Statistics
Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death and injury for children. In cases from 1984 to 1992, in which children were fatally injured, Transport Canada found that all the deaths of infants up to 9 months old were in car seats that were incorrectly installed or improperly installed and improperly used, 37 % were properly buckled in, but the seat was incorrectly installed.
| 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | |||||
| Age | Deaths | Injuries | Deaths | Injuries | Deaths | Injuries | Deaths | Injuries |
| 0-4 | 39 | 3,660 | 62 | 3,421 | 40 | 3,211 | 51 | 3,359 |
| 5-14 | 129 | 15,678 | 146 | 15,005 | 119 | 14,605 | 128 | 14,143 |
A correctly used child restraint will reduce the likelihood of a child being injured or killed in a crash by 75%. Car Seat Safety Check results from across Canada indicate that 4 out of 5 children are not properly restrained. Commom mistakes include:
- Child not in the appropriate restraint.
- Child not harnessed in the restraint correctly.
- Seat belts not tight enough or can't hold the car seat.
- Tether straps not used or used incorrectly.
| Weight/Development | Height | Approx. Age | Type of Child Restraint | |
| under manufacturer's upper weight limit (9 or 10 kg [20 or 22 lb.]) |
under manufacturer's upper height limit (range 66 - 74 cm [26 - 29 in..]) |
birth to 9 months | Infant Car Seat Used Rear - Facing Only |  |
| under manufacturer's upper weight limit for rear-facing (varies with model) |
over manufacturer's upper height limit of infant seat (range 66 - 74 cm [26 - 29 in.]) |
3-5 months to 9-12 months | Infant / Child Car Seat Used Rear - Facing |  |
| over 10 kg (22 lb) AND pulling to stand at furniture under 18 kg (40lb) | over 66 cm (26") middle of ears below top of car seat (approx. 101 cm [40 in.]) |
9-12 months to 4-5 years | Infant / Child Car Seat Used Forward - Facing | |
| under 18 kg (40 lb.) | middle of ears above top of regular car seat (approx. 101 cm [40 in.]) | 3-5 years | SOME Child / Booster Seats Forward-facing tethered car seat (converts to high back booster for children over 18 kg [ 40 lb.]) |  |
| under 18 kg (40 lb.) | middle of ears above top of vehicle seat or high back booster | 4-8 years | Booster Seat Positions the lap or lap/shoulder belt properly over child's body |  |
| under manufacturer's upper weight limit for booster 27 - 36 kg (60 - 80 ib.) |
over manufacturer's height limit for booster sitting height is 74 cm (29in.) or more; legs bend over front edge of vehicle seat | varies | Seat lap belt positioned below over hips and shoulder belt not crossing face or neck. |  |
