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Are you a parent of young children and you don’t know where to start when it comes to choosing and installing a car seat ? This is normal, with all the safety devices that now exist (shells, booster seat, seat belt, etc.), it is sometimes difficult to navigate.
Here are some basic elements to understand the regulations surrounding children in cars .
Seating a child in a car: what does the law say?
Car seat with baby
Sharon McCutcheon/Unsplash
According to surveys carried out by the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ), half of children who travel in motorized vehicles are not properly restrained . It is therefore important to be well informed before purchasing a car seat for your child. The latter must be adapted to the stage at which your child has reached and respected the regulations in force.
The Quebec Highway Safety Code is clear: any child who measures less than 145 cm, unless he or she has reached the age of 9, must be installed in a car seat adapted to his or her weight and height. waist, until he can use the seat belt correctly. In addition, the SAAQ is categorical: the safest place for children under 12 is the rear of the vehicle. This way, they are further away from the point of impact and the airbags, which could cause fatal injuries in the event of a frontal collision. The car seat must therefore always be installed in the rear, just like children under 12 years old, even if they only use the seat belt
Those who do not respect the law, in addition to putting their child’s safety at risk, can receive a fine of between $80 and $100 and 3 demerit points.
What are the phases of use of child car seats?
Car seat with baby and mom
Shutterstock
To be safe, your child must be properly secured in a seat suitable for their size and weight. The seat must also be securely anchored to your vehicle, using the universal anchorage device or the seat belt. It is very important to respect the weight and height limits indicated on the label on the seat and to follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions exactly.
Phase 1: the rear-facing baby seat
from birth to approximately one year
It is important to use a seat designed specifically for this age group. Young children’s heads are heavy and their neck muscles are not yet developed enough to support their head and protect it during an impact.
Phase 2: child seat first facing rearward, then facing forward
child’s weight: more than 18 kg (more than 40 lbs)
The booster seat and your child are now held in place by the car’s seat belt. It is therefore important that the child is large enough so that the belt does not injure him in the event of an impact.
