Do I have to replace my car seat?
No. The new regulations apply to manufacturers, not consumers. Replace your seat when your infant or child has reached the manufacturer's age, height and weight limits or it is damaged or has expired.
So, what changes are relevant to me?
Your car seat may already meet the new standards. But you'll notice in the new year, all car seats will have higher weight limits - 10 kilograms for infant seats and 30 kg for child seats. This may mean that you get a few more weeks or months of use out of a car seat.
I thought the next step after my baby grows out of the infant rear-facing car seat was a forward-facing seat.
Most car safety experts suggest keeping your baby or toddler in a rear-facing seat for as long as possible - and as long as the seat fits properly in your car. Safety experts say it's safer for their necks and spines in the case of a crash. There are convertible car seats available that go up to 20 kg rear-facing, and can then be used forward-facing.
But my kid's legs hit the seat - isn't that bad?
No. Children are very flexible and there is no real danger of legs being injured when rear-facing. In fact, leg injuries are more common when forward-facing, according to Ottawa car-safety experts SEATS for Kids.