Car Safety

All babies need a rear-facing car seat for their first ride home from the hospital. Your baby will use this seat whenever you travel — even the shortest distance — for one year or longer. While babies may use a forward-facing car seat once they're at least one year old and at least 10 kg, it's safest for them to rear-face as long as possible — look for a car seat with the highest rear-facing weight and length limits once your child outgrows their first seat.

• Always install the car seat in the rear seat — the middle position is safest.
• Read the manufacturer's instructions for the car seat and follow all age, height and weight specifications.
• Secure the car seat using the Universal Anchorage System (UAS/LATCH), following both the car seat and car manual instructions. If the UAS system doesn't secure the seat adequately, use the seat belt as indicated in the car seat instructions.
• Check that the installed car seat doesn't move more than 2.5 cm (1 inch) forward or side to side.
• Thread harness straps just at or below your baby's shoulders, with the chest clip at armpit level and the harness fitting snugly.
• Tuck a blanket around your baby if needed, instead of using a bunting bag.
• Don't use a car seat that's been in a crash, even a minor one — it is not safe.

Never leave your baby unattended in a car, even to run a quick errand.