Car Seat Safety

General information

The car seats are appropriate from birth to 10kg (20-22lbs) or 66-74cm (26-29"); check with manufacturer's instructions
Infant seats can only be used rear facing. An infant's body does not have the strength to withstand a forward facing collision until one year of age
The label on the car seat should read, "Complies with Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213.1"
Click on our Car Seat Seat Safety Fact Sheet for more information

Using an infant seat

Do not place a rear-facing car seat in a front seat where there is an air bag. The middle of the rear seat is the safest position, provided your vehicle manual states it is safe to do so and there is a tight fit with the seat belt/LATCH system
If you do not have rear seats, you can use the passenger seat provided there is no air bag or the air bag has been turned off. Consult your vehicle's manual to see if the air bag can be turned off
The handle must be in the down and locked position while traveling. Check your seat's instructions regarding the position of the canopy
Clothing must have arms and legs for the harness to fit snugly
Car seat accessories (eg. headhuggers, car seat covers) may interfere with the safe use of the car seat. Click here for Transport Canada's consumer information notice regarding the safe use of car seat accessories
After harnessing your baby, you can use a rolled receiving blanket or small towel on either side of your baby's head or body for support
If you want to use a blanket to keep your baby warm, first harness your baby in the car seat and then place a blanket over the harness

Securing your baby in the car seat

Your baby's bottom and back should be flat against the back of car seat
The shoulder harness should come through the back of the car seat at or slightly below your baby's shoulders. You will need to adjust the height of the harness as your baby grows
The harness must lie flat on your baby's body, with no more than one finger fitting between your baby's collarbone and seat harness
Chest clip should be placed at arm pit level; for newborns there should be at least 8 cm (3") below their chin
Harness straps that are placed through a strap slide at the back of the car seat must be double-backed

Installing the seat in your vehicle

The seat should be reclined at a 45 degree angle in the rear position. If your car seat base does not have an adjustable foot to level the car seat, you can use a pool noodle under the seat base to correct the angle
Once the seat or base is secured to the seat, you should not be able to move it from front to back more than 1"
Check that approximately 80% of the base of the infant seat is firmly supported by the vehicle seat
Newer vehicles have a LATCH/UAS system to hold a car seat in place. The system is replaces the seat belt. If your vehicle does not have this system, install the car seat with the seat belt

How do I know my baby has outgrown the infant car seat?

Once your baby has exceeded the height or weight limits of the seat it is recommended to be moved into a convertible seat, rear-facing
Babies under one year of age must remain in the rear facing position. This is the safest position because their neck and spine are not strong enough to withstand a collision in the forward facing position

Car Seat Safety - Infants