Vancouver Downtown Car Seat Inspection

08/30/2025

Inspections available again

03/11/2022

https://fb.watch/bGkqPwqDWl/

09/15/2019

Chest clip

Did you know that the purpose of the chest clip is to position the harness straps properly on the child’s shoulders and is NOT required by Federal child passenger safety seat standards? The chest clip is made of plastic that is not designed to take crash forces. In fact, it is expected that the chest clip will slide down and/or come open in the event of a crash.

Many caregivers assume that the chest clip is used to restrain the child in a collision so we are here to explain some of these misconceptions.

MYTH: The chest clip will hold my baby in his car seat in a crash.

Nope. It might look like the chest clip is strong enough to hold your baby in, but in the unfortunate event of a collision, the harness being properly buckled into the crotch buckle AND properly tightened is what holds your baby in.

MYTH: As long as the chest clip is done up, it doesn’t really matter the position of it.

Nope. The harness straps are naturally closer together at the buckle and farther apart where the harness straps go through the back of your child’s car seat. When the chest clip is positioned at armpit height, it is pulling the harness straps inward and making the harness narrow sooner and helping make sure that the harness is properly positioned on the shoulders. This becomes extremely important in the event the harness is too loose.

So why do we promote the chest clip be at armpit level if it’s not holding the child in? Because:

𝗫 A chest clip too low may mean that the harness could slide off the shoulders.
𝗫 A chest clip too high may mean injury to the child’s neck.

TIPS:
✔ Clek seats have an icon on the chest clip to remind you of correct position – armpit level. (For smaller newborns it’s recommended to line up the top edge of the chest clip with baby’s armpits.)
✔ Adjust the chest clip after you have pulled the harness tight.
✔ You know you are at the right height when you can place the edge of your finger on the end of the chest clip and touch your little one’s armpit.

07/05/2019

Today, July 5th, major landmarks across Canada will be lit up in Parachute Canada ‘green’ to support National Injury Prevention Day. Here in Vancouver, that's Science World at sunset!

www.parachutecanada.org/nipd

06/04/2019

Another useful page

Parachute helps Canadians reduce their risks of injury while enjoying long lives lived to the fullest.

05/13/2019

A tragic event such a forgetting a child in a car is something that can happen to anyone. It is preventable. Please read.

This week, the Greater Vancouver area was shook when a Burnaby toddler died after being left hot in a car for hours. It's hard not to read the harsh comments online. But, before you jump to a place of judgement, please step back and consider: have you ever felt 'spaced out' since having children?

Yesterday, a participant in my class asked me to briefly talk about the incident this week in Burnaby. At first I was taken aback because I wasn't really sure what to say other than, "that was really tragic, wasn't it?" I then realized I had an opportunity to ensure everyone took a moment to view the situation from a place of empathy.

Parenting is a hard job - one that places a lot of physical and mental stress on all of us. I have had multiple occasions, driving along in my vehicle, where I'll shout to my children in the backseat only to realize, oh, they're not there - I'm out by myself! It can just as easily happen in reverse.

When you have children, not just your life, but your identity as well, undergoes a major transformation. For many of us, this transition includes hours of unscheduled free time during the week now becoming highly structured, jam-packed schedules. We become creatures of habit as a coping mechanism. All it takes is one small change in that pattern to completely throw you off-center. Do I talk to an empty back seat on a regular basis? No. But have I done it multiple times when my schedule has been interrupted somehow? Absolutely.

Children being forgotten in a hot car isn't something that is limited to a certain type of parent. ALL PARENTS are capable of forgetting a child in a hot car. The good news is that this is preventable, if you take a moment to expand that highly-structured schedule you have become accustomed to include one more failsafe. Here are some examples of ways to prevent this from happening to your family:
▪ Always leave something in the backseat that you absolutely require before you can leave the vehicle. For example, this can simply be a bag or purse, a shoe, or your cell phone.
▪ If you have a care provider for your child, ensure they have a policy in place to phone you if you don't drop your child off by a certain time.
▪ Do a full-circle walk around of your vehicle every time you park, to ensure everyone is out before you press the lock button on your remote.
▪ Place a stuffed animal in your child's car seat when it's empty. When they're in the car seat, toss the stuffed animal into the front seat to remind you there's a child in the back.

Do you have a particular ritual that you practice to ensure your children aren't left in the car? Let us know in the comments.

04/14/2019

http://pmdrecycling.com/mobile-depot-rates/

We have 13 convenient mobile depot locations located in Greater Victoria & Metro Vancouver for you to drop off your recyclables

02/19/2019

Booster Car seats are not yet part of my personal life, but it might be in your life soon for your older child. I’m leaving this here for you.

As Maman Loup says « Booster seats are not meant for four-year-old children »

https://www.facebook.com/373115822768990/posts/2144712232275998?sfns=mo

It's a question that comes up with regularity for a CPST: when should my child make the switch from a 5 point harness to a belt positioning booster?

02/09/2019

Rear-facing: science and facts

Rear facing is not a choice made based on opinion; it's based on scientific fact. We're able to protect kids from severe injury in a crash rear facing.

02/05/2019

Zero Waste event March 9th 10-1pm

You can bring your expired child car seat, for appropriate disposal, free of charge (as many stores and other places charge you)

Find events that the City of Vancouver and Vancouver Park Board produce, sponsor, and support with grants or contributions.

01/22/2019

Reconsider vehicle seat protectors which can impede a secure child restraint installation

One question we see a lot as CSPTs is, "how do I protect my vehicle's seats when a car seat is installed?" It's a valid question, especially for expectant parents who wonder what the car seat will do to a vehicle's interior which was previously untouched by car seats and ground goldfish crackers.