A child should be over 1 year-of-age, be at least 10 kg (22 lb.) AND able to walk unassisted before being turned to face forward. However, it is safer for a child to remain rear-facing as long as possible. If you turn your child forward too soon, he or she could be injured in a sudden stop or a crash. When your baby has outgrown the Infant-only seat, you can use an Infant/Child seat or Infant/Child/Booster seat rear-facing up to the car seat's maximum rear-facing weight OR until the top of the child's head is less than 2.5 cm (1 in.) below the top of the seat.
Choosing a Forward-facing Car Seat:
There are three (3) types of seats that can be used for Stage 2:Forward-facing -Infant/Child seats (also known as Convertible seats), Child/Booster seats (also called 2-in-1 seats) and Infant/Child/Booster Seats (also known as 3-Stage seats). In addition, there are Built-in car seats that some vehicle manufacturers offer in a few of their models.
Remember to fill out and mail the registration card that comes with the car seat. If there is a recall, the manufacturer will be able to contact you.
Infant/Child seats, Child/Booster seats and Infant/Child/Boosters can be used forward-facing for children up to 18-30 kg (40-65 lb.) and 101-135 cm (40-53 in.), depending on the model.
Both Child/Boosters seats and Infant/Child/Booster seats can also be used as a Booster seat up to 36 or 45 kg (80 or 100 lb.), after the child has reached 18 kg (40 lb.).
Harnessing Your Child in the Seat Correctly:
Read and carefully follow the instructions that came with your car seat.
Always check the seat’s metal and plastic parts before putting your child in the car seat. In warm weather, they can get very hot.
Your child’s bottom and back should be flat against the seat back.
When forward-facing, the harness must be level with, or above your child’s shoulders.
The harness straps must lie flat across your child’s body. Any twists or wrinkles will concentrate crash forces.
The harness straps should fit very snugly. Adjusted properly, you can get no more than one finger between the harness and your child's chest, just below the collar bone.
The chest clip should be level with your child’s arm pit to keep the harness straps from falling off the shoulders.
Putting the Seat in Your Vehicle:
Read your vehicle owner's manual. It will have information about the seat belts, Universal Anchorage System (UAS) and tether anchor locations in your vehicle. Check your car seat's instructions as to where the belt should go.
The rear seat of the vehicle, the "Kid's Zone", is the safest place for a child. Transport Canada recommends that all children 12 years and under sit in the back seat. The centre, rear position is preferred because it is furthest away from the point-of-impact from any direction.
Ensure that the interior of your vehicle is safe. Tie down or lock all objects in the trunk. Items left on the rear window ledge can fall on a child. Items on the seat, on the floor, or in an open hatchback, wagon or van can fly around, if there is a sudden stop or collision.
In general, forward-facing car seats should be in the upright position, unless your instructions say that the seat can be reclined. 80% of the bottom of the car seat should be firmly supported by the vehicle seat.
A forward-facing car seat must not be installed in a front seating position that has an active air bag. For side-impact air bags, follow your vehicle manufacturer's instructions. Clear the area between the car seat and the door of all objects. Toys, blankets, and even pillows could harm a child, if the side air bag inflates.
Use only one method to install the car seat, either the seat belt or the Universal Anchorage System (UAS). When tightening the seat belt or UAS, kneel on the car seat to push it down and into the vehicle upholstery. The seat should not move more than 2.5 cm (1 in.) toward the front of the vehicle, or directly side-to-side, where the belt is attached.
Some lap & shoulder belts on older vehicles need a locking clip to prevent them from loosening. Your vehicle owner's manual will have information about installing car seats.
The Tether Strap:
All forward-facing car seats must be anchored with a tether strap. The tether limits how far forward the car seat will move, in a crash or sudden stop. It is attached to the back of the car seat and is fastened to an anchor in the vehicle.
All passenger vehicles (excluding convertibles) manufactured since January 1, 1989 will come from the factory with pre-drilled tether anchor locations (the hole for the anchor). Light trucks and multi-purpose vehicles, like minivans and sport utilities, were exempt from providing pre-drilled anchorage points. However, many do have them.
All passenger vehicles manufactured after September 1st, 1999 come from the factory with user-ready tether anchors built-in. Light trucks and multi-purpose vehicles manufactured after September 1st, 2000, also have them built in.
Check your vehicle owner’s manual or your dealership for these locations.
You will need one tether anchor for each child seat in the vehicle. Always use the tether anchor that is designated for the seating position where the car seat is placed.
Tighten the seat belt or UAS first, then adjust the tether strap. When tightening the tether, ensure that it compresses the vehicle seat back or fixed headrest, if there is one present. If the vehicle has an adjustable headrest, the tether strap is usually threaded under it.
When has a child outgrown a Forward-facing Car Seat:
A child has outgrown a Forward-facing car seat when he or she reaches the upper weight or when the top of the ears is above the back of the car seat, or the shoulders are above the top harness position.
Your child may not yet be ready to move to the Booster seat. Booster seats are for children over 18 kg (40 lb.). Some new models of car seats can be used with the harness up to 30 kg (65 lb.). It is safer for a child to remain in the harness as long as possible, up to the car seat's maximum weight or height limits as indicated in the instructions.
A booster seat is not a substitute for a car seat for children under 18 kg. If your child is too tall for his or her current car seat but does not weigh 18 kg, move your child to a Child/Booster seat that can harness a tall child.
There are three (3) types of seats that can be used for Stage 2: Forward-facing -Infant/Child seats (also known as Convertible seats), Child/Booster seats (also called 2-in-1 seats) and Infant/Child/Booster Seats (also known as 3-Stage seats). In addition, there are Built-in car seats that some vehicle manufacturers offer in a few of their models.
Always check the seat’s metal and plastic parts before putting your child in the car seat. In warm weather, they can get very hot. 
The rear seat of the vehicle, the "Kid's Zone", is the safest place for a child. Transport Canada recommends that all children 12 years and under sit in the back seat. The centre, rear position is preferred because it is furthest away from the point-of-impact from any direction.
A child has outgrown a Forward-facing car seat when he or she reaches the upper weight or when the top of the ears is above the back of the car seat, or the shoulders are above the top harness position.