We are having a baby soon and are interested to know the legal requirements for carrying a baby. It will be in a small campervan. It has 3 seats in the front. In the back it is setup with a bed and a small space in front for the kitchen. Are we able to install a child seat in the back between the stove and the bed? I have heard it it is illegal to have it in the front. The van is registered in Queensland but we are currently in Victoria. We travel frequently.
Car Seat for Newborn Baby
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What do you think would be a safe option?
Roof rack of course
Genius!
Go to a motor registry in whatever state show them the van and say where do I legally put the baby capsule etc they'll tell you where to mount restraint anchors etc
OP needs another seat actually installed into the vehicle, with anchor points, seat belt etc, and have it engineered
What kind of business would I be approaching for this service? Any idea of the cost involved?
Engineering companies
And no, can't say I've ever looked into it. Likely over $1k
Aren't you allowed to install a car seat in the front seat row if there is no airbag there are no 2nd row?
Probably need to check this.
Yeah only if there's no airbags. Google seems to suggest this has none at all (lovely!), so OP could fit a car seat on the bench seat if they fit a bar behind it (engineered) to attach to
Bench seat meaning in the middle between driver and passenger?
Yes
Do you have a towbar and a trailer?
Towbar only.
If you're in Brisbane, I'd talk to this guy re installations of anchors. https://www.barryanaccessoryfitting.com/products
You need to check your campervan owner's manual to see what seats are permitted to be installed. For example, rear facing baby seats are rarely allowed in the front row of a car due to airbags.
We are in Victoria but car is registered in QLD.
Sorry OP but trying to mount a capsule in a 2002 modified car sounds completely irresponsible and dangerous. Why would you want to risk the safety ( and life) of your newborn like that?!
You have to make concessions when you have kids. Not taking them travelling in a death-trap is one of them.
We have to transport our baby back from the hospital. Several hundred km. Long story. Any suggestions on how to do it safely?
Sell the campervan + save so you can buy a safer car for the baby arrives?
This
You're not going to be doing any camping for a couple of years anyway.
Or, get a house sitter for your house that's on the middle of nowhere presumably and stay with family in the city for a couple of months. What happens if something goes wrong with your baby and the nearest hospital is several hundred km away? That's just irresponsible
@Quantumcat: We are not in the middle of nowhere. Having the baby in NSW due to financial situation.
Rent a car and a capsule for a few days.
Will look into it.
Are you really thinking of somehow mounting a car seat in the back of a 2002 Kia Pregio and thinking that's a safe option?