Warning on cheap child seats

Verge collections and second-hand auction sites are becoming prime territory for WA parents to pick up unsafe and often illegal child car restraints, Kidsafe has warned.

Kidsafe chief executive Scott Phillips said he was alarmed to hear of parents picking up child car restraints from road verges and believed many parents were unaware the seats might not meet safety standards or could have been in a crash. Mr Phillips said internet auction sites such as Gumtree and eBay and online stores overseas were also becoming more popular for parents looking to save money on child restraints, despite there often being a lack of information available on the equipment's age or history.

"The recent trend is towards places like Gumtree . . . our concern is that if they've been in an accident, then you shouldn't use them," he said.

"I think 99.9 per cent of people are trying to do the right thing for their children but they're just not aware. What I'd say to these people is you can't put a price on the safety of your children."

Mr Phillips said some child seats involved in crashes appeared normal but, on closer inspection, were made from a mixture of different seat parts.

Although it is not against the law to use old child restraints, Kidsafe discourages parents from using equipment more than 10 years old.

On Gumtree this week, more than 140 second-hand child restraints, which retail new from about $100 to $400, were for sale for as little as $20.

Verge shopper Luke Halden said he had picked up about eight booster seats from kerbsides.

He said he had used them for his own children and given some to family members.

"For me, it's about recycling," Mr Halden said. "I've picked up many things that are in full working order and I take responsibility for anything I pick up . . . (Child restraints) are expensive and a lot of people out there are taking the cost benefit analysis of what's the risk of this versus the cost of a new one."

The Office of Road Safety WA website also warns older models do not meet the Australian-New Zealand Standard for the seats and non-compliance is illegal.

It recommends parents ask for instruction manuals and look for signs of wear or breakages before buying second-hand restraints.