Seat suggestions for Australia

canadiangie · May 30, 2011

Our neighbours are moving to Australia with their two children ages 3 and 1.

They understand their current seats (boulevard, marathon and scenera) are not legal for use over there.

Can anyone suggest some good seats available in Sydney. I don't think price is a factor, and they do not rear face their children past the minimums, which I know is the norm in Australia anyway.

Children weigh about 30lbs and 25lbs. Car unknown as of right now.

Thanks for any help.

mommycat · May 31, 2011

Here's a not-too-old thread - and um it seems everone was saying to import and use illegally, but that was for a FF 11mo who had outgrown the legal options.

This one was from 2007 and suggested a booster (Maxi Rider II) and the Protecta harness. At least at the time no seats were out with a harness over 40lbs it seems. According to one poster the MRII is not very tall. It has the anti-submarine clip (it's a Britax brand).

Harness info: http://www.childrestraints.co.nz/childharness.php

Hopefully things have changed since then and there are some other (better) seat options, I'll let the AU crowd answer that!

finn · Jun 1, 2011

Not much has changed

all seats only harness to 18kg or 40lbs, ds at 4 has outgrown pretty much all harnessed Australian seats.

He would have to be in a booster if we lived there.

I would be looking at the safe and sound maxi rider ahr's for both kids, they harness until 18kg & can be used with protector harnesses until 36kg (I think). I don't really like the protector harnesses they seem to sit quite high on the lap/tummy.

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Joddle · Jun 1, 2011

Check out these test results:
http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/roadsafety/downloads/children/child_restraints_results_0211.pdf
It's a large selection of the seats available here that have been independantly tested and rated.
I would go with the SNS Meridian T&A for the 1yo ($400ish) and the Babylove EzyCombo for the 3yo ($200?).
Tell your friend TO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES use a Protecta harness. A recent study has shown they actually cause injury in a collision, and companies only sell them with boosters to make extra money.
HTH

mommycat · Jun 1, 2011

Yikes on the protecta harness! I wonder if it's because it sometimes sits so high as finn mentioned, and whether using it with a booster with the anti-submarine clip makes it perform better - do you have a link for details, Joddle? The Harness link I posted above does say that sometimes the harness keeps the lap belt too high and to choose boosters with the anit-sub clip or very low beltguides. Do some of the harnesses come with a clip to clip into a crotch buckle on combination seats?

mommycat · Jun 1, 2011

Some height info for the Meridian T&A (this forum has the feel of a c-s.org type of place based on a few topics - people really looking at height, etc and some seat name short-hand, lol):
http://strollersandprams.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=37441

Quick comparison MC complete Air & SnS Meridian T&Aby monstermama

In case someone is interested
As these seats are supposed to be able to fit a child up to 4 years of age, these are Seth's current measurements:
3 yo, 102cm tall, around 15kg
head to bottom length about 59cm
shoulder to bottom length about 37cm

Now for the seats

T&A
seatback at longest setting: 66cm
shoulder slot at highest setting: 37cm

Complete Air
seatback at longest setting: 67cm
shoulder slot at highest setting: 41cm

MC Priorifix (just for fun)
Seatback length: 59cm
highest shoulder slot: 40cm

benefits of T&A over Complete Air as I see it are that it can be used from birth & has extra recline positions to accommodate sleeping children when forward facing. However, the headrest does seem to tilt forward awkwardly, which may be why some people are having issues with the harness fitting neatly.
A long bodied child might be better off in the Complete Air due to slightly higher shoulder slots.

followed by some discussion so do check the link as well.

(and if anyone is feeling eager today, register and put in a note that there are no ratings based on US crash testing!)

A couple of threads on the Babylove Ezy Combo, no measurements but qualitative and anecdotal fit:
http://strollersandprams.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=33081&start=0
http://strollersandprams.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=38149

Joddle · Jun 1, 2011

Here's the link to the study on add on harnesses:
http://www.pscwa.org.au/getdoc/c563...ec853b142/Child-Safety-Harness---July-09.aspx

They found the only scenario the add on harness would be ok, was with a booster with an anti sub clip, fitted correctly every time. And even in this scenario, the harness wasn't safer than a lap sash, only EQUAL. And considering the rate of misuse because of difficulty with an add on harness, a lap sash would always be safer.

mommycat · Jun 1, 2011

Thanks for the link.

Seat suggestions for Australia

canadiangie

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finn

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