I used to do this every year, so let’s bring it back! I’ve only recently changed my 5-year-old from a car seat with a 5-point harness to a booster seat and she is nearing her 6th birthday. What are the recommendations for child safety when in carS? Let’s look by stage:

1. Stage 1; rear-facing car seats.
2. Stage 2; forward-facing car seat.
3. Stage 3; booster seat.
4. Stage 4; seatbelt only.

Stage 1

When you get a carseat, always make sure you read what the recommended weight and height limit is. Generally, rear-facing seats won’t have a height limit as they want to protect your baby’s neck, not their legs – one is of course more important than the other.

Rear-facing seats can be a bucket seat detachable from a securely installed base or a regular car seat that does not detach. The general recommendation for rear-facing is to be used until your child is at least 1 year old and equal to or over 9 kg/20 pounds. Both of things should be true before you switch to a forward-facing seat. You can indeed continue to use the rear-facing seat if you are more comfortable with it.

Please remember that it is okay if their legs are flowing over the seat and they are in a cross-legged position before they reach the recommended age and weight. The goal of rear-facing is, once again, to protect the neck of your infant.

Quick tips:

• Newborn to 9 kg/20 pounds.
• Newborn to 1 year.
• Never install a rear-facing seat in the front seat of a vehicle or where an airbag may deploy.
• Can be a bucket/infant seat or a convertible seat.
• Position in the center of the back seat or middle row for multi-row vehicles whenever possible.
• Always check the weight recommendation of the seat’s manufacturer.

Stage 2

Forward-facing seats should have a tether that helps secure the seat in position in conjunction with the straps that secure it to the car’s seat. This stage is for infants who are over 1 year of age and who are over 20 lbs (9 kg).

This stage is to be used until at least 18 kg (40 pounds) is reached. If your child is particularly tall, they may benefit from a convertible seat rather than a bucket seat at this stage.

Quick Tips:

• Use between 1 and 9 years of age.
• Weight of child should be between 9 kg and 18 kg, or 20-40 lbs.
• For weight recommendations, always go by your manufacturer.
• Height is not a requirement for this stage and there are no stipulations for height.
• Place in the backseat of your vehicle.
• If your child is within the weight limits of the seat’s manufacturer, they can remain rear-facing in this stage.

Stage 3

Booster seat stage! The most exciting one, but it can also be daunting.

Your child no longer has to be at least 5 years of age or older to safely use a booster seat. They must have reached 18 kg (40 lbs) in order to use a booster seat.

A booster seat is used to boost your child up to a level where the seatbelt can properly rest across their shoulders and allow for the waist strap to sit across the bony portions of the pelvis as opposed to the soft areas of the abdomen.

Your child must remain in a booster seat until at least 9 years of age or 145 cm (4’9″ / 4 feet 9 inches) tall. Whichever one comes first for your child.

Your child also must be able to follow the direction of sitting properly in their booster seat. This means sitting tall and having the shoulder strap properly aligned down their shoulder and across their torso. Slouching should be prohibited as it can cause the seatbelt to position itself improperly and can cause more damage in the event of a crash.

You must use a shoulder strap with a booster seat. Do not use a booster seat in situations where only a lap belt is available.

Quick Tips:

• No age requirement now. Instead, child must be at least 18 kg or 40 pounds to use a booster seat safely.
• Use until age 9 years and older or 145 cm tall. Whichever comes first.
• Child must be responsible enough to sit properly.
• Shoulder belt must be in use — do not use in situations where only a lap belt is available.
• Child must be over 18 kg (40 lbs).
• Use in back seat of vehicle.
• Ensure lap belt rests across the hip bones/pelvis/iliac crest.
• Ensure shoulder belt rests from their shoulder and across their torso.
• Your child can remain in a car seat rather than a booster if your child remains within the car seat’s manufacturer’s recommended weight limit.

Stage 4

Freedom at last. Once your child has reached 9 years of age or has reached 145 cm tall (4’9″), you may remove the booster seat and allow your child to sit in the back seat with a shoulder and lap belt.

Due to the intense impact that is caused by airbags, it is recommended that you keep your children in the back seat until they have reached at least 12 years of age. This is a recommendation.

Make sure that the seat belt properly fits your child. The lap belt should rest against their bony prominences/”hip bone” (which is actually the pelvic iliac crest), and the shoulder strap should rest across the torso in a diagonal from the shoulder to their opposing hip.

The shoulder belt should never be placed underneath the armpit and should not rest against the neck of your child.

The car’s seat should always be in an upright position and your child should always sit properly in their seat to ensure that they are best protected.

For more information, visit the ICBC Child car seats website by clicking here.