Nova Scotia tightens child car seat rules, requiring rear-facing seats until age two
New regulations in Nova Scotia now require children to remain in rear-facing car seats until they are two years old and weigh more than 22 pounds, and in front-facing harnessed seats until age four and over 40 pounds. Child safety specialists and caregivers have welcomed the changes.
As of Monday, new regulations in Nova Scotia require children to remain in rear-facing car seats until they are two years old and weigh more than 22 pounds. The updated rules also mandate that children stay in front-facing harnessed car seats until they are four years old and weigh more than 40 pounds.
Previously, provincial law required children to ride rear-facing only until age one, while the rule for harnessed forward-facing seats was based solely on a 40-pound weight limit. Child safety specialists and caregivers have welcomed the regulatory changes, which standardize safety practices across all caregivers in the province.
Katherine Hutka, a health promotion specialist with Child Safety Link at IWK Health, explained that young children must stay rear-facing because their heads, necks, and spines are the most vulnerable parts of their bodies. She noted that most crashes have a frontal aspect where forward motion could be fatal. Hutka added that IWK children's hospital sees more leg injuries in children who are forward-facing during a crash compared to those who are rear-facing.
Jolyn Swain, owner of Nurtured in Halifax, pointed out that many car seats currently available allow for extended rear-facing use up to 40 to 50 pounds or more. Parent Thom Smith said the new legislation might increase the availability of car seat options suitable for larger infants.