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Occupant Protection > Child Car Seats

When to move to the next stage

Stage 1: Rear Facing Infant Seats
To ensure the best protection, your child should remain in a rear facing seat for as long as possible. The minimum requirement is 22 pounds, walking and one year of age; however, many rear facing seats have higher weight limits that allow your child to remain rear facing longer.

• If the top of your child’s head reaches within one inch of the top of a rear facing seat, the child should be moved into a rear facing seat that has a higher back, to ensure the needed head/neck protection.
• Experts agree keeping your child in a rear facing seat as long as possible is safest. Don't rush to move to the next stage.

Stage 2: Forward Facing Child Seats
Your child MUST be a minimum of 22 lbs., walking, and one year of age before you consider transitioning to a forward facing car seat. Ideally your child should remain rear facing until they reach the rear facing limits of your specific seat – which may be around 40 lbs (18.2 kilos). Once changed to the forward facing position your child should remain in this seat until they reach the forward facing limits of the specific seat which Transport Canada now requires manufacturers certify to 68 lbs. (30.9 kilos).

• If your child is under four years old but weighs 40 lbs., consider purchasing a child/booster seat that uses the harness system with a higher weight limit.

• If your child weighs less than 40 lbs. but the middle of his or her ears have reached the top of your forward facing seat, you should move the child to a different forward facing seat with a higher height limit.

Stage 3: Booster Seats 
Children must weigh 40 lbs. and have outgrown the height and weight limits of their forward facing child seat before moving into a booster seat.  High back or no back boosters are available. The most important consideration in determining which will work best for your child is adequate head and neck protection.

• If the middle of your child’s ears have reached the top of the booster or top of the head restraint, but your child is not yet ready to move to a seat belt, consider a high back booster with a higher height limit.
• Never use a booster seat with a lap belt only. Booster seats always require the use of a lap and shoulder seat belt system.

Stage 4: Seat Belt
Children should move to a seat belt when the seat belt fits them properly. The lap belt should lie low on the hips and the shoulder belt should come over the shoulder and across the chest. Children should be at least 4 feet 9 inches standing or 9 years old AND 80 pounds before moving to a seat belt.

 

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