Who’s riding"

Babies who weigh less than 22 lb. (10 kg) should always ride in a rear-facing seat designed for infants. Most seats accommodate little ones as small as four or five pounds and come with removable padding to help secure them safely.
Safest use

Infant seats for newborns must be tilted back as far as the seat allows (approximately 45 degrees?use the seat?s levelling guide for reference) and installed in the back seat, ideally in the centre position if it installs well there, says Jen Shapka, an instructor-trainer with the Child Passenger Safety Association of Canada, but see how your family uses the vehicle. ?A properly installed seat on the side is safe, and if you have more than one child, the centre position often isn?t practical or possible.? Make sure the chest clip is at armpit level and the harness is snug on her shoulders, so no excess strap can be pinched horizontally at the collarbone. See the manufacturer?s instructions for the approved positioning of the car seat handle. Next steps

Laws vary, requiring babies to be at least 20 lb. (9 kg) and, in some places, also a year old and walking unassisted, before switching to forward facing. But don?t rush the transition. Experts recommend keeping kids rear facing as long as possible; this position distributes the impact in case of a collision, better protecting the head, neck and spine. Once she hits the height or weight limit of her infant seat, upgrade to a rear-facing toddler seat (that conv...