Child Car Seat


For more information, pelase visit the Ministry of Transportation, Safe and Secure webpage.

Choosing the most appropriate child safety seat is not always easy.   Here are some guidelines.  Each manufacturer has specific height and weight limits for their seat: check the instructions, buy the one that best meets your child's needs and follow the instructions carefully.

Infants

  • Required by law for children weighing less than 9 kg (20 lbs).
  • Best to use until at least one year old and a minimum of 10 kg (22 lbs).  Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for height and weight.
  • Infant only seat, rear-facing - recommended for newborns as it is portable and provides a better fit.
  • Infant/child seat, rear-facing - a larger car seat, use rear-facing when the infant is less than one year old.  Use forward-facing when the child is older.  Not  recommended for small infants.
  • Infants who stay rear-facing in a car seat are less likely to have head and neck injuries in a crash.  Don't rush to turn the seat forward-facing.

Toddler and Young Children

  • Required by law for children weighing between 9 and 18 kg (20-40 lbs).
  • Best to uses when a child is at least one year old and a minimum of 10 kg (22lbs).  Follow manufacturer's recommendations for height and weight.
  • Infant /child seat, forward-facing - use with a tether strap that goes from the back of the child car seat to a bolt fastened in the car.  You can use this seat as long as the child's height is under the seat's limit and the child's weight is within the limits in the car seat instructions.
  • "Tall" children - who are taller than the height limit in the instructions, but are under 40 lbs., need a child/booster seat that will give proper head and neck support.  It should be used as a forward-facing, harnessed seat (with a tether) and then convert to a booster seat when your child reaches 40 lbs.

Children (booster stage)

  • Required by law for children under the age of 8, weighing between 18 kg and 36 kg (40-80 lbs.) and standing less than 145 cm (4'9") tall.
  • High back boosters - provide the best head and neck support and must be used with a lap/shoulder seat belt.
  • A booster seat positions the seat belt properly over your child's body, protecting your child from head, spine and abdominal injuries.  If the booster seat raises your child so that the middle of their ear is above the back of the vehicle seat, you need to use a high back booster.

Children (seat belt)

  • Once the child is a minimum of 8 years old, reaches 80 lbs., or 4'9" tall.
  • Has a sitting height of 29" or more.
  • Legs are long enough to bend over the front of the vehicle seat.
  • Vehicle Seat Belt System - Lap belt is positioned low over your child's hips with the shoulder belt not crossing the face or neck.