Car seat installation appears straightforward, but parents often install the safety seats incorrectly. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, up to 75 percent of parents may use child restraints incorrectly. A safety seat that is not installed correctly may put your child at risk because she is not protected the way she should be. Purchasing a quality child safety seat that fits well in your vehicle is the first step to proper installation.
Step 1
Read your vehicle's manual to determine if you have the LATCH system, a built-in anchor system for securing car seats. Refer to the manual for the proper way to use the vehicle's seat belt to secure the seat if you do not have the LATCH system.
Step 2
Position the child safety seat in the back seat of your vehicle, either front or rear facing, depending on your child's size and age. Place the seat in the middle position if possible. Position a forward-facing safety seat flat against the back and bottom of the vehicle's seat.
Step 3
Adjust the seat's position to achieve the appropriate reclining angle. Most car seats have an indicator that shows when it is appropriately positioned. For a rear-facing infant seat, recline no more than 45 degrees.
Step 4
Thread the car's seat belt or the safety seat's included LATCH anchor belt through the pathway. Make sure the belt is not twisted.
Step 5
Press your knee on the car seat as you latch it into place. Your weight on the seat allows you to get the tightest fit, which reduces the amount of movement in the seat. Latch the seat belt or hook the LATCH anchors in place, tightening the belt as much as possible.
Step 6
Anchor the upper tether if your vehicle has the LATCH system and the seat is front-facing. Tighten the strap as much as possible.
Step 7
Test the tightness of the car seat by trying to move the car seat side-to-side and front-to-back. Look for a fit that allows the seat to move no more than 1 inch in either direction. Tighten the belt if the seat moves more than 1 inch.
Step 8
Drive to a child safety seat inspection location with certified technicians to verify that you installed the car seat correctly. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offers a search option to find a local inspection site based on your ZIP code.
Tips and Warnings
- Infant-only car seats, which typically have a separate base and removable carrier seat, should always be rear-facing. One year old and 20 pounds is the minimum requirement for facing forward in a car seat. Waiting longer to turn your child forward-facing helps protect her body, particularly her spine, in case of an accident.
- Never place a child safety seat in the front seat of a vehicle. The back seat is the safest place for a baby or small child.
