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Not everyone has access to a baby store or online shopping to buy their car seats. Sometimes, the only option is a big department store such as Big W, Kmart or Target. Fortunately, all of these stores now carry best practice restraints, and often at a price point which is more manageable than the baby store equivalents. Here is a list of seats I would recommend from each. For the purposes of this article, I have only included seats which are readily available IN-STORE. Not those which are only available online.

Kmart Car Seats

1. Safe-n-Sound Safekeeper II

This is the re-branded Babylove Ezyswitch which was one of my most recommended 0-4 convertible seats due to the amazing price and availability. They have made a few changes which, in my opinion, detract from the overall attractiveness of the seat. These include removing the cup holder and harness strap holders, as well as making access to the harness lever more difficult. However, it still cannot be beaten in terms of features and affordability.

Although it has a steep learning curve for installation and use, the price and extended rear facing capabilities still make it one of my top suggestions for people on a budget.

Price: $179

Pro’s

• Price
• Extended rear facing
• Built in headrest
• Includes infant insert
• Slimline width

Con’s

• High incorrect installation and misuse rate
• Manual re-thread harness
• Not compact in depth when rear facing

2. Safe-n-Sound Guardian II

The Safe-n-Sound Guardian II is the cheapest 0-4 convertible seat you can buy in Australia, but I would easily choose it over a lot of other, more expensive, A2 seats. (A2 means it will only rear-face until the age of 12-18 months, instead of an A4 seat which will rear-face for 2-3 years).

Whilst it isn’t an extended rear facing seat, it is a great option for second cars, as a spare, or for Grandparents cars.

Price: $129

Pro’s:

• Price
• Includes infant insert
• Compact depth when rear facing
• Slimline width

Con’s

• No built in headrest or included head cushion
• Often installed incorrectly in forward-facing mode due to location of harness straps within the belt path
• Not extended rear facing

3. Safe-n-Sound Explorer II

Once your child has outgrown their 0-4 seat, I would always recommend a Type G restraint (fully harnessed to 8-10 years) instead of a booster or convertible booster such as the Explorer II, which only harness until the age of 4-6. However, the cheapest Type G (Babylove Ezygrow II) is $269 which is unfortunately out of some parents budgets. In this circumstance, the Explorer II is a great option and should still harness the average sized children until the age of 6 and sometimes 7 years.

Price: $169

Pro’s

• Price
• Very simple installation
• Has a recline mode

Con’s

• More fiddly than some in booster mode due to Sash Guide & Secure Guard
• Width is not slimline
• Only harnessed until the age of 4-6

4. Infasecure Transit Booster Seat

As mentioned above, I would always recommend a Type G fully harnessed restraint instead of a convertible booster or dedicated booster seat. If you do need a booster seat for some reason however, this is an excellent option with high exit markers and a great price. Although boosters are legal for 4 years and over I would not recommend a child under the age of 7 use one as their everyday seat.

Price: $89

Pro’s

• Price
• In-built belt guide
• Adjustable headrest
• Slimline width
• Higher exit markers than other department store boosters

Con’s

• Lower exit markers than some boosters available online and in baby stores

5. Infasecure Foldaway Booster Seat

The Foldaway is an un-tethered, lightweight booster seat, designed for use in children over the age of 4, in seating positions where there is no anchor point available. They are perfect for emergency backups and occasional use. I would not recommenced them for regular use for any aged child unless there is no other option, due to the limited impact protection they offer.

Price: $49

Pro’s

• Price
• Folding
• Un-tethered
• Very easy to use

Con’s

• Only recommended for occasional use
• Low exit marker compared to tethered boosters

Target Car Seats

1. Safe-n-Sound QuickFix

The Safe-n-Sound Quickfix from Target is one of my favourite department store car seats. It literally has everything you could need! It’s compact in depth and width, features an easy-adjust headrest and harness, is extended rear facing, and even offers ISOFIX as an alternative to seat belt installation. While it’s more expensive than the Kmart Safekeeper II for example, I think it’s worth every penny for easy of use and functionality.

Price: $369

Pros

• Compact depth when rear-facing
• Slimline width
• Extended rear facing
• Built-in, easy-adjust headrest and harness
• ISOFIX compatible

Cons

• Often installed incorrectly in forward-facing mode due to location of harness straps within the belt path (Only applicable when not using ISOFIX)
• Price (But still a very reasonable cost for such a great seat)

Other Target Car Seats

Below is a list of other car seats readily available at Target which I would not recommend for a variety of reasons including price, features, usability etc. This does NOT mean they are any less safe than the seats listed above, except in the respect that some do not rear face or harness for as long.

• HiPod Boston Pro Booster Seat
• HiPod Roma
• Mother’s Choice Serenity
• Mother’s Choice Shine
• Mother’s Choice Spark
• Mother’s Choice Tempo

Big W Car Seats

1. Infasecure Emperor

My second favourite department store car seat is the Infasecure Emperor from Big W. It is a Type A4/G meaning not only is it extended rear facing, but it also harnesses until the age of 8-10. So this is the only seat you will ever need to buy! It is also slimline so fantastic for 3 across and has an easy-adjust headrest and harness. The only downside is that because it is a 0-8, it is quite long when rear facing so in some cars you may be tight on legroom for the driver or passenger.

Price: $399

Pro’s

• Price, as you only ever need to buy 1 seat
• Best practice from newborn to 8-10 years
• Extended rear facing and extended harnessing
• Built-in, easy-adjust headrest and harness
• 9 forward-facing recline positions
• Slimline width

Con’s

• Very large depth when rear facing

2. Infasecure Vari

Like the Safe-n-Sound Guardian II from Kmart, the Infasecure Vari is not an extended rear facing seat, however it is still a great option for a second car or Grandparents car. Although it is the same price as the Safekeeper II from Kmart which is extended rear facing, it is more compact in depth in rear facing mode and is quite a bit easier to use and install than both the Guardian II and Safekeeper II. It’s these features which can sometimes make it a better option especially, (dare I say it!) when it comes to the older generation having to install and use the seat.

Price: $179

Pro’s

• Price
• Moderately simple installation
• Very simple use
• Infant insert and head padding included

Con’s

• Not extended rear facing

3. Infasecure Ventrua II Booster

The Infasecure Ventura II is the same seat as the Insecure Transit from Kmart with a different name and fabric colour.

Price: $89

Pro’s

• Price
• In-built belt guide
• Adjustable headrest
• Slimline width
• Higher exit markers than other department store boosters

Con’s

• Lower exit markers than some boosters available online and in Baby Stores

4. Infasecure Traveller Booster Seat

The Infasecure Traveller Booster Seat is the same seat as the Insecure Foldaway Booster Seat from Kmart but with a different name.

Price: $49

Pro’s

• Price
• Folding
• Un-tethered
• Very easy to use

Con’s

• Only recommended for occasional use
• Low exit marker compared to tethered boosters

Other Big W Seats

Below is a list of other car seats readily available at Big W which I would not recommend for a variety of reasons including price, features, usability etc. This does NOT mean they are any less safe than the seats listed above, except in the respect that some do not rear face or harness for as long.

• First Years Character Booster Seat
• Infasecure Rally II
• Infasecure Ranger
• Mother’s Choice Flair II
• Mother’s Choice Dawn Booster
• Mother’s Choice Nest II
• Safe-n-Sound Express Booster
• Safe-n-Sound Safe-Fix
• Safe-n-Sound Novus II
• Safe-n-Sound Cabrini II

Everyone’s car seat needs differ depending on price, location, vehcile, age of child and many other factors. If you would like specific advice regarding the best seat for your car, please don’t hesitate to contact me at anytime.

***This article is in no way sponsored, supported or endorsed by any car seat company or department store