Presented in partnership with Graco

Taking our little pride and joy on a car ride can be a scary thing, and not only for the amount of bribes it takes to get them in their car seat.

There are endless opinions and brand recommended guides on how best to keep your child safe once you hit the road.

Transport Canada has put out a report that says in no uncertain terms that your child is safer in the car if they are rear-facing and should be sitting that way as long as they can. This depends on your car seat, so read the manual and check it’s weight limit.

Having your kids facing the back of the car keeps them as far away as possible from the front seat air bags if they inflate during a crash. It will also support their neck if you stop suddenly.

A Graco survey of more than 500 Canadian parents (hosted on Angue Reid Forum) showed that seven out of ten parents feel that safety standards are constantly changing. And almost two-thirds of those surveyed either said they were unsure or answered incorrectly about children’s seat position and when they should be switched from rear to forward-facing.

With these results in mind, the baby product company is pleased to offer a car seat that will allow for the child to ride safely rear-facing for longer.

“We want to make it easier for parents to choose a seat that is designed to grow with your child,” said Erin Varano, Brand Marketing Director, Graco. “One of the most common requests we receive from parents is to help make kids more comfortable in the rear-facing position as they grow taller.

Their new Extend2Fit® Convertible Car Seat gives more room for the child to stay comfortable facing the back for longer.

Here are a few features:

• Helps protect rear-facing infants from 4-50 lb and forward-facing toddlers from 22-65 lb
• 4-position extension panel provides 5″ additional leg room
• Up to 50 lb rear-facing allowing your child to ride safely rear-facing longer
• 6-position recline helps keep your child comfy
• 10-position headrest adjusts easily for your growing child

Ensure your child is safe in their seat with a few simple tips:

• By law, children must be buckled up in a car seat designed for their weight and height (not age specific).
• If in doubt, look into local car seat clinics (often hosted at fire or police stations) for advice or help with installation
• Don’t have loose items in the car that can fly around in the event of a crash
• Ensure your child’s head is supported and that they fit snugly in their seat
• Do the 1-inch test. Make sure the car seat doesn’t move more than 1” in either direction once it’s installed. It should be securely tethered to the seat.

For a full guide on rear-facing car seats, installation and limits, take a look at the Transport Canada resource.

Did you also know that car seats have an expiration date? They’re printed near or on the bottom, so check to see if yours is still usable. If it’s passed the date, throw it out, don’t sell it or pass it on.

Disclaimer: This post is supported by Graco. All words, opinions and photos are my own.