car seat (CDN to US)

[MtlMama 0]

Thinking ahead here, but I was wondering what others have done (or plan to do) with their car seat when moving to US. We purchased a great Britax seat that I just love when my son was a bit over a year. Am I correct in understanding that it will not be compliant with our car insurance policy in the States?

I checked with Britax and didn't get anything definitive. They said the only difference between US and CDN seats is the text (has to be French-English in Canada). Also, weight recommendations are different by state. Seems a bit crazy to buy ANOTHER $300 car seat that is virtually the same thing.

Anyone?

K

Edited February 4, 2010 by MtlMama

[antda 13]

Hi MtlMama,

I don't know exactly about carseats between Canada and the USA....

But..I can tell you that Car Seats have nothing to do with car insurance!

(lol..at least from my experience..I have never been asked such here in the USA!)

In all honesty, no need to buy another car seat......Unless your child grows out of the old one!

But yes, each state does have various weight and height restraint recommendations.....

The general consensus overall though, is that children need to be in a

1) Baby rear facing bucket-style carseat (newborn- 1 year)

2) Baby front facing sitting-up/upright carseat (1 year - 2/3 years)

3) Child booster seat (3/4 years - 7/8 years)

Check with your specific state and specific car seats for more information too....

By the way, I have travelled into Canada with my baby with an American car seat...lol..no problems there...

Lol...And as long as you can read the instructions (be it that it is in English, French, or whatever else)...So be it...

Interestingly enough...A lot of "Canadian" products are actually shipped from the USA....So it should be ok there too...(you might have to read your instruction manual on that one...usually there is both a Canadian and American phone number on that...)

The important thing is that the baby/child is buckled up, can be comfortable in their seat, and that the seat meets state guidelines too...

Also, you should be looking at is your child's weight/height so that they are not too big or too small for their seat!

Hope this helps too. Good luck with your journey.

Ant

Thinking ahead here, but I was wondering what others have done (or plan to do) with their car seat when moving to US. We purchased a great Britax seat that I just love when my son was a bit over a year. Am I correct in understanding that it will not be compliant with our car insurance policy in the States?

I checked with Britax and didn't get anything definitive. They said the only difference between US and CDN seats is the text (has to be French-English in Canada). Also, weight recommendations are different by state. Seems a bit crazy to buy ANOTHER $300 car seat that is virtually the same thing.

Anyone?

K

Edited February 4, 2010 by Ant+D+BabyA

[MtlMama 0]

Hi MtlMama,

I don't know exactly about carseats between Canada and the USA....

But..I can tell you that Car Seats have nothing to do with car insurance!

(lol..at least from my experience..I have never been asked such here in the USA!)

In all honesty, no need to buy another car seat......Unless your child grows out of the old one!

But yes, each state does have various weight and height restraint recommendations.....

The general consensus overall though, is that children need to be in a

1) Baby rear facing bucket-style carseat (newborn- 1 year)

2) Baby front facing sitting-up/upright carseat (1 year - 2/3 years)

3) Child booster seat (3/4 years - 7/8 years)

Check with your specific state and specific car seats for more information too....

By the way, I have travelled into Canada with my baby with an American car seat...lol..no problems there...

Lol...And as long as you can read the instructions (be it that it is in English, French, or whatever else)...So be it...

Interestingly enough...A lot of "Canadian" products are actually shipped from the USA....So it should be ok there too...(you might have to read your instruction manual on that one...usually there is both a Canadian and American phone number on that...)

The important thing is that the baby/child is buckled up, can be comfortable in their seat, and that the seat meets state guidelines too...

Also, you should be looking at is your child's weight/height so that they are not too big or too small for their seat!

Hope this helps too. Good luck with your journey.

Ant

Someone had mentioned this to me awhile back. Can't find the original reference, but here's a post from car-seat.org:

"The US law reads:

A person may not manufacture for sale, sell, offer for sale, introduce or deliver for introduction into interstate commerce, or import into the United States, any motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment....unless the vehicle or equipment complies with the standard...Title 49 Section 30112 of the US Code of Law

Child seats are items of motor vehicle equipment. The fine is up to $1000 per violation. Federal Law does not address USE so consumers can technically use a non-US certified child seat, but when they brought it in (importation) they broke the law. However, US State Laws prohibit the USE of non-US child seats. US Customs has the right to seize non-complying child seats. Visitors/tourists are given special consideration. (A child seat in US law is one designed for children up to 50 pounds.)

Buying a non-US child seat and bringing it in risks US Customs seizure and fines. Bringing a US seat into Canada is also technically illegal in Canada...visitors get special consideration."

NOT a surprise I want to have at POE.

K

Edited February 4, 2010 by MtlMama

[neiks 19]

Britax seats come from North Carolina. The ones they sell in Canada are exactly the same as the ones sold in the US with the exception of the CSA sticker and the French text.

Generally, the common car seats that are sold in Canada are the same as the US ones, ex. Graco, Costco, Britax, etc...

Your seat will be fine. Big bonus is that Britax seats are usually cheaper in the US anyways so if need to upgrade you can save some bucks. I'm a big Britax fan, too!