Car Seat Essential Information

Your child’s car seat will absolutely be your MOST IMPORTANT purchase…First and foremost you will need an infant car seat (to be released from the hospital, they insist on this!)
Commonly referred to as the bucket seat because of the carrying handle. They are installed so that your infant faces the rear of the vehicle (they must by law be, rear-facing until 1 year and a minimum of 20 pounds). Their weight ratings start at normally start at 5 pounds, which is normally the weight a baby has to reach before being released from the hospital. For preemie people there are a couple of car seats that are rated from 4 pounds, Britax is a brand to look for. Each seat rating is based on weight or length of your child. These will vary from seat to seat. The information regarding these ratings is posted by law, on stickers on the side of the car seat, both in French and English. It is safe to say that the majority of children seem to reach the required length before weight, yet many parents seem to focus on the weight instead. (We are not sure why, just be aware of both factors). The infant car seat is a single stage unit for babies only. After your child grows out of the infant unit you will start shopping for a convertible car seat.
The bucket seats that are sold at Moms to be and More also come with a “base”. This is the part that is installed in your vehicle (and shouldn’t be moved, unless absolutely necessary). Bases can also be sold separately (to have, for example, one for Grandma’s car).
 
Tips on what to look for in an infant car seat
•         Always buy a unit with a base.
•         Always buy a car seat that: has a 5 point harness system and was manufactured to meet CANADIAN safety standards (it will have a sticker on it with a Maple leaf. If not, it is illegal to use in Canada).
•         If borrowing a car seat, check that it is less then 5 years old.
•         Never buy a car seat online as you won’t know 100% if it is defective (has been in a car accident). Even the slightest fender-benders can cause structural damages that your eyes may not be able to see.
•         Adjustability of the 5 point harness is VERY important – choose a seat that has the adjusting strap at the front of the seat, not behind!

More about the harness system
 
The reason to choose a 5 point harness in any car seat is to ensure your child is secured at the shoulders and the hips. Choosing a front adjustable strap will allow for no fuss adjusting, ensuring that the harness fits perfectly to your babies body. If you purchase a seat without this feature, all adjustments will have to be done from the back of the seat, without the child seated, making it more guesswork than precision work. Your child is properly strapped in when no more than one finger worth of space is under the chest strap and the chest buckle should sit at the armpit level.
 
After you spend time researching and purchasing a quality piece of equipment, always make sure that it is used to its full potential by having the car seat professionally installed. If you do not have it installed properly, it will not protect your baby. As well as providing free installations with car seat purchases (some exceptions), the professionals at our Canadian car Seat Installation Centre are happy to perform free inspections. Please be aware that if you require an installation, you will need to book an appointment. We suggest having your car seat installed at least 2-3 weeks prior to the baby’s expected arrival date. Please contact the Canadian Car Seat Installation Centre (CCIC) located at 89 Research Road 416-422-2242 for details.
 
After your child has outgrown their infant car seat (generally around the 6 month age), you will begin shopping for a convertible car seat.

For more information, visit http://www.carseatinstallationexperts.com/

Sharon Port
PR Manager
Moms to be and More
www.momstobeandmore.com