The Ontario Law still states:
- Rear-facing until 20lbs (with a recommendation of 1 year of age)
- Forward-facing in a 5pt harness until 40lbs and 40"
- Booster seat until age 8 or 4'9" or 80lbs
The changes are:
- a new testing requirement using a three-point seatbelt to secure car seats in vehicles
- changes to child seats' dynamic testing to adopt most of the U.S. testing parameters
- changing the definition of an infant from 9 kg to 10 kg (from 20 to 22 lbs)
- an increase in the maximum allowable weight limit of child seats from 22 kg to 30 kg (48 to 66lbs)
- introducing dynamic testing requirements for booster seats
- allowing harnesses to be certified for use on school buses by special needs children
I have to say that I'm all for the changes even though my oldest daughter (P) might not agree.
When we had to purchase another forward facing car seat to accomodate our youngest daughter (S), there was no question that P would get one of the new car seats that would 5-pt harness to 65lbs with our older model car seat passing down to S. After researching and studying accident statistics and the safest option for my girls, there was no doubt that 5-pt was the way to go.
We chose our manufacturer based on safety ratings in accidents and found the Graco Nautilus had one of the top safety ratings and had recently made the 65lb 5-pt model available in Canada. P got to pick the colour & pattern and it was our luck that it just happened to be on sale when we were looking.
P is not too happy to be in a 5-pt harness at 5.5 years old and FINALLY 40 lbs (in October)! Daily I hear the complaint about why all her friends at school are in a booster seat and she's still in a 'baby' seat! But to me there is nothing I wouldn't do, including enduring the whining of a 5 year old to keep my girls safe on the road!
I get teased all the time for extended rear facing - I kept Parker rear facing till 2 and Leah is still rear facing at 19 months. As you said it's about keeping our children safe...with all the crazy drivers out there I'd rather be safe than sorry! :)
ReplyDeleteMe too Melissa! P was rear facing until 28 months - she was so light. S gained weight a lot faster than P so went forward facing around 19 months.
ReplyDeleteI think the booster seat regulations still need to change. When my daughter turned 8, she was nowhere near the 80lb. and 4'9" mark (she was more like 60lbs. and 4' - so 20lbs. and 9" below the recommended size, which is not at all close). Needless to say, I kept her in her booster seat, however, I know I am the minority.
ReplyDeleteMost parents get rid of the booster seat as soon as their child turns 8. My daughter had to endure teasing from some girls in her class when I volunteered to drive for a school event as their parents didn't still make them ride in a booster seat. I think the law should do away with the age limit, and just stick to the child's appropriate size. It only makes sense!