최근 들어 핼리팩스로 엄마가 동반하여 자녀 유학을 가는 학생들의 학년이 많이 낮아지고 있는 추세입니다.

초등학교 저학년의 경우 자녀의 키가 145 cm 이하이라면 반드시 차량으로 이동 시 부스트 카시트를 설치한 다음 안전벨트를 착용해야 합니다.

아래는 Transport Canada 에서 공지하는 브랜드별 카시트 유효기간입니다.

새제품, 특히 중고제품을 구매할 시는 반드시 제품의 생산년도를 확인하여 유효기간내의 제품인지 확인하시기 바랍니다.

카시트를 살때 생산날짜를 확인해서 브랜드별 유효기간이 얼마나 남아있는지 확인한 다음 구매한다.

아래 표에서  I  는 신생아, C 는 차일드나 토들러, B 는 부스터 를 뜻한다.

단계별 카시트

1. 인펀트(신생아) 전용 rear-face 카시트

바구니형이고 뒷좌석에서 뒷쪽을 보게끔 설치하는 카시트

9 kg 이 될때까지 사용

2. Forward-facing child 카시트

9 kg 에서 18 kg 까지 사용, 시선이 앞쪽을 향하게끔 되어 있는 토들러/차일드용 카시트

3. 9살전 18 kg 이 넘어가지만 키가 145 cm 되기 전까지 사용해야 하는 부스터 카시트

카시트는 무조건 캐나다 마크가 있는 카시트를 캐나다내에서 구입해야 한다.

출처> Blessing* in lovely Vancity

TP 14563 – Consumer Information Notice
Child Restraint Systems
2011-C01 E
March 30, 2011

Road Safety
Information: 1-800-333-0371

All children’s car seats and booster seats sold in Canada have an expiry or useful life date on them, even though this is not required by regulation. Manufacturers do this to inform current owners and prospective buyers of the potential risks of using car seats and booster seats that may be missing important parts, labels or instructions and/or may have an unknown history, which could lead to less than optimal safe performance when needed. People should not use children’s car seats and booster seats past their expiry or useful life date. Beyond this date, the car seat should be permanently discarded rather than donated to a charitable organization, second hand store, or given to friends or relatives. It is also important to note that if you own a car seat or booster seat made before January 1, 2012, under Health Canada’s Canada Consumer Product Safety Act, you may not be able to advertise, sell, or give it away because it may not meet the latest requirements set out by Health Canada. For further information regarding theCanada Consumer Product Safety Act, please contact Health Canada:

Media Enquiries
Health Canada, Ottawa
613-957-2983

Public Enquiries
Health Canada, Ottawa
613-957-2991
1-866 225-0709

Manufacturers give an expiry or useful life date because over time:

• frequent use and exposure to sunlight can damage and weaken plastic;
• safe-use labels on the products fade or become hard to read;
• instruction manuals have likely been lost;
• food, cleaners, drinks and other materials that have been spilled or used on webbing, buckles, adjusters and other parts may prevent them from working safely;
• the history or condition of the car seat or booster seat becomes hard to check (was it in a crash, was it stored in a place or in a way that caused damage to parts, etc.?);
• safety regulations and standards may have changed, so safer products may now be on the market; and
• second or subsequent owners may not get product safety recall notices if problems arise.

In Canada, all provinces and territories require infants and toddlers to be buckled up in the appropriate car seat. Several provinces also require booster seats for children who have outgrown a child car seat but are too small for a regular seat belt. The provincial and territorial laws also say that the children’s car seats and booster seats must be certified to Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and must be used according to the manufacturer’s instructions. If you don’t follow the instructions or if you use them past their expiry or useful life dates – you may be putting your child’s safety at risk and you may be found guilty of breaking the law.

Listed below, in alphabetical order, are the manufacturers who sell car seats and/or booster seats in Canada, the brand name and the useful life period of their products. Depending on the make or model, they can be used safely for five to nine years. Transport Canada strongly advises parents and caregivers follow all of the manufacturer’s instructions and respect the expiry or useful life dates.

Transport Canada: 1-800-333-0371

Release Date: March 30, 2011

출처: Transport Canada 

UPDATE – Children’s car seats and booster seats: How long are they safe?