Installing your child’s car seat is one of the most important things you can do for your child. It’s not the easiest task you’ll do but it’s well worth the time you’ll spend to get it right.To begin, it’s important to understand your vehicle and the car seat parts. Since every car seat and vehicle has different instructions, follow these tips to help you install your car seat and make sure your child fits in the seat safely and correctly.
Read the car seat’s instruction manual as well as the section of your vehicle’s owner manual on car seat installation. Every car seat needs to be installed using the seat belt or the attached anchors to secure it in place. Place the car seat in the back seat of your vehicle and follow the manufacturer’s installation directions.
The car seat must be secured tightly in the vehicle and should not move side-to-side or front-to-back more than 1 inch when pulled at the belt path.A good tip for securing the seat is to get in the vehicle and sit on the seat while securing it. This will help secure it by adding weight to the seat.
If it is a forward-facing seat and has a tether strap, connect it to the tether anchor and tighten. This step is extremely important as it restricts forward head movement in a crash.If you choose to use a seat belt to install your car seat, pay close attention to how to lock your seat belt in the vehicle owner’s manual.
If it is a rear-facing car seat, make sure the car seat is installed at the correct recline angle. Most car seats have built-in angle indicators or adjustors that help with this step. This is important because the angle allows your child’s windpipe to remain open.
Most fire and police departments give car seat inspections if you’re unsure if you’ve installed the seat properly. You can also find more information at the website listed below: