From Rear-Facing Seat to Forward-Facing Seat
If your child's head is one inch or less from the top of the seat, or if he outgrows the seat by height or weight, it's time for a new seat.
From Forward-Facing Seat to Booster Seat
If the shoulder straps come out of the seat from below your child's shoulders, it's time for a booster seat.
From Booster Seat to Seat Belt
If the knees bend at the edge of the seat, with the strap on his shoulder (not neck) and belt on his hips (not belly), it's time for the seat belt.
RULE OF THUMB: Every time you move from one type of seat to the next, you lose protection, so delay progression as long as you can.
Click on the dots to watch quick how-to videos, and to get additional safety tips.
Learn More About Car Seat Safety
Car crashes are a leading cause of death and injury to children in Canada. When children use car seats, they are well protected and less likely to be severely injured.
PREPARE IN ADVANCE!
This clinic is only available once a month with limited availability.
It is important to understand the potential risks when using a used car seat or booster seat. For example, the seat may be missing important parts, labels or instructions, may be expired, or may have an unknown history that could reduce its safe performance when needed. Due to these potential risks, the Safe Seats Committee does not recommend the selling, purchasing, loaning, or donating of used car seats.
To prevent someone from using your old/expired/damaged car seat, please cut the straps of the car seat with a pair of scissors and place on your curb on your garbage collection day. If the straps are not cut, it is likely that someone will pick up the car seat before the garbage collectors and potentially use it for a child.
The chart below shows the weight range of children recommended for all four stages of vehicle restraints based on child seats and booster seats sold in stores today.
Be sure that your child fits the weight and height range of the restraint before you buy it.
Infants weighing 22 lbs are to travel properly secured in a rearward-facing child safety seat that meets the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS). Please see diagram images A and B for examples of what rearward-facing child safety seats look like.
Toddlers weighing 9 to 18 kg (22-40lbs) are to travel properly secured in a forward-facing child safety seat that complies with CMVSS and must be anchored to the vehicle using the tether strap (found on the back of the car seat). Please see diagram images B, C, and D for examples of what a forward-facing child safety seat looks like.
Children under the age of eight, who weigh 40-80 lbs, and who stand less than 4ft. 9 ins must travel in a booster seat that meets the CMVSS. Please see diagram images E, F, and G for examples of what booster seats look like.
A child can start using a seatbelt alone once they meet any of the following criteria:
A Infant seat with base B '3-in-1' convertible seat – infant/child/booster seat C Infant/child/booster seat D Child/booster seat E Backless booster seat F High-back booster seat G Combination (child/booster) seat – belt-positioning booster seat mode.
