What You Need to Know About Car Seats – Forward Facing Stage
It is amazing how quickly children grow! Doesn’t it seem like it was just yesterday that you installed a rear facing car seat for your baby? Now it’s time to upgrade to a new car seat – a forward facing car seat for your child.
Car Seats and the Forward Facing Stage
Once your child reaches the toddler phase it is time to replace your rear facing car seat with a front facing one. Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act requires that all children between 20 and 40 lbs to use a forward facing car seat and it isrecommended that you use the forward-facing car seat until your child reaches the car seat manufacturer’s weight or height limits. It is not until your child outgrows this seat that it is time for them to booster seat stage when travelling in a vehicle.
Quick Tips for Forward Facing Car Seats
- Make sure you are aware of all the laws, rules, and regulations regarding front facing car seats
- Place the front facing seat in the back seat of your vehicle and install according to the manufacturer’s directions
- Once you install your car seat, have it inspected or attend a car seat clinic in your area
- Fasten the car seat tightly with the seat belt or straps and make sure the seat moves no more 1 inch
- Ensure the harness strap rest at or slightly below your child’s shoulders when they are seated in the car seat
- The chest clip should sit on your child’s chest at armpit level
- Check to make sure the car seat is secure each time you use it
- Keep your child in a front facing car seat until they get to the maximum height or weight limits
Once your child grows out of their front facing seat, it is time for them to upgrade to a booster car seat. Stay tuned for a future blog post about car seats and the booster seat stage.
More Information
For more information about properly installing your car seat check out the Ministry of Transportation website and their page dedicated to Tips for Installing Child Car Seats.