent/carer when transferring a child in and out of a vehicle.

A new Australian standard car seat, the Maxi-Cosi Halo 360 Convertible Car Seat, is the first Australian standard car seat that rotates (swivel base).

MACA's national register provides information about the features available with special purpose car seats and Australian standard car seats.