Rear-Facing Seats (Birth to 1 Year)

Use the right safety seat

This stage starts with your infant’s first ride home from the hospital until he or she is at least one year old and up to the rear-facing weight limit of the safety seat (at least 9kg [20lb]).

There are two types of rear-facing safety seats:

Infant seats (rear-facing) are for infants:

  • Starting from their first ride home from the hospital.
  • Until they are at least one year old and up to the weight limit of the safety seat. (Weight limits vary — check the manufacturer’s instructions).

Rear-facing infant/child (convertible) seats are for infants:

  • Who have outgrown their infant seat.
  • Until they are at least one year old and up to the weight limits for the seat in the rear-facing position. (Weight limits vary — check the manufacturer’s instructions).
Download and print our Rear-Facing Safety Seats (Birth to 1 Year) Fact Sheet.[PDF]

Key points for rear-facing safety seats
  • All children should remain rear facing until at least one year of age and until they reach the infant/child safety seat’s weight limit for the rear-facing position.
  • Rear-facing safety seats support and protect the head and spine in the event of a crash.
  • Rear-facing safety seats are required by law in BC for transporting babies.
  • Look for a label that says the rear-facing seat complies with Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard CMVSS213.1

Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and read your vehicle owner’s manual.

WARNING! Never place a rear–facing child seat in a vehicle seat with an air bag. Death or serious injury can occur. Always check for the “SRS” or “Air bag” marking on the dash to indicate that an air bag is installed.

Different styles of safety seats to choose from

There are two different styles of infant seats to choose from:

  • 5-point harness — The harness straps restrain your baby at the shoulders, over the hips and buckle up between the legs.
  • 3-point harness — The harness straps restrain your baby at the shoulders and buckle up between the legs.

Choose an infant seat with at least 2 sets of shoulder harness slots and 2 crotch strap slots to allow for adjustment as the baby grows.

If your child outgrows the infant seat before one year of age, move them into an infant/child (convertible) seat in the rear-facing position. Choose an infant/child (convertible) seat that has a rear-facing weight limit of at least 14 kg (30 lb.). Your infant should remain in the rear-facing position until he or she is at least one year old and has reached the upper weight limit for the rear-facing position. (Once your child reaches the weight limit for use in the rear-facing position, the convertible seat can be turned to the forward-facing position.)

Installing the rear-facing seat

Infant and rear-facing infant/child seats must be installed correctly to ensure your baby is as safe as possible

Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and read your vehicle owner’s manual.

Use the following quick checklist to ensure your rear-facing safety seat is installed correctly:

  • Safety seat is installed facing the rear of the vehicle.
  • Safety seat is secured tightly by a vehicle seat belt or the Universal Anchorage System (UAS). Check periodically to ensure that the seat belt or UAS hasn’t loosened.
  • Seat belt or UAS routed through the correct belt path.

    • Download and print our Universal Anchorage System fact sheet.[PDF]

  • The safety seat is reclined so that your baby’s head and body lie back comfortably. check the manufacturer’s instructions for the best position for your safety seat. (If the rear-facing safety seat is too upright, insert a cut "pool noodle" or rolled towel under the rear-facing safety seat along the back of the vehicle seat cushion).
  • Handle is lowered behind the infant seat (applies to infant seats only).
  • Infant seat or rear-facing infant/child seat is never placed in a vehicle seat with an air bag.





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Securing your baby in the safety seat

  • Harness straps are not twisted.
  • Harness straps are at or just below your baby’s shoulder level.
  • Harness is snug so that no more than one finger can fit between the harness and your baby’s collarbone.
  • Chest clip is positioned so that it is at the arm pit level.
  • Your baby is secured in the harness before placing blankets over the baby to keep him or her warm.
  • A rolled receiving blanket is placed on each side of your baby’s head to keep it from falling to the side.
  • Nothing is placed between your baby and the safety seat’s padding.
  • Bunting bags or bulky clothing are not used. The thick material can compress in a crash resulting in loosened harness straps.
  • Your baby is never left unattended in the safety seat.

Make sure you don't rush the transition from the rear-facing to the forward-facing position.

More information

For more information, be sure to check:

BCAA Traffic Safety Foundation/ICBC Child Passenger Safety Program

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