best car seats for babies

The best car seats for babies are the ones that fit your child, your car, and your budget—preferably without turning school drop-off into a wrestle.

In Australia, look for seats certified to AS/NZS 1754, and if your car supports it, choose ISOFIX for simpler, repeatable installs.

Keep bub rear-facing as long as they meet the height markers—extended rear-facing is safer—and always adjust the harness to armpit level, snug like a firm handshake.

Try seats in your actual car, check you can achieve a rock-solid fit, and consider professional fitting services; a pricey seat badly installed is just pricey.

Skip second-hand seats with unknown history, missing parts, or that are expired or crash-involved, and remember: comfort features are nice, but correct fit is king.