Moving from a capsule to a car seat
Ride on time!
Moving your baby from a capsule to a car seat marks a significant transition in your child’s safety and comfort when you’re out and about.
Here, we look at the essential factors to consider when moving to a car seat, ensuring a seamless and secure progression for your child as you make the pivotal switch to their new ride.
Why move a baby to a car seat?
Quite simply, the main reason you move a baby from a rear facing capsule to a car seat is because your little one has outgrown its newborn carriage.
Moving your baby out of a capsule depends partly on the size and weight of your baby.
A car capsule keeps your newborn snug and safe in the early days and months, but once they weigh around 9 kilos and/or their shoulders are level with the strap fixture, it’s time to make the transition.
The great thing about a car seat like the Joie centraTM, for example, is that it will see your child through to the age of about 8 years. They can ride for longer in this big-ticket item.
What car seat to get after capsule?
The great thing about a car seat like the Joie centraTM, for example, is that it will see your child through to the age of about 8 years. They can ride for longer in this big-ticket item.
There are a few factors to think about when choosing a car seat, and safety is a high priority.
All car seats used, bought and sold in Australia must meet the AS/NZS 1754 safety standards, which are some of the strictest in the world. Always check for this code when buying a car seat, and if you can’t see the tag/sticker, ask the retailer to show you.
Think about the size of your car – do you need to fit more than one car seat in the back, for example.
Do you want the seat to adjust and grow with your child?
Safety features for car seats
As well as meeting Australian safety standards, the Joie centraTM excels with its six-point harness with shoulder and lower buckle covers. You can tighten this harness to fit your child in a simple one-pull motion; no fiddly straps to adjust.
Unique Guard Surround Safety™ panels provide extra side impact protection and these can be activated to create extra room in your car. centraTM also has a reinforced steel inner seat shell, which adds more protection to the structure.
Car seats don’t always sit properly on a vehicle’s back seat, which can be unsafe. To counter this, the Joie centraTM has an adjustable bar so you get the best fit, which adds to the safety of the seat.
Car sear comfort
Joie centraTM has a removable cushion insert to support smaller bodies as they settle into their new car seat. The seat itself is made with durable plush fabrics that not only look good but are also washable – a must for sticky fingers and accidents of all kinds!
The Grow Together™ multi-height headrest has seven positions so you can find the one that suits your child. As you raise the headrest, the side wings widen to give your child more shoulder space too.
The headrest works with the harness so you can adjust the seat to grow with your child and not have to re-thread the straps.
Side pockets with elastic straps are ideal to keep small toys, drink bottles etc within your child’s reach (and hopefully off the floor).
Car seat laws Australia
Australian states and territories have different rules and laws about all sorts of things! Happily, car seat laws are the same across the country. Legally, children can sit in the front passenger seat from the age of 7. There is an exception: a child aged 4-7 can sit in the front only if all other seats are taken by kids under the age of 7.
Ages and stages for kids’ car seats
Rear facing capsule/baby car seat: Up to 6 months
Forward facing car seat: From six months – 7 years
Booster seat: Age 4yrs and up. The child must be tall enough to use a standard seatbelt
Standard seat/seatbelt: Age 7 and up. Children must be taller than 145cm.
Brought to you by Joie Baby Australia
