Understanding the Four Stages of Child Car Seats

Transporting your child safely in your car requires a proper car seat. As your child grows, the seats that will protect them from injury will change. Typically, children will go through three different types of car seats before they’re ready to safely use a regular seat and seatbelt. Read on for the Canadian Government guidelines to determine the appropriate seat for your child.

Stage 1

The first stage is a rear facing bucket seat for newborns weighing 4lbs and up. Bucket seats are designed to keep your baby reclined at a 45 degree angle make it easier for them to breathe. A base is installed in the back seat of the car and the seat itself can be removed. Be sure to follow instructions for proper installations, and if you’re not sure if the seat is properly secured, don’t hesitate to check with a specialist. The height and weight limitations of bucket seats vary by manufacturer. While regulations vary from province to province, a good practice is to keep your child in a bucket seat until they weigh a minimum of 20lbs, are over 1 year old and can walk unassisted.

Stage 2

At stage two it’s typical to move up to a front facing seat with a 5 point harness that keeps your child sitting up properly while snugly strapped in. At this point regulations allow for front facing seats, however many manufactures go above and beyond the recommendations and design seats that can be installed as front or rear facing. These are known as convertible seats and they make it possible to keep your child in a rear facing seat for longer. While rear facing seats are not mandatory, this design has been proven to reduce child injury and death, and kids as old as 6 can sit in them comfortably.

Stage 3

The purpose of a booster seat is to allow older children to properly use the car seatbelt. Designed for older children, booster seats must still be installed in the back of your vehicle, away from the front airbags that can severely injure or kill a child. Some booster seats will have a full back to protect the neck and head and some will only have a cushion to boost the child so that the seatbelt can lie properly across their hips and shoulder. You should consider opting for the full back booster seat if the headrest in your vehicle cannot be adjusted to support your child’s head.

Stage 4

At this stage, children can graduate to using a regular seat and seatbelt. To check if your child is ready, have them sit all the way back and clip in the seat belt. The belt must sit straight across the hips, and the shoulder strap must fit over top of the shoulder, without touching the neck. Their knees should bend comfortably over the edge of the seat, and they shouldn’t have to slide down to get comfortable.

At every stage be mindful of the manufacturer’s size and weight limitations and don’t use the seat once your child outgrows it. Follow manufacturer’s guidelines to ensure proper installation and safe restraint of your child’s position in the sea