Child Traffic Safety
Proper installation and use of infant and child restraints save the lives of children every year. Saskatchewan organizations are working to make the transportation of children safer by educating parents and care givers about infant and child restraints.
Child Passenger Restraint check sites are available throughout Saskatchewan so parents can have their infant or child seat checked by trained volunteers for proper use and installation.
For more information on Child Passenger Safety or to review our resources please refer to our on-line Resource Catalogue. To link to other websites about this topic please refer to our Links Menu.
Rear-Facing Infant Seat Forward-Facing Child Seat Booster Seats CPS Updates
Rear-Facing Infant Seat
When to Use a Rear-Facing Infant Seat
The baby’s weight, length, age and development are the four factors to consider when using a rear-facing infant seat. Use a rear-facing infant seat until the baby is the weight and length listed on the car seat instructions. In addition to the weight and length specifications, the baby must be kept rear-facing until he or she is one year of age and 10 kg (22 lbs.) and can walk. Do not rush to move your baby forward-facing. A baby under one year of age will have to be moved into a rear-facing convertible car seat if he or she has reached the maximum weight limit of the infant car seat.
Most infant seats will safely restrain a baby up to 10 kgs (22 lbs.). For heavier babies who have not yet reached one year of age, use an infant/child convertible car seat allowing a heavier weight in the rear-facing position.
Why Rear-Facing Infant Seats Are Necessary
Babies have large heads and weak neck and back muscles. Infant seats face “backwards” so that the force of a crash or sudden stop is spread across the baby’s back and supported by the car seat. A baby’s neck and back muscles are not strong enough to withstand forces during a crash and thus must be supported by the seat.
Always check the seat’s instructions for specific weight and height restrictions.
(Back to Child Traffic Safety)
Forward-Facing Child Seats
When to Use a Forward-Facing Child Seat
Forward-facing child seats may be used once the child is one year of age and 10 kg (22 lbs.) and can walk. Forward-facing child seats must be used until the child has reached 18 kg (40 lbs.).
Why Forward-Facing Child Seats Are Necessary
When properly installed, a forward-facing child seat protects the child because its three different parts work together:
- The harness absorbs the forward motion of the child at the moment of impact. Forward-facing seats help to distribute the forces of impact over the strongest parts of the child’s body.
- The vehicle seat belt keeps the child seat in place.
- The tether strap secures the top of the child seat to the vehicle reducing forward movement of the child’s head during a collision.
Always check the seat’s instructions for specific weight and height restrictions.
(Back to Child Traffic Safety)
Booster Seats
When to Use a Booster Seat
A booster seat is used for children weighing between 18 kgs (40 lbs.) and up to 45 kg (100 lbs.), generally until age eight. For this age group, booster seats are the safest way to position a seat belt correctly over a child’s body.
Children are ready to use a booster seat when they have reached the maximum weight or height of their forward-facing child seat – but no sooner than this. Check the instructions of the booster seat for more information.
Why Booster Seats Are Necessary
Booster seats are necessary during the period when children are too big for a forward-facing child seat but are too small for a seat belt. The booster seat works by raising the child in the vehicle seat so the seat belt is properly positioned low over the child’s hips. An incorrectly positioned seat belt over a child’s abdomen can cause the child to be seriously injured or even killed in a collision.
Always check the seat’s instructions for specific weight and height restrictions.
Does Your Child Need to Use a Booster Seat?
For more information on if your child needs to use a booster seat, click here.
(Back to Child Traffic Safety)
CPS Updates
2012 CPS Update Presentations
Please find below a list of presentations. Click on the topic you wish to review.