By Nigel Maxwell

Bigger babies are prompting car seat changes

Nov 23, 2010 | 11:20 AM

Parents with young children will be affected by changes coming from Transport Canada.

Under new regulations, car seat manufacturers will need to make car seats bigger and able to handle more weight.

Transport Canada is mirroring car seat regulations after new American standards, which responded to a child obesity problem in that country.

Parkland Ambulance routinely conducts car seat safety clinics in Prince Albert.

Employees can relate to what's happening south of the border, said Lyle Karasiuk, public affairs officer for Parkland Ambulance.

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“We are seeing bigger babies and hearing parents saying their car seat doesn't fit and they (have) to move to a new car seat sooner,” he said.

The new regulations do not mean that current car seats are unsafe.

“It's been tested by Transport Canada, just make sure you are using it correctly and certainly we can help them out with that,” said Karasiuk.

He recommends you check the factory expiry date and if you have any have any questions you can call Parkland Ambulance.

Meanwhile the new regulations are prompting concerns over backlogs.

There are only two car seat testing facilities in Canada.

“I certainly don't speak for Transport Canada, but I would anticipate as these new car seats come onto the market, even though they meet the U.S. standards, they will have to be retested and retested to meet the Canadian standards, which in some cases are a bit different than the American guidelines,” said Karasiuk.

The regulations regarding the size of the seats take effect Jan. 1.

nmaxwell@panow.com