• When to use a forward-facing child seat 
• Choosing a forward-facing child seat
  • Before you choose a child seat
• Securing your child in a forward-facing child seat
• Installing a forward-facing child seat
  • Installing with a seat belt
  • Installing with UAS
  • The tether strap 
• When to replace a forward-facing child seat
• Contact Us

When to use a forward-facing child seat 

Before you make the change to a forward-facing child seat, ask these questions:

• Is your child too heavy or too tall for your rear-facing infant seat? There may be another rear-facing seat that will fit your child.
• Does your child still fit within the weight and height given on the label for your rear-facing infant/child seat? You may be able to continue using the rear-facing infant seat until your child outgrows it.

An infant/child seat or an infant/child/booster seat can be used as a rear-facing infant seat then later used as a forward-facing child seat. Check the instructions for the weight and height limits and how to convert from rear-facing use to forward-facing use.

See Car Time – Stage 1 for more information about rear-facing infant seats.

A child/booster seat can be used as a forward facing child seat then used as a booster seat later when the child reaches that stage. Check the instructions for the weight and height limits and how to use it as a child seat. 

See Car Time –Stage 3 for more information about booster seats.

Before you choose a child seat:

• Weigh your child.
• Measure your child's height.
• Check the label on the child seat to be sure the seat will fit your child's weight and height.
• Make sure the child seat fits well in the back seat of your vehicle.

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• Read the instructions for the forward-facing child seat to help you use it correctly.
• Install the harness straps using the slot positions that are at or slightly above your child's shoulders.
• Make sure the harness straps are fastened tightly to hold your child in the seat. “Tightly” means only one finger fits between the harness strap and your child at the chest.
• The chest clip should be positioned at the armpit level to hold the harness straps in place

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 car seat.

• Read the car seat instructions and the instructions in the vehicle owner's manual to learn how to install a forward-facing child seat.
• Install a forward-facing child seat in the back seat of the vehicle. Children 12 and under need to ride in the back seat away from the front-seat air bags.
• If your vehicle has side air bags, see the Transport Canada fact sheet on How to Protect Children in Vehicles with Side Air Bags.
• Install a child seat using a tether strap and a seat belt or using a tether strap and the Universal Anchorage System (UAS).

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• Thread the seat belt webbing through the child seat as shown in the instructions.
• Buckle the seat belt and make sure it is tight. The seat belt keeps your child seat in place in the vehicle.

• When you install the child seat, use your knee to push down on the child seat at the same time
  you tighten the seat belt.
• Attach the tether strap to hold the top of the child seat in place and tighten the strap.
• The child seat should not move more than 2.5 cm (1 inch) from side to side or forward.

• 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.
• Attach the two UAS connectors to the UAS anchor bars and tighten the strap.
• Attach the tether strap to hold the top of the child seat in place and tighten the strap.
• The child seat should not move more than 2.5 cm (1 inch) from side to side or forward.