Car Seat Safety
Child Car Seats
Child car seats that are correctly installed may reduce the risk of injury during a collision.
For information on the correct installation of a car seat see www.seatsforkidscanada.com
Quick Facts
Car crashes are the leading cause of death among children and youth.
Correctly used car seats can reduce the possibility of injury or death in a collision by 75%.
Seat belts are designed for adults and larger children. A seat belt alone can cause serious abdominal and internal injuries to a young child. In a collision, young children can slip out of seat belts and won’t stop moving until they hit something or someone or are ejected from the vehicle.
A booster seat is designed to properly position the seat belt across a child’s body, reducing the risk of injury.
Always follow the child car seat manufacturer’s recommendations before moving your child to the next stage of a child car seat. Harness straps should lie flat with no more than 1 finger space between the harness and child’s collarbone (rear facing) or chest (forward-facing).
Children younger that 13 years of age are safest in the back seat, away from all active air bags.
A child can start using a seat belt alone once any one of the following criteria is met:
Infants – Rear-Facing Seat
(Under 9 KG (20 lb)
An infant should travel in a rear-facing seat until he/she reaches 9 kg (20 lbs). The shoulder harness straps must be threaded through the seat back at, or slightly below, the child’s shoulders and seat should recline at a 45 degree angle. When the child exceeds the maximum height and weight for his/her infant seat, he/she may require a convertible rear-facing seat until the child is ready to travel forward facing.
Toddlers – Forward Facing Seat
(9 to less than 18 kg (20 to 40 lbs)
Start using a forward facing seat when a child is about one year of age. It must be used with a tether strap. The shoulder harness must be at, or above, the child’s shoulders.
Pre-school to 8 years old – Booster Seat
(18 kg – 36 kg (40 – 80 lbs)
This is for a child under the age of 8 and who has a standing height of less than 145 cm (4’9”)
Infant - Rear facing car seat
(under 9kg, 20 lbs)
Toddlers - Forward facing car seat
(9kg to 18kg, 20 to 40 lbs)
Pre-school up to 8 years old - Booster seat
(18kg to 36kg, 40 to 80 lbs)
Car seats can reduce the possibility of injury or death in a collision by 75%