Close Alert Banner
Skip to Content

Southwestern Public Health Logo

Contact Us
A - Z TopicsNewsroomLocations and HoursContact Us1-800-922-0096
  • Classes, Clinics and Services
    • Dental Clinics
    • Food Handler Certification
    • Immunization Clinics
    • Influenza (Flu) Clinics
    • Needle Exchange Program
    • Pregnancy and Baby Supports
    • Sexual Health Clinics
    • TB Skin Testing
    • Tick Identification
    • Well Water Testing
    • Quit Smoking
  • My Health
    • Alcohol, Drugs and Tobacco
    • Animal Bites and Rabies
    • Body Art and Personal Care
    • Child and Family Health
    • Dental Health
    • Immunization and Vaccines
    • Infectious Diseases
    • Food and Eating
    • Personal Safety and Injury Prevention
    • Mental Health
    • Physical Activity
    • Sexual Health
    • Vector-Borne Diseases
  • Community Health
    • Emergency Preparedness
    • Enforcement of Smoke-Free Spaces
    • Environmental Health
    • Food Safety
    • Health Inspect
    • Health Equity and Fairness
    • Personal Service Settings
    • Road Safety
    • Safe Needle Disposal
    • School Health
    • Walking, Biking, Hiking
  • Partners & Professionals
    • Child Care Centres
    • Congregate Living Settings
    • Educators
    • Food Service Operators
    • Health Care Providers
    • Long-Term Care and Retirement Homes
    • Outbreak Status Reports
    • Personal Service Settings
    • Recreational Facilities
    • Southwest IPAC Hub
  • Reports & Statistics
    • Community Health Status
    • Evaluations and Situational Assessments
    • Evidence Reviews
    • Health Inspect
    • General Reports
    • Position Statements
    • Surveillance Dashboards
  • About Us
    • Accessibility
    • Board of Health
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
    • Corporate Culture and Values
    • Events Calendar
    • Health Equity and Fairness
    • Locations and Hours
    • News and Media
    • Performance and Accountability
    Click to view About Us
    About Us

Child Safety

HomeMy HealthPersonal Safety and Injury PreventionChild Safety
  • Open new window to share this page via Facebook Facebook
  • Open new window to share this page via Twitter Twitter
  • Open new window to share this page via LinkedIn LinkedIn
  • Email this page Email
toddler reaching through baby gate at the top of stairs

Preventable injuries are the number one cause of death for children. Explore these resources about common child safety hazards, babyproofing, and how to prevent babies from safety risks and injuries.

  • Injury topics information from Parachute Canada (e.g., burns and scalds, drowning, poisoning, choking, playground safety, winter safety)
  • Prevent Child Injury website
  • Child safety information and information about children on the farm from the Canadian Safety Council
  • For Families – Ontario Poison Centre
  • Sun safety
  • Concussions
  • Give your child a safe start video series (used with permission from Middlesex-London Health Unit)

Product safety and recalls

Injuries from the products you buy can be serious and sometimes fatal. Health Canada provides current information about products recalls and safety alerts. The Government of Canada also provides more specific information and tips about:

  • Baby sling and carrier safety
  • Batteries and magnets
  • Cribs, cradles and bassinets
  • Playpens
  • Safety gates
  • Stroller and carriage safety
  • Suspended baby jumpers
  • Toy safety tips
  • Window covering safety

Car seat safety

Always follow car seat laws and regulations and make sure car seats are installed properly. Remember to read the instructions from the manufacturer and the child restraint section in your car owner’s manual. Download our Car Seat and Booster Seat pamphlet to learn more.

Southwestern Public Health does not conduct car seat clinics or safety checks. Learn about child car seat safety from Transport Canada, including choosing and installing a child car seat or booster seat, recall notices and safety information. You can also visit the Child Passenger Safety Association of Canada website to learn more or find a local technician for support.

 Car seat laws for children
By law, children under the age of eight must be restrained in an appropriate car seat or booster seat based on their weight and height. If a child eight or older does not meet the criteria to safely use a seatbelt, they should remain in a booster seat. It is illegal to use a car seat that was not purchased in Canada. 
 Register your car seat
It is important to register your car seat with the manufacturer so they can let you know if there is recall or public notice on your child’s car seat. As soon as you know the car seat works in your vehicle and is the correct size and stage for your child, send in your registration card (attached to the car seat) or register online.
 Four stages of child car seat use

It is safest to keep your child in each of these stages for as long as possible. Visit Choosing a car seat or booster seat from Transport Canada to find in-depth information on each of the four stages.

 Stage 1: Rear facing car seats

Make sure you have the right seat for your new baby. Get a car seat that is easy for you to use. Make sure it is the correct size for your baby and that it will fit into your vehicle properly.

 Stage 2: Forward-facing car seats

By law, children must use a forward-facing seat until they reach 40 lbs. However, it is safest to keep them in a forward-facing seat for as long as possible, until they reach the weight/height limit of the seat.

 Stage 3: Booster seats
 
 Stage 4: Seatbelts
 

By law, children must use a booster seat until they reach the weight/height limit of the booster seat and:

  • They are 9-12 years old
  • They are at least 4’9” or have a sitting height of 29”
  • They can sit back against the vehicle seat with knees bent at the edge of the seat and their feet flat on the floor
  • The lap belt rests across the upper thighs and does not ride up on the stomach
  • The shoulder belt goes across the chest bone and the middle of the shoulder, not across the neck or behind the back
  • The child can stay seated like this for the whole trip

Child safety resources for professionals

The Loop Junior Fall Prevention Community of Practice is a communication platform that provides education, training and evidence-based resources and information to professionals who work with children and parents.

Parachute Canada has developed injury prevention training resources for professionals including the areas of child safety and concussion recognition and management.

Need more support?
Baby breastfeeding
Free Breastfeeding Support
Pregnant person on a computer
Free Online Prenatal Classes
Smiling baby and mom
Healthy Babies, Healthy Children Referral
Baby playing with toys
Other Child & Family Health Topics

Know & Grow logo  Call our Know & Grow Line

Speak to a Public Health Nurse to get the answers to all the questions you never knew you had.

  • In Oxford County, call the Know & Grow Line at 519-421-9901 x 3473
  • In Elgin County, call the Know & Grow Line at 519-631-9900 x 1400
Subscribe to page updates
My Health
  • Personal Safety and Injury Prevention
    Toggle Section Personal Safety and Injury Prevention Menu
    • Bike Safety
    • Child Safety
    • Concussions
    • Sun Safety
  • View Full My Health Menu
    Toggle Section
    • Alcohol, Drugs and Tobacco
      Toggle Section Alcohol, Drugs and Tobacco Menu
      • Alcohol
      • Cannabis
      • Opioids, Naloxone and Needle Exchange
        Toggle Section Opioids, Naloxone and Needle Exchange Menu
        • Naloxone
        • Opioid Monitoring
        • Needle Exchange Program
      • Smoking and Vaping
        Toggle Section Smoking and Vaping Menu
        • Health Effects of Tobacco and Smoking
        • Quit Smoking
        • Vaping
    • Animal Bites and Rabies
      Toggle Section Animal Bites and Rabies Menu
      • Rabies
    • Body Art and Personal Care
    • Child and Family Health
      Toggle Section Child and Family Health Menu
      • Breastfeeding
      • Child Safety
      • Healthy Babies Healthy Children
      • Parenting
        Toggle Section Parenting Menu
        • Babies 0-12 months
        • Toddlers 1-3 years
        • Preschoolers 3-5 years
      • Postpartum Mood Disorders
      • Preconception and Pregnancy
      • Pregnancy and Baby Supports
    • Dental Health
      Toggle Section Dental Health Menu
      • Children and Youth 0-17
      • Seniors 65+
    • Immunization and Vaccines
      Toggle Section Immunization and Vaccines Menu
      • Immunization at Every Age
      • Immunization Exemptions
      • Immunization Records and Reporting
      • Immunizations in Schools
        Toggle Section Immunizations in Schools Menu
        • Grade 7 Immunization Program
      • Immunization Clinics
      • Influenza (Flu) Clinics
    • Infectious Diseases
      Toggle Section Infectious Diseases Menu
      • A-Z List of Infections
      • COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus)
        Toggle Section COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) Menu
        • COVID-19 Resources for Community Settings
        • COVID-19 Resources for Health Care Providers
          Toggle Section COVID-19 Resources for Health Care Providers Menu
          • COVID-19 Testing Guidelines
        • COVID-19 Resources for Schools and Child Care Centres
        • COVID-19 Resources for Workplaces and Employers
          Toggle Section COVID-19 Resources for Workplaces and Employers Menu
          • COVID-19 FAQ's for Workplaces and Employers
        • COVID-19 Vaccine
      • Influenza (Flu)
      • Preventing Infection
      • Tuberculosis
    • Food and Eating
      Toggle Section Food and Eating Menu
      • Food and Eating for Every Life Stage
      • Local Food Programs and Services
      • Reducing Weight Bias
    • Mental Health
      Toggle Section Mental Health Menu
      • Mental Health and Addiction Support
    • Physical Activity
      Toggle Section Physical Activity Menu
      • Physical Activity in Schools
      • Physical Activity Guidelines
      • Physical Literacy
      • Walking, Biking, Hiking
    • Sexual Health
      Toggle Section Sexual Health Menu
      • Birth Control
      • Cervical Cancer Screening (Pap Test)
      • Pregnancy Testing and Options
      • Safer Sex
      • Sexual Assault and Violence
      • Sexual Health Clinics
      • Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
    • Vector-Borne Diseases
      Toggle Section Vector-Borne Diseases Menu
      • Ticks and Lyme Disease
      • West Nile Virus

Contact Us

Work with Us

Southwestern Public Health (SWPH) values our people! We pride ourselves on our positive and flexible work environment.

Learn More

Southwestern Public Health footer logo

Southwestern Public Health strives to ensure the comfort and safety of staff and visitors by encouraging a scent free environment.

  • Classes, Clinics and Services
  • My Health
  • Community Health
  • Partners & Professionals
  • Reports & Statistics
  • About Us

Links:

  • Privacy and Records Access
  • Accessibility
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Disclaimer and Terms of Use
  • Location and Hours
  • Sitemap
  • Website Feedback
Scroll to top of page

© 2020 Southwestern Public Health

Designed by eSolutionsGroup
Close Old Browser Notification
Browser Compatibility Notification
It appears you are trying to access this site using an outdated browser. As a result, parts of the site may not function properly for you. We recommend updating your browser to its most recent version at your earliest convenience.