Your child is growing up — With growth comes changes! The time has come to switch to a forward facing car seat, or has it? There are a few ways to determine when it’s time to switch from a rear facing car seat to a forward facing seat. At BrokerLink, we know car seats keeping you and your children safe on the road. That’s why we have prepared this guide to help you know when to make that important child safety seat transition. Let’s dive in!
How long to use a rear facing car seat
Before moving your child into a forward facing seat, you will use a rear facing car seat. For how long? Well, a few factors come into play here. You should still be using a rear facing car seat if your child:
- Is under two years old
- Weighs under 20 lbs
While laws vary from province to province, there isn’t a universal time that you should switch your child out of their rear-facing seat. In fact, it often comes down to how fast your little one grows. Oftentimes, some children will switch to a forward facing seat at different ages, depending on their size. The priority should always be protecting your child's head and neck — a car seat helps protect children from serious or lifethreatening injuries in the event of an accident.
Switching from a rear facing seat to a forward facing car seat
Transitioning to a forward facing car seat is a big deal. That’s why you should ensure your child is ready for this exciting new stage. You should only switch your child to a forward facing seat if:
- They have outgrown the seat in rear facing mode
- Your province or territory regulations allow it
- They meet eligibility criteria such as height or weight
Like it’s important for you to follow our safe driving tips, you should follow the instructions on how to install your child’s car seat. Child car seats have instructions, and if you are having trouble installing your child’s car seat, check out a local car seat clinic.
Safely installing a forward facing car seat
Now that you have established that it’s time to install a forward facing car seat, there are some important steps to follow. If you get into a car accident, you need to ensure the car seat is in the proper position to keep your children safe. When installed correctly, your child's car seat should not move that much. Remember, the seat belt works slightly differently with forward facing children. Read below to learn how to safely install a forward-facing car seat:
Universal anchorage system (UAS)
Most modern vehicles have universal anchorage systems, which secure car seats, are simpler than seat belts, and are easy to tighten. You can find out where these are in your vehicle manual. If your car seat already has locking clips, follow the instructions and then attach them to the UAS bars. Remember, if your child weighs 40lbs or more, use both the seat belt and universal anchorage system.
Seat belt
Always ensure the seat belt fits. Using a seat belt is an excellent alternative if UAS bars are unavailable or your vehicle does not have lower anchorage bars. Even with a seat belt to secure your child's car seat, you should see if there are built-in locking clips. You must first pull the shoulder belt portion out and bring the seat belt through the recommended path to lock it into place. A label will show you where this is; if you choose the right car seat, there may be two paths due to convertibility. Lastly, the tongue is put into the vehicle seat belt buckle, and the seat belt is tightened by pushing down on the car seat and pulling up on the shoulder belt.
Top tether strap
The top tether strap should always be attached to the car’s tether anchor. The top tether ensures the child car seat stays attached to the vehicle seat. This will prevent injury if you get into a car accident. After locating the top tether anchorage, you should find out how to bring the tether strap over or under the headrest. The car seat has a manual that will tell you how to find the top tether hook and how to attach and tighten it. To secure the car seat, you will need to tighten the top tether straps, push the child car seat downward with your knee and, once again, tighten the UAS or seat belt. The final step is tightening the top tether strap again.
Car seat regulations across Canada
Canadian regulations are fairly similar for this important stage in your child’s life. However, the priority is the same — your child should be in the safest position possible to keep them in the event of a collision or sudden stop.
Provinces and territories generally have a few mutual requirements when transitioning your child from a rear facing seat to a forward facing seat. In the case of a convertible seat, the same rules apply. Here are the most common reasons to change out a child car seat or switch its mode:
- Surpassing the height and weight limit
- Getting past the age limit
For example, Alberta car seat laws suggest children stay in a rear facing seat until they are two years old and reach the height and weight limit for the car seat. Check your local laws for the sake of your child’s safety.
How car insurance covers damage to car seats
What does car insurance cover when it comes to child car seats? Most common car accidents can damage items inside your vehicle, including car seats and booster seats. Does insurance cover the damage? Yes, it does! The coverage that compensates you for damage to your car also applies to car seats. If a car seat is involved in an accident, it is considered to be compromised and therefore must be replaced.
Get in touch today to learn more about car insurance
At BrokerLink, we offer a plethora of car insurance policies to keep you and your children safe on the road. Our policies include:
We care about keeping you and your children safe on the road. Our insurance policies will compensate you for injuries in the event of an accident or sudden stop. Find the right child car seat and buckle up those seat belts. Contact us today to learn more about car seat safety standards today.
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