Child restraint

The short definition

A child restraint is a car seat built and approved to hold a baby or child in a vehicle. "Car seat" is what everyone actually calls it.

What it actually means

"Child restraint" is the formal term. "Car seat" is what everyone says in the shop. They mean the same object.

The word matters in one place: anything official says restraint, so that is the word he will meet on a form or in the fine print. The thing worth knowing behind the word is that a seat sold here is built and approved for use here — which is why one shipped in from overseas does not belong in an Australian car.

A capsule and a convertible car seat are both child restraints. So is the forward-facing seat bub will use in a few years.

Where Dadda will hear it

From the police, from the hospital, from a fitting station, and in the fine print of every seat he looks at. He will hear "car seat" everywhere else.

Not to be confused with

A booster seat. That is also a restraint, but for a much older child. It is years away and it is not a Trimester 3 decision.

Also look at

• Read the full item: capsule or convertible car seat
• Find an authorised restraint fitting station