Australian baby car seat installation laws stipulate that you keep your child facing rearward for the first six months but you should leave them rear facing for as long as they physically fit it.
Rear facing toddler car seat installation.
4 7 years.
When your child outgrows the infant car seat switch to a convertible or all in one car seat and use it in the rear facing position.
For instance a rear facing car seat must face the back of a vehicle and the child s head must sit more than one inch below the top of the seat.
The seat can transform from a rear facing infant car seat from 4 to 40 pounds to a forward facing toddler car seat from 20 to 65 pounds high back booster seat from 30 to 100 pounds and backless booster seat from 40 to 120 pounds.
Have a 5 point harness that attaches at the shoulders at the hips and between the legs.
Once your child outgrows the rear facing car seat your child is ready to travel in a forward facing car seat with a harness and tether.
How to install baby car seat rear facing.
Experts recommend that children remain rear facing until they reach the maximum height or weight limitation of their car seat.
At that point the seat can be converted into a forward facing.
That s thanks to the car seat s four in one design.
If a baby under 1 year old grows too tall or too heavy for an infant.
Convertible car seats can be used rear or forward facing and typically have higher rear facing height and weight limits than do infant only car seats.
Convertible car seats adapt with your growing baby s needs because they can be installed either rear facing or forward facing.
Many have higher limits in rear facing weight up to 40 50 pounds and height than those of rear facing only seats a feature that makes convertible seats ideal for bigger babies and toddlers.
Most convertible car seats can be used in the rear facing position until a child reaches the weight limit typically 40 to 50 pounds.
Car seat installation information.
A rear facing child seat configuration should be used for about the first 12 months of your child s life.
These seats typically have higher height and weight limits for the rear facing position allowing you to keep your child rear facing longer.