Install a Car Seat

The birth of a new child brings many challenges, one of which is ensuring your baby stays safe. Incorrect installation of a car seat is often overlooked, resulting in putting your newborn’s life in danger. By following the steps set forth in this article, you can travel while knowing that each trip your baby goes on is a safe one.

Steps

Rear Facing Car Seat

  1. Place the car seat in the backseat. Face the car seat towards rear window. Using the backseat is always safer for infants. This is especially true in a car with air bags. If it is necessary to place the baby in the passenger seat be sure to turn off passenger airbag (Refer to the owner's manual on how to do so).
  2. Attach the seat belt tightly to the car's seat base. Check owner's manual/ seat belt label for tightening instructions. New car seats may use lower latch anchors to attach the car seat, refer to manual for instructions on how to use these anchors.
  3. Ensure that the car seat is reclined sufficiently. This is so that the baby's head will not flop forward. Never tilt the car seat more than halfway (45 degrees) back. Use an indicator on the car seat or base as a guide. If necessary place a rolled towel under the base (only if the seat's manual says that it is okay to do so).
  4. Dress the baby in tight clothing. This will help prevent irritation from the crotch strap. Do not dress the baby in heavy clothes as tightening the straps snugly may not be possible.
  5. Put the shoulder straps in the lowest possible position. Use slots next to or below the baby's shoulders and position chest clip at armpit level.
  6. Tuck any rolled up blankets along the baby's sides. Padding helps get the baby comfortable. Never use inserts, blankets, or towels under or behind the baby.
  7. Roll up and place a washcloth between the baby and the crotch strap.
  8. Adjust the harness straps. If you can pinch a loop of the strap, tighten the harness more.
  9. Cover the baby with a blanket. During cold weather, it is especially important to keep your baby's body warm. Make sure that the blankets are tucked in under the baby and cannot cover the baby's face and neck.

Front Facing Car Seat

  1. Read the instruction manual. Each car seat requires different harness slots, so it's best you determine this information from the manual specific to the car seat you're using.
  2. Place the car seat in the back of your car. The base should be flat on the seat of the car and the back should be straight up against the cushion. Raise or remove any head restraints if necessary.
  3. Find the belt path on the car seat. It should be marked with stickers (usually located in the back of the seat).
  4. Attach the car seat's tethers to your car's tether anchor. If your car seat doesn't have tethers, consider calling your manufacturer to see if they can be added. They can increase the safety in your car.[1]
  5. Ensure a snug harness. Consider having your installation double-checked by a child passenger safety technician to ensure proper installation.



Tips

  • When buying a car seat, always register it online. This ensures that the manufacturer will contact you if the model is recalled and will send you refunds, replacements or repair kits if necessary.
  • Singing or playing with your baby will help calm him/her down.
  • Use the angle indicator to ensure that the car seat is reclined properly
  • Use the infant rear facing car seat as long as possible, meaning; until the baby’s head is within {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} of the top shell of the car seat or until the baby reaches the car seat’s weight limit. Once your baby has outgrown the infant car seat, move onto using a front-facing convertible seat with a five point harness.
  • Due to changes in regulations, some (even slightly) used car seats may now be illegal. Check to make sure that your car seat is legal before you buy it.
  • In many countries, police stations will check your car seat installation if you have any doubts about it being properly secured. In other countries, the local DMV equivalent will be the correct government body for such inspections, check your local regulations. A car accident could happen at any time, so it is best to ensure your child’s safety.

Warnings

  • While vehicle is in motion, the child MUST stay in the car seat at ALL TIMES - removing a child from a car seat while the vehicle is in motion is not only dangerous, but sometimes illegal.
  • Do not use lower anchors and seat belts together. The car seat is tight when you pull it side to side and it does more than {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}}.
  • Do not dress your child in too many layers as this may make it difficult or impossible to secure the harness straps.
  • Unless provided with no alternative, always install the car in the back seat facing the rear window (for rear facing car seats). If this is not possible, ensure that the passenger airbag is turned off (check your car’s owner’s manual for directions on shutting off the airbag). The force that the airbag deploys in is so great that it could kill your child (even if the accident was a simple fender bender). Do not take this risk.
  • Do not use latch anchors and seat belts together to secure a car seat.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.carseatsite.com/installing_your_car_seat.htm
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