What Are the Manitoba Car Seat Laws?

Research shows that booster seats protect children from serious injuries in car accidents by more than 60 percent. There are Manitoba car seat laws in place to make sure your child is in the proper car seat for their age, weight, and height so they can stay safe in the event of a collision.

Manitoba car seat laws require children to use booster seats until they are at least 145 cm / 4’9” tall, 36 kg / 80 lbs, or nine years old. As your child grows and develops, there are four types of car seats you will encounter.

We’ll go over everything you need to know from car and booster seat models, installation, and things to keep in mind so you keep your kids comfy and safe as you drive.

Which car seat is right for my child?

Manitoba car seat laws require children to use booster seats until they are at least 145 centimetres (4’9”) tall, 36 kilograms (80 lb.) or nine years old. As your child grows and develops, there are four types of car seats you will encounter:

STAGE 1: REAR-FACING CAR SEATS (FOR CHILDREN UP TO 20.4 KG / 45 LBS)

This car seat is for newborns and infants who weigh up to 20.4 kg / 45 lbs. Rear-facing seats protect your child’s head and neck because they distribute the impact of a collision across the back of the car seat. Your vehicle’s rear middle seat is the safest place for this type of car seat, so install it there if you can.

Installing The Car Seat

• The safest position for a car seat is the vehicle’s rear middle seat. If you have more than one child, place the youngest in the middle.
• Use a seatbelt or Universal Anchorage System (UAS) to install the seat—don’t use both.
• Check the tension where the UAS or seatbelt is routed through the car seat—you should not be able to move it more than 2.5 cm / 1” in any direction.
• At least 80% of the infant car seat must be in contact with the vehicle seat.
• Check the level indicators to ensure the infant car seat is at a 45° angle.

Checking The Fit

• The harness straps should be in the slot level with or below your child’s shoulders and fit snugly—you should only be able to fit one finger between your baby’s collarbone and the straps and the straps should lay flat.
• The straps should be at or below the shoulders to prevent your baby from sliding out of the car seat.
• The chest clip should be at armpit level.

STAGE 2: FRONT-FACING CAR SEATS (FOR CHILDREN UP TO 29.5 KG / 65 LBS)

Once your child passes the weight restrictions of the rear-facing seat, you can upgrade to a forward-facing seat. Make sure you check the weight and height requirements—some forward-facing seats are designed for children up to 29.5 kg / 65 lbs. 

The key safety feature in forward-facing child car seats is the harness straps. They’re designed so your child’s body takes the impact on the strongest parts—the shoulders, chest and hips. 

Installing The Car Seat

• The safest position for child car seats is the vehicle’s rear middle seat. If you have more than one child, place the youngest in the middle.
• The tether strap must always be used to secure the top of the car seat to the vehicle.
• Use a seatbelt or UAS to install the seat—don’t use both.
• Check the tension where the seatbelt or UAS is routed through the car seat. You should not be able to move the car seat more than 2.5 cm / 1” in any direction.

Checking The Fit

• The harness straps should be in the slot that is level with or above your child’s shoulders and fit snugly so that you can fit only one finger between your child’s chest and the straps. The straps should lay flat.
• The middle of your child’s ears should not come past the top of the seat.
• The chest clip should be at armpit level.

STAGE 3: BOOSTER SEATS (FOR CHILDREN UP TO 36.3 KG / 80 LBS)

The booster seat comes once your child has grown out of the forward-facing seat. Make sure you check the car seat manual for the weight limits of your specific car seat. The restrictions can change, so it’s important you make sure your child is actually ready to move on to a booster seat. Once they’re ready, Provincial law requires children to use booster seats until they are at least 145 cm / 4’9”, 36 kg / 80 lbs, or nine years old.

Booster seats protect children from getting injured from their seatbelt in a collision. Without a booster seat, the seatbelt is too close to the child’s stomach and neck and can cause serious injuries.

Choosing A Booster Seat

If your vehicle does not have a headrest, choose one of these:

• A high-back booster seat that provides support for the child’s head and neck. Some models convert from a forward-facing seat with a harness to a high-back booster seat.
• An adjustable booster seat that provides adjustable head and neck support as your child grows.

If your vehicle does have a headrest, choose a backless booster seat, an adjustable booster seat or a backless booster seat that has a seat base and armrests.

How To Install A Booster Seat

The safest position for child car seats is the vehicle’s rear middle seat. If you have more than one child, place the youngest in the middle. Keep an empty booster seat buckled up to prevent it from moving and hitting you in a sudden stop or crash.

Checking The Fit

• The shoulder strap should fit over the shoulder and across your child’s chest.
• The lap belt should sit snugly on their hips.
• The middle of your child’s ears should not come past the top of the vehicle’s head restraint. The head restraint ensures your child has adequate head and neck protection in a collision.
• The bend of your child’s knees should be in line with the vehicle seat.
• Never use just a lap belt to secure a child in a booster seat—always use a shoulder and lap belt.
• Never allow your child to place the shoulder belt under their arm or behind their back—this can cause serious injury.

STAGE 4: SEATBELTS (FOR CHILDREN 36.3 KG+ / 80+ LBS)

If your child has passed the requirements for using a booster seat, but you’re still unsure if they’re ready to use a seatbelt, here are some things to look out for:

• The seatbelt should fit across your child’s shoulder and chest and sit low across their hips. Have them sit straight and see if the seatbelt is in the proper spot. If it’s not, they may not be tall enough.
• Make sure the middle of your child’s ears don’t come past the top of the head restraint.
• When your child bends their legs, the bend of their knees should be in line with the vehicle seat.

IS THERE ANYTHING I NEED TO KNOW BEFORE I BUY?

There are many things to consider when buying a car seat, including Manitoba car seat laws—but comfort and vehicle compatibility are among other important factors. Before you buy, here are a few things to consider:

• Check the car seat to make sure it’s not expired. You can find the expiry date stamped on the back or bottom of the seat.
• Buy your car seat in Canada. This way you’ll know it meets Canada’s Motor Vehicle Safety Standards—and keep your eye out for the National Safety Mark.
• You can buy used car seats but make sure the model hasn’t been recalled or involved in a collision. Transport Canada has a detailed list of recalls.
• Make sure you replace the car seat if it’s been in a collision. Even if your child was not in the vehicle, the car seat may have been damaged and may not function properly anymore.
• Car seats and booster seats are exempt from Manitoba sales tax.

Manitoba car seat laws are put in place to keep your children safe on the road. If you take care in choosing your model, installing it properly and doing your research, you’ll be all set!

Installation info

There are typically two options for installing car seats. You can use the vehicle’s seatbelt or the Universal Anchor System (UAS). It’s crucial that your child’s car seat is installed properly so they stay safe on the road. If you’re looking for more information, check out this guide from Manitoba Public Insurance or the car seat page from the Government of Manitoba.

Is there anything I need to know before I buy?

There are many things to consider when buying a car seat, including Manitoba car seat laws. But comfort and vehicle compatibility are among other important factors.

Before you buy, here’s a few things to consider:

• Check the car seat to make sure it’s not expired. You can find the expiry date stamped on the back or bottom of the seat.
• Buy your car seat in Canada. This way you’ll know it meets Canada’s Motor Vehicle Safety Standards – and keep your eye out for the National Safety Mark.
• You can buy used car seats but make sure the model hasn’t been recalled or involved in a collision. Transport Canada has a detailed list of recalls.
• Make sure you replace the car seat if it’s been in a collision. Even if your child was not in the vehicle, the car seat may have been damaged and may not function properly anymore.
• Car seats and booster seats are exempt from Manitoba sales tax.

Manitoba car seat laws are put in place to keep your children safe on the road. If you take care in choosing your model, installing it properly and doing your research, you’ll be all set!

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If you’re looking for more information on child car seat stages, check out this guide from Manitoba Public Insurance or the car seat page from the Government of Manitoba.

Check out the rest of our blog for more helpful articles covering a wide array of topics on everything from car loan calculation to the application process.

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