Choosing The Right Car Seat For Your Child
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According to the Canadian Automobile Association, motorists can reduce their child’s risk of being seriously injured or killed in an accident by 71 percentsimply by installing and using a child car seat in their vehicles. Provincial and territorial laws have been enacted requiring the use of car seats to ensure the safety of passengers younger than 16 years of age. Parents, grandparents, babysitters and anyone else transporting a child in a vehicle must ensure the child is safely secured or risk being fined and incurring demerit points. There is a wide assortment of car seats on the market, but making the correct choice is easier when you have some basic information before you go shopping.
Read the label first
Child seats and booster seats sold for use in Canada must meet strict standards to ensure they are safe. Devices that meet the standards have a label with the National Safety Mark on it certifying it can be sold and used in Canada.
Another item to look for on a car seat’s label is the useful life or expiry date. The date is placed on the device by the manufacturer because the materials used to make child car seats and booster seats can be damaged over time through exposure to the sun or by chemical cleaners. Devices beyond their expiry dates or those that were in use in a vehicle during a collision should be replaced.
Selecting the correct type of seat for your child
The type of child car seat you select is governed primarily by the child’s weight. Seats designed for newborns and infants are made to be installed at a 45-degree angle with the child facing toward the rear of the vehicle. The law in Ontario requires that children weighing less than 9 kg use this type of seat, but there are rear-facing seats that can accommodate children weighing up to 20 kg if parents wish to continue using it longer than the law requires.
As your child grows, you can replace the rear-facing seat with one that is forward facing. Check the manufacturer’s minimum and maximum weight recommendations to choose a seat suitable for your child. Toddler seats usually accommodate children weighing 9-18 kg. Children weighing 18-36 kg and under 145 cm tall must use a booster seat to comply with Ontario law.
A child may ride in a motor vehicle using only a seatbelt in Ontario and comply with the law if he or she meets at least one of the following criteria:
- 8 years of age
- Weighs at least 36 kg
- Is at least 145 cm tall
Parents and drivers can also comply with the law by continuing to use a booster seat if they desire.
Proper installation is essential
The CAA report about child car seats included the results of a study conducted at car seat clinics in which it was discovered that up to 80 percent of the seats they inspected were not installed properly. Child seat clinics exist throughout Canada to help motorists choose a device that is appropriate to their child’s age and weight. Trained technicians show parents the proper installation method for their restraint device and how to correctly position their children in the seat.
Personal injury lawyers in Ontario
The personal injury lawyers at Diamond & Diamond have years of experience helping victims of accidents to obtain compensation. If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident call our 24/7 personal injury hotline at 1-800-567-HURT or visit our websiteto speak to one of our team members. We have offices throughout Ontario to offer free consultations and case evaluations.