4 year old 36 lbs carseat or booster in Seattle/Vancouver

[Ashfry]

Hi all!

 

Not looking for a debate here and I have read the long post on carseats already. I just need to k ow what's legal in Vancouver. We are cruising Alaska from Vancouver and will be spending a day in Seattle then train to Vancouver and a day in Vancouver before our cruise. Most likely we will be in a taxi at some point. Question is do Canada laws allow my son to ride in a booster in a taxi or do I need to bring his carseat? He rides in a Britax carseat at home and would like to avoid lugging it for just one or two taxi rides if I can pack a booster instead. We have never used a booster with him but I know in the US he would be ok(legal) in one. Not sure in Canada.

 

Please no debating on this issue just an answer if you have one.

 

Thank you!

[luvsviola]

40 pounds is the minimum to booster in BC. You have to use a carseat.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2008/07/01/bc-child-seat-laws.html

 

Maestro is a nice cheap super lightweight seat. It attaches to the handle of our stroller to transport.

 

In this pic, the Maestro is the one hanging from the stroller handle.

[nothriver]

I believe we used the RideSafer Travel vest when my daughter was that age. I don't know what the minimum height and weight requirements, so make sure it is appropriate for your child. Mine child was within the requirements but it seemed a bit big on her when she was 4. I don't know if this product is approved for use in Canada, we used it anyway on our ride from the Vancover port to the airport, approved or not, I take my child restraint use pretty seriously but won't buy a product to use for one day. The RideSafer vest is still a bit heavy but folds relatively flat so it is convenient to travel with. We used ours as a "spare" restraint for the cousins and friends from pre-school, so it was useful outside of traveling. We eventually quit using it before the girls technically outgrew the specs because our kids have such long legs, it was a hassle to climb in and out of. We had the older model of the vest, the newer one may be more user friendly. You must have a lap/shoulder belt to use the vest and because there is no side impact protection, when possible, I tried to use it in a middle seat, but actually the vest crash tests pretty well, I guess it does a good job distributing crash forces across a childs body.

[martincath]

Since nobody has actually answered your question yet I'll chime in though it's a bit late - taxis in Vancouver are exempt from child seating rules, you don't even need a booster (info directly from Vancouver police taxi unit).