How to safely buckle a child into a car seat

In Ontario and Quebec, the law states that children under 145 centimetres tall must ride in a booster seat appropriate for their height and weight. However, car seat laws vary from province to province. Therefore, it’s important to check your local legislation. Here are a few tips for properly securing your child to reduce, by as much as 70 percent, the risk of death and serious injury in the event of a car accident.

• The car seat should be secured using a Universal Anchorage System (UAS) or the vehicle’s seat belt. It must be installed in the back seat and away from the airbags. Don’t use accessories like support cushions or mirrors that didn’t come with the seat.

• Generally, children should use a rear-facing car seat until they’re two years old. Once your child exceeds the weight and height limit indicated by the manufacturer, you can face the seat forward. You can switch to a booster seat when your child exceeds 18 kilograms (40 pounds) or until their age and height allow them to stop using it.

• The harness straps should feed through the slots in the backrest at the same height as your child’s shoulders or slightly lower (rear-facing seat) or higher (forward-facing seat). The chest clip should fit under your child’s arm with only one finger of space between the straps and their shoulder.

Your child’s safety on the road depends on more than just how they’re secured. Visit your local M 360 Mechanic to schedule a complete vehicle inspection.