Postural support

Some Australian standard car seats include features that may help with positioning and comfort, such as adjustable head support, recline, built-in padding or a swivel base.

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.

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. Visit our national product register for more information.

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.

Visit our national product register to learn more.

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

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