Picking the right child car seat is the best way to help prevent any serious injury to children in a collision.

Rear-facing infant seats

Rear-facing infant seats provide the best fit for younger babies from birth to 20 lbs (9 kg). The seat holds a baby securely with a shoulder harness. It’s best to adjust the harness so that it fits snuggly, with only one finger fitting between the baby’s collarbone and the harness.

Make sure to position the chest clip at the armpit level. Never use it in a passenger seat that has an airbag.

Forward-facing toddler seats

child in 5 point harness seatChildren should weigh 20 to 40 lbs (9 - 18 kg) and be able pull themselves up to stand independently before you use a forward-facing toddler seat. Using the seat before a child is 20 lbs can be dangerous, as their neck and back muscles and bone structure are not strong enough to withstand the force of a crash.

Make sure to anchor the seat with a tether strap and attach it securely to a bolt on the rear shelf of a car or the floor of a van, station wagon or hatchback.

Booster seats

A booster seat raises a child so that they can use an adult seat belt properly. If the mid-point of their ears are over the back of the child restraint or they weigh 40 lbs (18 kg) or more, you should move them to a booster seat. You should use a booster seat until a child is over the manufacturer’s weight and height limit or if the mid-point of their ears are above the top of the high back booster or vehicle seat.

More information

Please visit the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario for more information about choosing the right child car seat.