Car Time - Stage 2: Safe Travel in a Forward-facing Child Seat

TP 14338E
ISBN 0-662-39340-6
Cat. T46-29/2-2005
Revised March 2006

• 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

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A forward-facing child seat will spread the forces of a sudden stop or a crash over the strongest parts of your child's body. Use a forward-facing child seat that fits your child's weight and height.

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.

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If you use a forward-facing child seat too soon, your child could be hurt during a sudden stop or a crash. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions for use. See Car Time – Stage 1 for information on seats for rear-facing use.

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Choosing a forward-facing child seat

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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Securing your child in a forward-facing child seat

• 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.

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Installing a forward-facing child 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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Installing with a seat belt

• 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.

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With some vehicles, you will need to use a locking clip with the seat belt to install a forward-facing child seat securely in place. Read the vehicle instructions for installing car seats.

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Installing with UAS

• 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.

The tether strap

• A top tether strap must be used on all forward-facing child seats.
• The tether strap hook must be attached to a tether anchor.
• You will need one tether anchor for each child seat used in the vehicle.
• If your vehicle does not have a tether anchor, ask your vehicle dealer to install one.

The symbol for UAS marks the location of the anchor bars in the vehicle and the connectors on the car seat.

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When to replace a forward-facing child seat

• If there was a crash and the child seat was in the car at the time. You should do this even if your child was not riding in the seat during the crash.
• When it has reached the expiry date.

Fill out and mail the registration card that comes with your child's car seat. If there is a recall, the company will be able to contact you.

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Contact Us:

For questions about your car seat, please contact the manufacturer. For more information or to order more copies of this publication, contact:

Transport Canada at: 1-800-333-0371, by email: roadsafetywebmail@tc.gc.ca

Health Canada at: (613) 952-1014, by fax: (613) 941-4376 or by email: cps-spc@hc-sc.gc.ca

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Alternative Formats Available

PDF (Portable Document Format)

You can also download Car Time - Stage 2: Safe Travel in a Forward-facing Child Seat (PDF format, 77Kb). To view PDF documents you must use Adobe® Acrobat Reader. Visit the Adobe site to download the latest, free version.

If you need an alternative format or for more information, please contact us by e-mail at RoadSafetyWebMail@tc.gc.ca or call toll free 1-800-333-0371 (Ottawa area (613) 998-8616).

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