Rear facing in new zealand

[cdncasper]

When is a child too big to rear face in new zealand?? Isn't it the same as Canada and US? Do those 55lb RF seats have different rules?

[Jessie78]

It depends on the carseat. NZ accepts US, UK and Australian standard seats, so it could be 20lb, 35lb or anywhere in between. It's really confusing for parents.

We've only just got the Brio Zento in recently which is fantastic, and a few Truefits. The Scenera is widespread but most aren't aware they can leave them RF till 35lb and turn them at 20lb instead.

But mostly, folks just turn their babies when they're 1 year old or even earlier :( because it's just not that popular over here. So sad. (Minimum of 1yr is recommended but 6m is legal.:eek:)

But yeah, the BZ with its 25kg/55lb limit is our highest RF here.

[Adventuredad]

Brio Zento is a good seat and has the awesome 55 lbs rf limit like most of the other Swedish seats.

Rules regarding size of kids is a bit different regarding the Swedish seats. In US a child is normally needs 1 inch above top of head to top of seat shell. Brio Zento and other Swedish seat allows a child's head to stick up slightly above the top shell. Normal guideline is that child is too large when tip of ears reach top of seat shell.

[cdncasper]

Brio Zento is a good seat and has the awesome 55 lbs rf limit like most of the other Swedish seats.

Rules regarding size of kids is a bit different regarding the Swedish seats. In US a child is normally needs 1 inch above top of head to top of seat shell. Brio Zento and other Swedish seat allows a child's head to stick up slightly above the top shell. Normal guideline is that child is too large when tip of ears reach top of seat shell.


Thank you I didn't know that. Gave someone the wrong info by mistake since I though rear facing rules were the same all over the world.

[delgirrrl]

New Zealand accepts NZ/Australian standard, European standard, and in some cases US standard. As such, we don't have rules stating a maximum weight/age a child can rearface until, but you must follow the Manufacturers instructions. So basically, if you have a seat which is legal for use in NZ and use it within the specifications of the manufacturer, it is legal.

All NZ/AUS standard seats (ie, Safe n Sound) have a maximum RF weight of no more than 12 kilograms, so if you want to RF longer, (and good on you if you do!!) you need to use a European or American seat.

As said earlier, the Brio Zento is available in NZ (through Baby on the Move) which allows RF until 25 kilograms. Any other swedish seat that you can get your hands on is also legal in NZ, (although you'd have to import it yourself). Also available in NZ is the Cosco Scenera from US, (and some other US seats too), which have 15-16kg RF limits on them.

It is "strongly recommended" that any child under 1 year of age be rear-facing. (but it is much, much safer to go beyond that, provided of course your child is within the limits of the seat.) Any child under 5 years of age must travel in an approved restraint. (Restraints include booster seats.)

If you want any further info, please do ask!:)