General Information
· Infant car seats are designed to be used from birth to about 9-10 kg (20-22 lbs) or 66-74 cm (26-29")
· Some newer infant car seat models have higher weight and/or height limits — check your car seat instructions and the labels on the car seat
· This type of car seat is for rear-facing use only — infants sit rear-facing (facing the back of the vehicle) because their bodies do not have the bone and muscle strength in their back and neck to withstand a forward facing collision. In a rear-facing position, the car seat itself absorbs the impact of a collision
· Never place a rear-facing car seat in a front seat where there is an active air bag; if you do not have back seats, you can use the front passenger seat provided the air bag is turned off. Consult your vehicle's manual to see if the air bag can be turned off
· The carrier handle must be folded down while traveling
Installing the Seat in your Vehicle
· Newer vehicles have a LATCH (UAS/ISOFIX) system to hold a car seat in place — the system can be used in place of the seat belt. If your vehicle does not have this system, install the car seat with the seat belt; both systems are equally safe for securing a car seat in a vehicle
· 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" where it is belted
· The car 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 base to correct the angle
· Check that almost all of the base of the infant seat (80%) is firmly supported by the vehicle seat
Securing your Baby in the Car Seat
· Your baby's bottom and back should be flat against the back of car seat
· The shoulder straps should come through the back of the car seat at or below your baby's shoulders; you will need to adjust the height as your baby grows
· The harness straps must lie flat on your baby's body, with no more than one finger fitting between your baby's collarbone and straps
· The chest clip should be placed at armpit level; for newborns it should be about 8 cm (3") below their chin
· Baby clothing must have arms and legs for the harness to be secured properly
· After market car seat products (items that were not sold as part of your car seat), such as headhuggers and car seat covers, may interfere with the safe use of the car seat — see Transport Canada's Third-Party Aftermarket Products for Children's Restraint Systems consumer information notice (If you want to use a blanket to keep your baby warm, first harness your baby in the car seat; a blanket can then be placed over the harness. To fill in space on either side of a young/small baby, after harnessing them, you can roll up a receiving blanket or small towel on either side of your baby's head or body for support)
Outgrowing the infant car seat:
· Once your baby has reached the maximum height or weight limit of the seat they should be moved into a convertible seat, installed rear-facing
· Babies necks and spines are not strong enough to withstand a collision in the forward facing position, until all 3 criteria are met: a minimum weight of 10 kg (22 lbs), 1 year of age, and they are able to pull themselves up to a stand without help
Print 
