There are many overlapping and interchangeable terms to describe the seats that keep children safe while travelling in a car. Below are some of the more common phrases customers might encounter, as well as descriptions of the various categories seats belong to.
Car Seat
A ‘catch all’ phrase that is by far the most commonly used term in Australia. Generally, it refers to any and all of the seat products installed into a car to provide safety for babies and children of all ages. Not to be confused with the actual passenger seats of vehicles.
Child Restraint
A more ‘professional’ sounding phrase that means exactly the same as ‘car seat’. Often used by installers who have been in the industry for a long time.
Child Car Safety Seat
The newest and industry-preferred phrase to describe a ‘car seat’. It eliminates potential confusion created by the previous two phrases, but can be a mouthful to say.
So if you hear a salesperson or installer use any of the above three phrases, remember that they are all general and interchangeable terms that mean exactly the same thing!
A car seat, child restraint, or child car safety seat is any after-market seat product placed inside a vehicle to provide age-appropriate safety to babies and children while travelling.
In addition to these general terms, there are different categories of seats defined by specific words or phrases. Sometimes people unfamiliar with these categories use a category name to describe a car seat in general, potentially causing misunderstandings and communication errors when purchasing or installing a seat.
It can be confusing!
On this page are descriptions of some of the more common car seat types. Remember, each of these terms is a subcategory of the more general phrases described above; they are all specific types of ‘car seat’.