Child Car Seat Information for
Parents / Caregivers
Always follow your child car seat manufacturer's instructions and your owner's vehicle manual
every time you are installing a child car seat.
Some of the information provided on this website describes and meets US standards. It is for educational purposes ONLY. All child restraint systems (infant, child and booster seats) sold in Canada must meet Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS) set by Transport Canada. Never import a child restraint from another country, as it is illegal to do so.
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CHILD CAR SEAT QUICK GUIDELINES |
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| REAR FACING SEAT: Less than 9kg (20lb) & a minimum of 1 year old |
| FORWARD FACING SEAT: 9 - 18kg (20 - 40lb) & an anchored tether strap |
| BOOSTER SEAT: 18 - 36kg (40 - 80lb) or less than 145cm (4ft 9”) |
| CHILDREN UNDER 13: Sitting in the rear seat of the vehicle is the safest |
CHILD CAR SEAT SAFETY CHECK
Child car seat safety check results from across Canada indicate that 4 out of 5 children are not properly restrained!
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COMMON MISTAKES 1. Child not in the appropriate restraint 2. Child not harnessed in the restraint correctly 3. Seat belts or UAS not tight enough or not compatible with car seat 4. Tether strap not used or used incorrectly
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FIVE SAFETY STEPS TO HELP YOU 1. Use the child safety seats and belts correctly 2. Restrain your child on every trip, every time 3.
Ensure the harness, tether, seatbelt and/or UAS is tight and correct 4. Keep your child in the back seat 5. Use the best safety restraint for your child’s weight, height and age |
HINT: A favorite toy, a piece of fruit, singing a song or playing pee-a-boo, might distract your child's attention long enough to properly fasten him / her in the car seat correctly.
OBTAINING A CHILD CAR SEAT
New child car seat check list
| 1. A Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS) label |
| 2. Is the child car seat compatible with your vehicle |
| 3. Check for recall on seat; you may do so several ways. Call the manufacturer of the child car seat, ITSA (519) 570-0181, Transport Canada 1-800-333-0371 or log on to Transport Canada website http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/childsafety/notices/publicnotices.htm#Summary. There are four things you will need; manufacturer's name, manufacturer date, model number and model name. |
Used child car seat check list
| 1. Does the seat meet Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS)? |
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2. Have you checked for a recall on the seat? You may do so several ways, call the manufacturer, ITSA (519) 570-0181, Transport Canada 1-800-333-0371 or log on to Transport Canada website http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/childsafety/notices/publicnotices.htm#Summary. There are four things you will need; manufacturer's name, manufacturer date, model number and model name. |
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3. Do you know the history of the seat? Find our from the previous owner if the seat has ever been in a crash. If so, the seat may not provide adequate protection if it were in another collision. If you can't find out the seat's history, it's best not to use it. |
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4. Is there a copy of the seat's instructions? Restraints manual provides detailed, illustrated information on how to correctly install and use a car seat. Without it errors may be made, which could threaten your child's safety. Don't rely on the instructions of the previous owner; call the manufacturer to obtain a new copy of the manual. |
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5. Does the seat look like new and have all its parts? The condition of the car seat is very important. Ensure that the following signs are not there - cracks, chips and any white, or gray patches, or lines in the shell - warping, rust or broken rivets in the metal frame - cuts, frayed edges or broken stitches in the harness or tether straps - tears in the padding - the instructions to check for missing parts |
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6. Is the seat the right size for your child? Check the weight and height limits of the seat to be sure that it is appropriate for your child |
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7. Does the seat fit in your vehicle? Try the seat in your vehicle before you purchase it. If it is an infant / child seat, test it in both its rear-facing and forward-facing positions.
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INSTALLING A CHILD CAR SEAT
When installing your child car seat you must follow the manufacturer's instructions and your vehicle's manual. You should always try to install your child car seat first, so that you will know how to do so for the future. Feel free to visit the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia web site and view the videos on installing child car seats. The three web sites below will give you written instructions on how to install the specific child car seat.
To get an appointment or find out where the next child car seat clinic is taking place call the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit at (519) 258-2146 x1350.
EXPIRY DATE
Child car seats have an expiry date; below you will find manufacturer's name, telephone number and/or website regarding expiry dates. Feel free to download the detail list of the child car seat manufacturers / distributors contact information.
Britax, states 6 years
Cosco/Eddie
Bauer/Safety 1st, states 5-7 years
Evenflo, states 6 years
Fisher
Price, states 8 years
Graco/Century, states 6 years
Peg Perego, states 5 years
No child car seat 10 years or older should be used. To dispose of your child car seat please contact the Children's Safety Village at (519) 945-5500. If the child car seat is in the vehicle when it is in an accident, no matter how minor it is, you need to replace it. Your insurance company will pay for the replacement of your child car seat. Below are some sites that will explain why you need to replace the child car seat after a crash.
http://www.carseat.org/Resources/FAQs.htm#replace
http://www.800bucklup.org/parent/replacing CSS after crash002.html
AFTER MARKET PRODUCTS
An aftermarket product is anything that is not sold with your car seat. Shoulder belt positioning devices, seat belt tightening devices, head cushions and car seat covers are considered unsafe aftermarket products. It is never recommended that you use anything extra with your car seat without the express consent of the car seat manufacturer. After market products are not research based and are not recommended to be used.
Transport
Canada - http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/childsafety/notices/Dser/d200401/menu.htm
WINTER CLOTHING ATTIRE
If your child doesn't fit as well in the car seat with his / her winter coat on, take the coat off. A fluffy winter coat will introduce slack into the harness, which could lead to ejection for the child in a crash. The fluff in the coat will compress greatly, creating "dead space". There are many polar fleece coats on the market now that are thin enough to use under a harness, yet can keep a child very warm.
WARM LINE
To obtain information on the next car seat clinic being offered please call the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit at 519-258-2146 x1350. During this current year from April to November there will be child car seat inspection clinics being held one per month in various locations in Windsor and Essex County.
WORKSHOP
To attend a FREE 2 hour workshop on what you need to know about child car seat safety please call the Windsor Essex County Health Unit, Intake Nurse at (519) 258-2146 Ext. 1340. The seminar will cover all three stages of child car seats (rear facing, forward facing and booster). The topics to be covered will include the current and future laws surrounding car seat compliance; correct car seat selection criteria; and common mistakes to avoid. Following the Seminar will be a demonstration as well as an opportunity for hands-on practice for different models of car seats using a car seat trailer generously donated by Daimler Chrysler.
RESOURCES
Please feel free to visit and/or print the following website and PDF files.
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PDF EDUCATIONAL FILES
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