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Home  Residents  Health  Children and Families  Birth to Six: Parenting Young Children  Keeping Children Safe  Car Seat Safety  Stage 2: Forward-Facing Car Seat
Car Seat Safety
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Stage 1: Rear-Facing Car Seat
Stage 2: Forward-Facing Car Seat
Stage 3: Booster Seat

Stage 2: Forward-Facing Car Seat

What is a forward-facing car seat?

It is a car seat that is used to transport a child who can pull him/her self to a standing position unassisted AND weighs 9.5-18+ kg (20-40+ lb).

There are two steps in using a forward-facing car seat:

1. Correctly install the seat in the vehicle.

    • Install the seat in an upright position (unless indicated otherwise by the manufacturer).
    • Position the seat in the center of the back seat for maximum safety.
    • Ensure that the vehicle seat belt is routed correctly and that the forward-facing child seat is fastened tightly, with no more than one inch side-to-side movement where the seat belt fastens.
    • Secure the tether strap at the top of the seat to a tether bolt. The tether bolt should be installed by the vehicle manufacturer or car dealer.

2. Correctly harness the child in the car seat.

    • Place harnesses at or above shoulders.
    • Ensure harness straps come through the top slot of the car seat (check manufacturer's instructions for variations).
    • Make sure harness straps are snug, flat and free from twists and no more than one finger width between the chest and the harness.
    • Place chest clip (if required by manufacturer) at armpit level.

What is a child/booster car seat?

  • It is a car seat used in the forward-facing postition only for children over 9.5 kg (20 lb).
  • When used with harness straps and tether strap it is a forward-facing seat for children up to 18 to 22 kg (40 to 48 lb).
  • It then converts to a high back booster seat without the harness straps and tether strap.

Important points to remember

  • Obey the law in Ontario and use a car seat for children up to 40 lb. (18 kg). The fine for not doing so is $110 and two demerit points.
  • It is not recommended to place a forward-facing car seat in front of an active air bag.
  • Look for the CMVSS label (Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard) and/or the National Safety Mark. A U.S. label is not acceptable.
  • Always follow manufacturer's instructions.
  • Replace a car seat following a collision, regardless of whether it was occupied or not at the time of the collision.
  • Discard of a car seat that is more than 10 years old or past the expiry date as indicated on the seat or in the instructions.
  • Switch to a booster seat when a child has reached the maximum weight of the forward-facing car seat.

For information on car seat defects and recalls call Transport Canada at 1 800 333-0371, in Ottawa 613-998-8616.

 

 

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