Choosing Rear-facing
Installing a rear-facing car seat
Rear-Facing Installation Tips:
- ALWAYS FOLLOW YOUR CAR SEAT INSTRUCTIONS!
- The middle position of the back seat is the safer position for a baby. Refer to the vehicle owner’s manual regarding ability to place car seat in front of a fold-down armrest.
- A rear-facing car seat must NEVER be installed in front of an active airbag.
- Make sure the car seat is reclined properly at a 45-degree angle. If necessary, use a pool noodle under the front of the car seat to help recline the seat to the correct angle
- Some seat belts require a locking clip to prevent them from loosening (check your vehicle owner’s manual to see if you require the use of one).
- Check your car seat instructions to ensure that the seat belt is threaded through the car seat correctly.
- Make sure the car seat is installed tightly. When tightening the seat belt use your weight to push the car seat down into the vehicle upholstery and pull the seat belt as tight as possible. There shouldn’t be more than I inch (2.5 cm) of movement from side to side when pulled forcefully.
- The vehicle seat must support 80% of the base of the car seat.
- Refer to the car seat instructions for correct positioning of the carrying handle. For most infant only car seats, the carrying handle must be in a locked down position when driving. Canopies can be left up and used as long as they’re not attached to the carrying handle.
- Never install a rear-facing car seat with a tether strap,unless otherwise stated by the car seat manufacturer.
- A car seat should never be installed in a side-facing seat (some trucks have this arrangement in their cabs.)
Universal Anchorage System (UAS) Child Seat System:
- Also known as LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) or ISOFIX system.
- This system is mandatory on all Canadian vehicles manufactured on or after September 2002.
- LATCH allows car seats to be put into vehicles without using the vehicle’s seat belts.
- The LATCH system has two anchor points between the upper and lower vehicle seat cushions, which provide an attachment point for the car seat.
- The car seat attaches to the anchor points using a belt or rigid mounting system.
- The new car seats continue to have seat belt paths so that they can be used with older model vehicles that don’t have these anchor points.
- Never install a car seat with both a seat belt and the LATCH system.
- For more information visit Safe Kids Canada site.
Putting Your Baby in the Seat
- Check your car seat instructions to make sure that your baby’s weight and height are within the manufacturer’s limits.
- The baby’s back and bottom should be flat against the back of the car seat.
- The shoulder harness should be at the level of, or slightly below the baby’s shoulders.
- The harness straps should lie flat.
- The harness should fit snug – no more than one finger should fit between the harness and the baby’s collarbone.
- There should be no excess padding behind the baby such as blankets, bulky snowsuits and/or bunting bags.
- If you would like to support the baby’s head in the car seat, place a small rolled hand towel on either side of the baby’s head. Nothing should be placed behind the baby’s head, back or bottom.
- Baby’s clothing must allow the harness to go between the legs.
- If there is excess space between the child in the crotch area and the crotch strap, place a small rolled towel into this area to prevent the child from slipping forward.
- The chest clip should be at the level of the baby’s armpits.
- Head huggers should not be used unless they come with the original seat.
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Revised: October 21, 2010