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Parents with small children in carseats should take note of the updated child car seat safety regulations come into effect on January 1, 2012.

“As a mom, I want to have confidence that my child is secured in the safest car seat available,” said Minister Aglukkaq. “When these new regulations come into force on January 1, child car seats sold in Canada will meet Canada’s highest testing standards and therefore will be as safe as possible.”

These updated safety regulations come from a regular process for reviewing child safety standards derived from the most up to date technology available. These updates will bring some elements of the regulations into alignment with some standards seen in the United States and will incorporate specific Canadian testing requirements.

The six major changes include:

1. a new testing requirement using a three-point seatbelt to secure car seats in vehicles;

2. changes to child seats’ dynamic testing to adopt most of the U.S. testing parameters;

3. changing the definition of an infant from 9 kg to 10 kg;

4. an increase in the maximum allowable weight limit of child seats from 22 kg to 30 kg;

5. introducing dynamic testing requirements for booster seats; and

6. allowing harnesses to be certified for use on school buses by special needs children.

The introduction of these updated guidelines does not mean that parents must replace the carseats they are currently using. Transport Canada does remind parents to replace all carseats that went through a collision, have ripped material or a damaged shell. Also, parents are encouraged to check the expiry date of the seat and to replace seats when they reach that date.

Due to these new regulations being released on May 12, 2010 in the Canada Gazette Part II, which gave manufacturers enough time to introduce these new regulations and ensure that no supply disruptions occur. Because previous regulations ensured a high level of safety for children, car seats currently in use will continue to provide the proper protection.

Parents are reminded to be aware of the guidelines for all child seats, ensure that children are in the appropriate seat for their size and to make sure that the seats are installed and used correctly. More information about the updated guidelines can be found on Transport Canada’s “Keep Kids Safe” website.

Tags: car seats

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