found the australian carseat laws rather interesting which are
Summary of changes
The new national child restraint laws state:
* Children younger than six months must be secured in a rearward facing restraint.
* Children aged six months to under four years must be secured in either a rear or forward facing restraint.
* Children aged four years to under seven years must be secured in forward facing child restraint or booster seat.
* Children younger than four years cannot travel in the front seat of a vehicle with two or more rows.
* Children aged four years to under seven years cannot travel in the front seat of a vehicle with two or more rows, unless all other back seats are occupied by children younger than seven years in a child restraint or booster seat.
the one that sparked my interest was that children 6 months to 4 years must be secured either in a rear facing or forward facing restraint and then children 4years to 7 years must be secured in a forward facing car seat or a booster.
now unless I am interpreting this law wrong it is basically saying it is illegal to have your child rear facing past the age of 4? from what I have read/heard in the USA most if not all states have a law where your child must be at least 12months and 20lbs before forward facing but I have not heard of a maximum age for rear-facing.
I think that there should be no maximum age for rear facing as long as the child is within the height and weight limit of the car seat rear facing the it should be up to the parent if they want to turn at 2 3 4 or 5 years (I think I have seen some on here who do/have rear face/d their child to 5 years).
I know I would hate to have to turn my child simply because of a law. fortunately living in New Zealand as long as my child is within the height and weight of his/her car seat I can keep them rear facing till they reach one of those and that may not happen till after they are 4
Summary of changes
The new national child restraint laws state:
* Children younger than six months must be secured in a rearward facing restraint.
* Children aged six months to under four years must be secured in either a rear or forward facing restraint.
* Children aged four years to under seven years must be secured in forward facing child restraint or booster seat.
* Children younger than four years cannot travel in the front seat of a vehicle with two or more rows.
* Children aged four years to under seven years cannot travel in the front seat of a vehicle with two or more rows, unless all other back seats are occupied by children younger than seven years in a child restraint or booster seat.
the one that sparked my interest was that children 6 months to 4 years must be secured either in a rear facing or forward facing restraint and then children 4years to 7 years must be secured in a forward facing car seat or a booster.
now unless I am interpreting this law wrong it is basically saying it is illegal to have your child rear facing past the age of 4? from what I have read/heard in the USA most if not all states have a law where your child must be at least 12months and 20lbs before forward facing but I have not heard of a maximum age for rear-facing.
I think that there should be no maximum age for rear facing as long as the child is within the height and weight limit of the car seat rear facing the it should be up to the parent if they want to turn at 2 3 4 or 5 years (I think I have seen some on here who do/have rear face/d their child to 5 years).
I know I would hate to have to turn my child simply because of a law. fortunately living in New Zealand as long as my child is within the height and weight of his/her car seat I can keep them rear facing till they reach one of those and that may not happen till after they are 4