Car seats vs. booster seats: What’s the difference?

If you have tiny humans in your care, you’ve no doubt got a list of the ‘essentials’ you need. Cot (or bassinet), pram, and car seat are the three biggies. But if you’re researching car seats, you’ve probably come across booster seats, too. What’s the difference between the two?  What’s the safest option? And which one do you need for your child (or grandchild)?

Read on to see how we break down the difference between car seats and booster seats, so you can choose the one that’s right for your needs.

The main deciding factor between buying a booster seat or a car seat will likely come down to how old your child is,  and importantly, their height. In Australia, it is the law for children up to six months to be in a rear-facing car seat.

A booster seat can be used if your child is between the ages of 4 and 16—basically until your child is of a height where they can be safely secured with an adult seatbelt.

Kids up to the age of seven must be in some kind of child car seat whenever they’re travelling in the car, whether it’s a forward-facing or rear-facing car seat, infant capsule or a booster seat.

Car seat: Whether it’s a forward-facing or a rear-facing baby car seat, the features are similar.

• Faces towards the back, or the front of the car.
• Has an in-built harness to secure the child.

Booster seat: Often slimmer than a car seat and usually sits on top of the adult car seat.

• Faces towards the front of the car.
• Does *not* have an inbuilt harness.
• Usually used in conjunction with an adult lap-sash seat.

Babies are said to be safest in a rear-facing restraint, which is why it’s the law that they must be rear-facing for the first six months. However, according to the Royal Children’s Hospital, it’s recommended that children stay rear-facing for as long as possible, and would be expected to make the switch to forward-facing when they’re two to three years old.

And, when you do make the switch to a forward-facing car seat, it should be in one with inbuilt harnesses, and only when your child reaches the maximum height requirement for their rear-facing seat.

While Australia has strict laws when it comes to the safety standards of car seats, it’s always best to check the manufacturer's guidelines for details surrounding maximum heights for car seats, as this can differ between products.

Once your child has reached the maximum height requirement for their car seat (as early as 4 years of age) you can then look to put them in a booster seat. The minimum height for a booster seat is 145cm.

As a general rule, booster seats are more affordable than car seats as they don’t have the in-built harnesses that car seats do. Booster seats can be purchased from as little as $49 from places like Kmart and Big W. 

You can compare prices for baby car seats below:

The main takeaways when it comes to car seats vs booster seats are:

• The difference between car seats and booster seats is that car seats have in-built harness are are required by law for the first six months.
• You should choose a restraint that fits your child’s height, rather than basing it on their age.
• Make sure you check the restrain regularly and adjust as your child grows.
• The minimum height for a booster seat is 145cm.