Highways and Public Works

Stage Two - Toddler/School Age - Forward-facing car seats

Forward facing car seats are designed to protect young children from the time they reached a minimum weight of 20/22lbs (9/10kgs) until they have reached a weight of 48lbs (22kgs). Before going forward-facing the child MUST also be over one year old and be able to pull to a stand unassisted. Choosing a child seat that can accommodate a higher weight can provide safe child transportation for a longer period of time. (i.e. they are starting to produce car seats that will go up to 65 lbs with a harness system)

This stage is rear facing with a harness system within this stage there are two main parts. They are: installation of the car seat and securing your infant into the car seat.

Proper Instalation of your car seat into your vehicle

  1. Before installing your car seat, please consult your vehicle manual and find out where they are recommended to be place and how your vehicles seat belt engage so that they may be used with car seats.
  2. The best location for any car seat is in the back seat. The contre back seating position is considered the safer place as it is the furthest away from any intruding vehicles or objects in the event of a collision. However this is not always possible, it depends on the vehicle that it is being used in. (Also, please check your vehicle manual, most UAS systems are only to be used on either outbound seat NOT the centre) If you have a pickup with no back seat, it is acceptable to install a car seat in the front, as long as there is no air bag and the front seat is moved back as far as possible. 80% of the car seat base MUST be supported by the vehicle seat. If this can not be achieved you will need to find a new seating position or get a different car seat.
  3. All forward facing car use a tether strap to secure the top of the seat. The teather strap is located on the rear of the car seat and has a hook on the end of the webbing. This hook is designed to attach the strap to the tether anchorage in the vehicle. The purpose of the tether strap is to minimize the head excursion in a frontal collision. Please consult you vehicle manual to find out where your tether anchor is located.
    NOTE** all passenger vehicles made after 2000, and all vans made after 2001, will have one installed from the factory already, if you vehicle is older or a van/truck/suv you may need to have one installed. In this case, please contact your car dealership as they may install it for free.
  4. Decide if you are going to use your UAS, Universal Anchor System, or a seat belt. They are both just as safe, but sometimes one may be easier than the other for installation purposes. If you wish to use your UAS system, click here for more information on them.
    If you wish to use your seat belt ensure that you now how your vehicle seat belt works for car seat. You need to ensure that it will lock. The most common type of seat belt is a switchable, meaning if you pull your lap/shoulder belt all the way out, it will click, engaging the locking mechanism  (you will hear a racheting sound as it goes back in) and you should notice that it locks and will only tighten. If your seat belt does not do this, please refer to your vehicle manual to find out how your seat belt works.
  5. To properly secure a forward facing car seat, push the of the car seat  into the back of the seat and slide down pressing down and into the vehicle upholstrey, place all your weigh into your child's car seat (this will hold it in position and make securing it easier) route your seat belt through as directed by your car seat manual. Pull tight. Also remember to tighten your tether strap.
  6. To check if it is tight enough, place hand on each side of your car seat where the seat belt/UAS goes through it. Pull towards the front of the car and towards each side door. If you infant carrier moves more than one inch, it is not correctly installed and you will need to try again.

Securing your child properly

  1. Once your child is in their car seat, making sure their buttocks is against the back of the car seat and they are sitting properly. Position the harness straps over your child's shoulders.Ensure the harness straps are at or above your child's shoulder level. If they are below the shoulders, adjustments will be needed to reposition the harness properly. (see car seat manual for these directions)
  2. Make sure the harness straps are flat and not twisted or folded as this will alter the performance of the harness system. Securely latch the harness to the crotch buckle assembly.
  3. Tighten the harness as indicated in your manual so that only one finger fits between the harness and your child's collar bone after the harness is buckled. (You can also use the pinch test to see if it is tight enough. Take your fore finger and thumb and try and pinch the harness lengthwise. This test should be down slight below their shoulders. If you can grab any of the harness it is not tight enough and needs to be adjusted.)
  4. Ensure the chest clip closed and is positioned at the arm pit level over the chestbone. The chest clip will hold the shoulder harness over the child's shoulders. This make it difficult for the harness straps to slip off the shoulders, which if happens could lead to ejection of your child in the event of a collision. The chest clip also safety absorbs the forces of a crash or sudden stop over the chestbone.

****Please also read our aftermarket products and winter clothing section with regards warnings for the use of  winter clothes and car seats.****

Further information:

How your car seat works in a collision

Transport Canada - Stage Two

Canada Safety Council - Stage Two