But are you sure that it is properly installed? According to the Canadian Paediatric Society, setting up a child seat and using it properly reduces the risk of fatal injury by 71% and the risk of serious injury by 67%. Read on for important tips to help keep your little one safe!

Choosing the right car seat

Walk into any baby equipment store and you will find car seats for every age and stage. So how do you choose? Transport Canada offers a handy guide explaining the 4 stages of child car seat use to help you determine which car seat is right for your child. Download their checklist for buying a child car seat or booster seat, and when in the store, check the fit by placing your child in the demo seats.

Let’s take a quick look at the 3 stages of car seat usage:

• Stage 1: Rear-facing seats: Designed for infants weighing less than 10 kg (22 lbs), rear-facing seats should always be installed facing the rear and placed at a 45-degree angle so that the baby's head is supported. A snug harness will keep the baby safe in a sudden stop or crash.
• Stage 2: Forward-facing child seats: Forward-facing seats are designed for kids between 10 kg and 30 kg (22 lbs to 65 lbs), but if there is an overlap of weight ranges, it is best to use a rear-facing seat.
• Stage 3: Booster seats: Designed for children who are at least 40 lbs and 4 years of age or older, the booster seat positions a child so that the seat belt fits properly over the lap and shoulder. Children should use a booster seat until they are at least 4’9” tall (145 cm). Booster seat laws vary slightly depending on your provincial or territorial regulations.

Installing it correctly

Placement: According to Transport Canada, a car seat should always be installed in the back seat. Older children using the seat belt or a booster seat must use a lap and a shoulder belt. If the middle position in your car has a lap-belt only, save that position for a harnessed car seat. Also, note that a child in a seat belt or backless booster seat will be safer in a seat with a head rest.

Installation: Follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions and keep them for future reference – particularly important for convertible seats when you change the seat to its forward position. Fit your child car seat firmly so that there is no excessive movement.

Usage: Straps should be snug. Adjust any slack in the harness before every trip. The harness buckle should be as low as possible to keep the lap section of the harness across your child’s pelvis, not resting on his stomach.

5 car seat mistakes to avoid

Wrong seat type: Don’t hurry your child into a booster seat as long as his forward-facing seat fits. A child must weigh at least 40 lbs and meet a booster seat's height guidelines before being moved out of their forward-facing car seat.

Car seat not properly secured to the vehicle: Once secured, the car seat shouldn't move more than one inch.

Loose harness or chest clip: Harness straps should be snug and straight. Snap the chest clip at armpit level for rear-facing car seats, and at mid-chest or armpit level for forward-facing ones. Be extra vigilant about securing the harness tightly when a child is wearing a winter coat.

Improper placement: Even when installed and secured correctly, improper placement of a car seat can put your child in danger.

Using a defective or non-certified car seat: To be safe, never buy a used car seat, and replace car seats and booster seats after an accident. Child car seats must be certified to Canadian safety standards, so it is best to avoid buying them in the United States. Also, check if there are recalls or public notices related to your seat model.

The information in this article has been adapted from the following websites. For more on this topic, visit:

BabyCenter: How to install a car seat

Canadian Pediatric Society: Transportation of infants and children in motor vehicles

Transport Canada: Buying a child car seat or booster seat

Provincial and territorial car seat legislation