How should a baby car seat be installed to maximize safety?

Question

We followed the instructions when installing the car seat, but we want to be sure that it is installed to maximize safety. Can anyone show me, step-by-step, how to properly install a car seat? There is even a gap between the car seat and the back seat of my car, does anyone have any tips for making this as secure as possible?

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Answer 1

Tip 1. Securing your child car safety seat Always install the seat tightly, using your body weight to tighten and fasten the seatbelt. There should be no more than 2.5 cm (1") of movement of the seat from side to side or forward. Each time you place your child in the car safety seat, give it a tug to make sure it is still secure

Tip 2. Using tether straps with forward-facing car seats
The tether strap for a forward-facing child car safety seat must be used. The tether strap is located on the rear of the child car safety seat and has a hook. The hook is designed to attach the strap to the tether anchorage on the vehicle as specified by the vehicle manufacturer. Ensure the tether is only secured to the designated anchorage point(s) in the vehicle as specified by the manufacturer.

Tip 3. Using Universal Anchorage System (UAS) / LATCH
All new Canadian vehicles manufactured on or after September 1, 2002 come with lower universal anchorage points. Consult the vehicle owner's manual before using the UAS system/LATCH to determine where the anchorage points are located and ensure that the correct method is used as advised by the car seat manufacturer.

Tip 5. Using harness slots
Your child car safety seat's harness straps must be positioned correctly by ensuring they pass through the correct slots.

Rear-facing child car safety seat harness straps should sit at or below the child's shoulders.
Forward-facing child car safety seat harness straps should sit at or above the child's shoulders.



Tip 6. Securing your child in the harness
Ensure that the harness system is snug enough on your child's chest to allow only one finger width between the strap and the child's collarbone.

Tip 7. Positioning your harness straps
Ensure that harness straps lie flat and they do not twist or fold. Harnesses need to be straightened out each time the child is secured in the seat.

Tip 8. Adjusting chest clips
Properly adjust the chest clips on the harness. They should lie flat against the chest and be positioned at armpit level.




Tip 9. Installing away from active air bags
Always install child car safety seats away from active air bags. The safest place is in the back seat of a passenger car, sport utility vehicle or light truck and either the second or third row in a mini-van.



Tip 10. Installing your rear-facing child car safety seat on a proper angle


Most child car safety seats have a recline position that must be used when in the rear-facing position for an infant (up to 9kg or 20lbs). Check your child car safety seat owner's manual for instructions. For rear-facing seats, if necessary, use a tightly rolled towel or a foam bar (pool noodle) under the base of the child car safety seat to adjust the angle to 45 degrees. A forward-facing child car safety seat should be in the upright position. Make sure that when the seat is turned from rear-facing to forward-facing, the recline feature is adjusted to the upright position.



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Answer 2

Be patient as you will have to adjust the seat belt several times to get the proper fit. But know that it is extreemly important to do a good job so take the extra time required to do a good job. When positioned the seat should NOT move more than an inch in any direction. It should be SOLID. First adjust the belt to a length that you estimate will secure the seat. Put your knee (or two knees) into the seat to really weight it down and buckle the seat belt. Wiggle the seat. Is it loose? If so then unbuckle, adjust the belt and repeat the belting process again and again until the seat does not move. It should in the end be very difficult the buckle the buckle. You should have to push down on the seat with all you weight in order to buckle it to the seat. I work with Police and people regularly stop by the PD to have them install the car seat correctly. I think the cops cheat a little because to get a snug fit they will put a section of swimming pool noodle under the seat (you know, the dense spongy tube that kids use in the pool). The noodle piece allows you to compress down on the noodle which will give more than the automobile seat. Also use the proper clip provided with the car set (or you can buy at store for a couple bucks) that locks the shoulder strap to the lap belt so that the shoulder strap is immobilized.

Answer 3

First of all, good thing you followed the instructions. I am a child saftey restraint system technician for my job. You would be surprised how many parents do not follow instructions and make the seat unsafe.

Step one, check the car seat for recalls. Consumer information should have that.

Step 2 to install the seat in the car as tight as possible use two people, have one person sit in the seat and the other tighten the seat belt or the univarsal system (just one, not both).

step 3 Make sure the car seat does not move more than an inch at the base of where the child seat meets the car seat.

step 4 be sure to put the baby in the seat correctly. Chest clip at arm pit level and no more than one finger under the belt at the child's collar bone. If the seat is rear facing, make sure the belt is at or below the child's shoulders, if the seat is forward facing then the belt should be at or above the child's shoulders.

Other notes, check your car owner's manual to see the safest position to install a car seat.

Make sure the seat is appropriate for the child's age, weight and height. As well as physical development.


Check at your health unit or fire/police department to see if the have clinics or technicians to check car seats.

Hope this helps!

Answer 4

You've already gotten some good answers, so I won't tell you anything different, but if you are talking about the car seats for newborns, which face backwards, I remember that there was always that gap. But so long as the seat belt has integrity, and the strap clicks in, I don't see a problem. My main worry with that system was the fact that the buckle on the baby's chest would either be choking her or be so loose that if an impact occurred, she'd fly right out of there, so I always double checked the fastener over her breastbone to make sure it was neither too loose, nor too tight. Ja-ne!

Answer 5

Each Individual Baby Car Seat Has There Own Instructions,So Choose One,And Read The Instructions.

Answer 6

You need to carefully read not only the baby car seat instructions, but also your vehicle's manual for any specifics regarding optimum installation of a baby or booster seat. Generally speaking, if you have the room you should put the seat in the center backseat. Watch out for potential airbags that could hit the seat - you may have to have them disabled as generally speaking a child should be at least 80lbs. and a certain height before they become protective as opposed to destructive.

If any doubts, check with your local fire or police station depending on your area.

One other thing that a friend of mine used for her baby then toddler that I found kind of interesting was a series of mirrors so you could see the baby/child without having to turn around. The baby set-up is a little more complex because of the backfacing design, but after that you just have the one on your rearview mirror to adjust to see whatever kid. In fact, I think parents of older kids use them too for safer 'keep your eyes on the road' reason.

Answer 7

Take the base of the carseat in your right hand, climb into the back of the vehicle, and take the seat belt behing the drivers seat, and put it through the seatbelt opening on the base and pull it really really tight so that it doesn't have much slack, and can't move forward at all, unless with great great force. after that is done you can just put the rest of the carseat in, and make sure you hear all the clicks! Good luck with that, need more help, visit your local firestation! They can help you more, and even how you step by step how to do it, Drive Safely

Answer 8

Depends on the car seat and the age of the child.If it is a infant the it facing the back of back seat.And the should be belted tightly against the seat as so it doesn't move and depended on the gap if it is just a small area it should not be a problem but if it is a larger gap I would take it in to be fix.If it is a toddler or older child then it should face forward like seating in the seat normal.and should also be tight against the back seat with the belt unable to be moved.hope that helps

Answer 9

Theres a safety strap that's attached to the car seat it has a hook type deal on the end that seems to go no where well you can attach the strap to one of the bars under the seat(The Cars Seat) fasten the seat belt and the car seat shouldn't be able to move. Or you might want to call your local DMV office and see if some one can show you how to properly install it.

Answer 10

Your child should be placed in the back seat of the car facing the back of the car for safety purposes. Place safety seat on the back seat position seat belt through the holes that I hope your safety seat has. Make sure the seat is tight and secure. Put the baby in the
safety seat and secure the baby to the seat with the straps that
hopefully came with it. Now you are ready to drive.

Answer 11

Tip 1. Securing your child car safety seat Always install the seat tightly, using your body weight to tighten and fasten the seatbelt. There should be no more than 2.5 cm (1") of movement of the seat from side to side or forward. Each time you place your child in the car safety seat, give it a tug to make sure it is still secure