Car seat safety

In Quebec, every child in a motor vehicle must be in a car restraint that is appropriate for the child’s height and weight until the child reaches 145 cm in height or 9 years old. All car seats sold in Canada must meet Transport Canada approved standards and display a Transport Canada compliance label. It is illegal to use a car seat purchased in another country. Always read the manufacturer’s label and instructions to ensure that your child fits within the car seat’s height and weight limits.

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Rear facing car seat

• Infants should always be installed rear-facing in the back seat of the vehicle.
• The seat should be installed at a 45˚ angle.
• Keep your child in the rear-facing position until your child outgrows the car seat.
• Rear-facing is the safest position, even if your child’s feet touch the back of the vehicle’s seat.

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Forward facing car seat

• Keep your child in a forward-facing car seat with a 5 point harness until your child outgrows the seat.
• Even if your child reaches 18 kg (40lbs) and is legally allowed to use a booster seat, your child is safer in a forward-facing car seat as long as he or she still fits in it correctly.
• If your child outgrows their seat, but is not ready for a booster seat, you can purchase a forward-facing car seat that goes up until 30kg (65lbs).

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Booster seat

• The purpose of the booster seat is to ensure that the seat belt is correctly positioned across the child’s shoulder and lap.
• The shoulder belt must cross over the middle of the collarbone and the lap belt must cross over the hips, not the abdomen.
• Children must remain in a booster seat until they reach 145cm in height or 9 years old.

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Seat belt

In order for the seatbelt straps to sit properly:

• Child must be able to sit up straight with his/her back against the seat
• The child’s knees should bend over the seat.

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Helpful tips

• Children under 12 should always sit in the back seat.
• Verify and respect car seat expiry date.
• Replace the car seat if the vehicle was in a collision, even if the child was not in the seat at the time.
• Check with your car seat manufacturer for alternate methods of clothing during winter.
• In the summer, the temperature in the car can rise quickly causing heat exhaustion and even death.
• In the winter, the exhaust pipe can become blocked by snow, and idling can cause carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.

Never leave your child unattended in a vehicle.