Child car seats and boosters - Installing and using

Installing and using

Child car seats need to be installed properly to keep your child safe.

On this page

• Find a car seat clinic
• Stage 1: Rear-facing seats
• Stage 2: Forward-facing seats
• Stage 3: Booster seats
• Stage 4: Seat belts
• Contact us for more child car safety information

Find a car seat clinic

If you are not sure you have installed your child seat correctly, there may be a car seat clinic in your community that can help:

Find a car seat clinic

Stage 1: Rear-facing seats

Babies have large heads and weak necks. Rear-facing car seats are angled backwards because babies need extra support while riding in a car. A rear-facing seat with a snug harness will support your baby's neck, and help protect your baby in a sudden stop or crash.

Keep your child in the rear-facing seat for as long as they can fit in the weight/height range of the seat.

For more information, see Keep Kids Safe - Stage 1: Rear-facing seats.

Note: do not use a child car seat as a crib, or leave children unattended in a car seat. Read more safety tips in Infant Car Seats are Not Cribs.

Stage 2: Forward-facing seats

Forward-facing car seats are for older children with stronger back and neck muscles.

Keep your child in the forward-facing seat until he or she grows out of it. A forward-facing car seat spreads the force of a sudden stop or crash over the strongest parts of your child's body.

For more information, see Keep Kids Safe – Stage 2: Forward-facing seats.

Stage 3: Booster seats

Booster seats are designed to allow seat belt use by children who no longer need forward-facing seats. The booster seat positions a child so that the seat belt is correctly located on the lap and shoulder.

Don't hurry to move your child to a booster seat. As long as your child is within the weight and height range for his or her forward-facing seat, and fits the car seat properly, it is safest to use that seat as long as possible.

For more information, see Keep Kids Safe – Stage 3: Booster seats.

Stage 4: Seat belts

Seat belts are used when children are tall enough to use a seat belt that is properly positioned over their lap and shoulder without needing a booster seat.

Don't hurry. It is best to keep your child in a booster seat as long as possible. If your child has outgrown his or her booster seat, you must check that a seat belt can fit correctly before switching to using only the seat belt.

For more information, see Keep Kids Safe – Stage 4: Seat belts.

Contact us for more child car safety information

Transport Canada
Motor Vehicle Safety
330 Sparks Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0N5

Telephone:

• 1-800-333-0371
• 613-998-8616 (Ottawa area)

Fax: 1-613-998-4831

E-mail: mvs-sa@tc.gc.ca