Kids and car seat safety

Car seats save lives. Some children love travelling in them and others don’t at all. There are ways to take the stress out of using them and make car travel safe and more enjoyable for everyone.

On this Page:

It’s a good idea to make using the car seat part of your routine. You can do this from your baby’s very first car journey. This way it becomes a habit.

"I kept trying – singing helped!"

Babies and establishing a new routine

Mum with child on pram

  • Work out how the car seat works before you use it. The buckles and straps can be tricky and you need to be relaxed when you put your baby in it for the first time.
  • Chat about what you’re doing and where you’re going.
  • Make sure your baby is warm, dry and recently fed before your car trip.
  • Sing or play peek a boo when you put your baby in the seat.
  • Try to plan ahead so you can keep car trips short and you don’t do too many in one day.
  • Follow the same routine every time.

"The best tip I got was 'slow down, don't rush' – now my son loves going in the car."

Back to top

Toddlers and the routine

Mum and child at blue car

There will always be times when toddlers don’t want to go in the car. This is part of them developing independence.

  • Talk about what you’re doing and where you are going. Show them how you do your car seat up.
  • If you have more than one child think about how you are going to get them all in the car safely.
  • Allow time.
  • Stop the car if you child needs your full attention, or undoes the car seat straps. Explain that you aren’t going to start the car until the buckle is done up.
  • Take some toys for them to play with.
  • Give lots of praise when they sit buckled up in their seat.

"Tell your child why they have to sit in a car seat every time you put them in the car."

Back to top

The rules

Boy on booster seat

The NZ Transport Agency says children under the height of 148cm should be seated in an appropriate child restraint. The specific type of child restraint you need to use depends on the age and size of the child.

It suggests:

  • infant restraint: birth to 9kg (approx. less than six months), or birth to 13.5kg (approx. one year)
  • convertible (baby to child) restraint: birth to 18kg (approx. four years)
  • front-facing child restraint: 9–18kg (about one to approx. four years)
  • booster seat: 14–36kg (approx. four to seven years)
  • child safety harness: 14–32kg (approx. four to seven years).

"Children under the height of 148cm should be seated in an appropriate child restraint."

Back to top