• Children in stage two use forward-facing car seats.child in the car image by Natalia Pavlova from Fotolia.com
  
  From 2000 to 2004, there were 14,082 deaths on Canadian roadways, many of which were due in part to the fact that someone failed to appropriately secure themselves or their children in a vehicle. Children's car seats and booster seats are often installed or placed incorrectly, and children are often in seats that are not appropriate to their size or age. Canada, attempting to simplify the process of regulating car seats, has divided a child's development--in terms of road travel--into four stages.
  
  

Stage One

• From the moment they leave the hospital, infants are required to be in a car seat when they travel in a vehicle. At such a young age, children must be placed in a rear-facing infant seat. The seat will support the child's underdeveloped head and neck muscles in case of a sudden stop. Before choosing any car seat or booster seat, you should weigh and measure your child. Use this information, along with manufacturer suggestions, to select the best product for your child. The back seat is the safest place for children, and Transport Canada advises children sit in the back seat until age 12.
  
  

Stage Two

• A child in stage two has more developed muscles in the upper body and the ability to sit upright on her own. At this stage, children should be placed in a forward-facing car seat. To avoid possible injury, it is important not to put your child in a forward-facing seat until she is large enough. To be safe, if your child has outgrown the rear-facing seat, look for a larger rear-facing seat. Once your child has outgrown rear-facing seats, she can use a forward-facing seat.
  
  

Stage Three

• When your child graduates from traditional car seats and into stage three, he should be at least 40 pounds (18kg) and approximately 4 ½ years old. At this point, you can place your child in a booster seat rather than a car seat. Again, it is important to continue using a car seat until your child is at least 40 pounds.
  
  When using the booster seat, be sure the shoulder belt goes over your child's shoulder and across the chest, and not behind the back or under the arm. In addition, make sure the lap belt is tight and on the child's hips, not the stomach. This point is extremely important, as an improperly aligned seat belt can cause serious injury or death during an accident. (Reference 3)
  
  

Stage Four

• In stage four, a child weighs more than 80 pounds (36kg), is approximately 8 years old and is tall enough to use a seat belt safely. You must make your own judgment; if your child is not yet tall enough for the seat belt, continue using a booster seat.
  
  Once again, ensure the belt is riding correctly (over the shoulder, across the chest and on the hips) and make sure your child is not slouching in the seat.
  
  If given a choice between using just a lap belt and a combination lap-shoulder belt, it is important to note that the combination belt will provide better protection in a crash. (Reference 4)
  
  In addition to the Canadian Government's regulations, be sure you read and understand all instructions for both the car seat or booster seat and for your vehicle.