I feel like I prevented a tragedy

[chaoticoctopus]

:thumbsup: Awesome that you were willing to stick your neck out there, and you made a difference!!! :thumbsup:

 

[cdncasper]

Great job

 

[mommycat]

Also, just wanted to add... I realize it would depend on the state, but for all of Canada, a child must be restrained (in a child restraint, not a booster) until the age of 6 yrs old OR 40lbs. Some provinces have stricter laws on top of the Federal law that need to be followed as well.

Can you tell me where to find that? (the 6 yrs old part) Is it just for some provinces? NS requires a harnessed seat to 40 lb, but apparently it does not specify an age limit, according to ChildSafetyLink. The only age limits specified are for RF to age 1 (AND 22 lb) and booster till age 9 (OR 57 inches). The toddler/FF harness is only bounded by min. 22 lb/1year to a min. 40 lb. I would love to be able to include an age limit when I spread the word - in fact, I (apparently mistakenly?) told a friend "4 and 40" last week...

 

[*HH*]

Thank God you were there to back the Grandma up! Good job!

I agree :thumbsup: Great job!

 

[wondering1]

Yes!!!!!

 

[CDNTech]

Can you tell me where to find that? (the 6 yrs old part) Is it just for some provinces? NS requires a harnessed seat to 40 lb, but apparently it does not specify an age limit, according to ChildSafetyLink. The only age limits specified are for RF to age 1 (AND 22 lb) and booster till age 9 (OR 57 inches). The toddler/FF harness is only bounded by min. 22 lb/1year to a min. 40 lb. I would love to be able to include an age limit when I spread the word - in fact, I (apparently mistakenly?) told a friend "4 and 40" last week...

I'll have to go find a link for you... but it is a Federal law (so for all of Canada).

The Federal law must be followed by all provinces and then it is up to them whether or not they want to build on the Federal law, but the Federal law is minimum.

It states
Children under 20lbs MUST be rearfacing.
Children under 40lbs OR 6 years of age MUST be in a child restraint.
A top tether strap MUST be used with a FF Child restraint.

This means your 42lb 2yr old could legally be in nothing (depending on provincial laws which may accompany federal laws) and it could also mean that your 35lb 5 yr old must be in a child restraint... crazy, huh? This only applies to the child restraint laws. Read on for the good news

There is a way around these ridiculous laws...

A child under 16 is required to be properly buckled into a seatbelt, if they are not, it is against a proper use law. So all children must be properly restrained under one law or another... basically an indirect booster law for all of Canada.

I can't find any good links right now (I'm sooo bad at links), but I can assure you this is absolutely true. I just participated in a checkstop on Tuesday and personally watched the officers write up these tickets as I told them the infractions with the child and/or carseat. They are Federal laws and must be followed in all of Canada in addition to whatever provincial laws you have.

Hope that helps.

Edited to add: 4 and 40 is a bare minimum of our best practice standards, but that has nothing to do with law.

 

[mommycat]

Thanks, it does. I never thought it through, I guess, but the "OR" means the NS law does meet the federal law, and in fact exceeds it, because in NS a 35lb 8-yr-old (tiny kid!!!) would still need to be in a harnessed seat. So YAY for NS. I just wish they had added in "AND 4 yr old" onto that booster law... They could do it since you are able to get seats that harness to 48 or now even 65 lbs.

According to this: http://www.babybag.com/articles/htwt_av.htm (if it is accurate), the average wight for both girls and boys is still just under 40 lb at 4 years, but those heavier kids could really benefit from an age limit.

 

[CDNTech]

I posted basically the same info over on the Canadian board in case any CDN's come along wanting the same info. (and made it easily searchable with canada and law in the title)

 

[laurenrachey]

That made me laugh, because I can just hear that grandma whipping around and saying that. Like I can just see how that all played out in my head. hehehe good for you, and that's great that they were so receptive!

 

[lovemyfamily]

Aww that is so sweet of you. I would have been paranoid to say anything either, but the worst case scenario, for you, is they bite your head off and do it anyway. I am glad they were understanding and took your advice.