• Choosing a rear-facing infant seat for your baby
• Securing your baby in a rear-facing infant seat
• Installing a rear-facing infant seat
  • Installing with UAS
  • Installing with a seat belt
• Using the infant seat outside the vehicle
• When to replace a rear-facing infant seat
• Contact us

Rear-facing infant seats are available as infant- only seats, infant/child seats, or infant/child/ booster seats.

An infant/child seat or an infant/child/booster seat can be used as a rear-facing infant seat. Later, these seats can be used as forward-facing child seats when it is the right time to have the child ride facing the front of the vehicle. See Car Time – Stage 2 for more information about forward facing child seats.

Rear-facing infant seats have different upper weight limits. Check the label on the rear-facing infant seat for the weight and height that are allowed by the manufacturer.

Don't be in a hurry to start using a forward-facing child seat. The longer you use a rear-facing infant-only seat, infant /child seat, or infant/child/booster seat that fits correctly, even past your baby's first birthday, the safer your baby will be in a crash. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions for use and check the label for the weight and height that are allowed.

• Weigh your baby.
• Measure your baby's height or length.
• Check the label to be sure the seat will fit your baby's weight and height.
• A rear-facing infant-only seat is a good choice for a smaller baby, or a newborn.
• An infant/child seat used in the rear-facing position is a good choice for a taller or heavier baby.
• Make sure that the rear-facing seat fits well in the back seat of your vehicle.

• Read the car seat instructions and the vehicle owner's manual to learn how to install a rear facing infant seat in your vehicle.
• Always put a rear-facing infant seat in the back seat of the vehicle.
• Never put a rear-facing infant seat in the front passenger seat.
• If your vehicle has side air bags, see the Transport Canada fact sheet on How to Read the instructions that came with your baby's car seat.

• Install the harness straps using the slot positions that are at or slightly below your baby's shoulders.
• Buckle your baby into the seat.
  • Make sure the harness straps are fastened tightly. They hold your baby in the seat.
  • “Tightly” means only one finger fits between the harness strap and your baby at the collarbone.

• The chest clip should be positioned at the armpit level to hold the harness straps in place
• Check where the top of your baby's head lies on the back of the seat.
  • If the top of your baby's head is less than 2.5 cm (1 inch) from the top of the seat, a bigger seat is needed.
  • If there is a sunshade or canopy attached to the handle of the infant-only seat, the sunshade must not be used in the car.
  • Install the rear-facing infant seat with the Universal Anchorage System (UAS) or with the seat belt.

• Read the car seat instructions and the vehicle owner's manual to learn how to install a rear facing infant seat in your vehicle.
• Always put a rear-facing infant seat in the back seat of the vehicle.
• Never put a rear-facing infant seat in the front passenger seat.
• If your vehicle has side air bags, see the Transport Canada fact sheet on How to Protect Children in Vehicles with Side Air Bags.
• Put the handle of the infant-only seat in the position recommended by the manufacturer.

• Car seats manufactured after September 1, 2002 have two UAS connectors that attach to the UAS anchor bars in newer vehicles.
• Check the vehicle owner's manual for the seating positions that can be used with UAS.
• You may need to thread the UAS webbing strap through the infant/child seat or the base of the infant-only seat.
• Attach the two UAS connectors to the UAS anchor bars and tighten the strap.
• The rear-facing infant seat should not move more than 2.5 cm (1 inch) from side to side or forward.

Items not provided by the car seat manufacturer such as liners, trays, or comfort straps may interfere with the safety of the seat. Check with the car seat manufacturer before using these products with the baby's car seat.