Baby's safety and well-being are the most important things to any new parent--and safety starts as soon as the drive home from the hospital. An infant car seat is an essential item for any parent, but you've got to install it properly to ensure that your child is protected in the car. Evenflo is one brand of car seat that parents may choose in a variety of styles. The infant car seat comes with a base that you can leave in the car, and the infant carrier or car seat that you can unlock from the base to carry baby around. Other styles are convertible car seats, which can be used from infancy up to 40 or 50 lbs.
Step 1
Separate the infant carrier or car seat from the base. Pull up on the handle on the back of the carrier (behind where your baby's head would be) to separate them, then place the car seat base in the back seat of your car.
Step 2
Align the car seat base so that the infant carrier will face the back of the car. The Evenflo car seat is designed to protect baby in the event of an accident, and rear-facing is the safest position. There is a wide, curved piece of plastic that helps you align the car seat against the back seat of the car to ensure it's facing the correct way.
Step 3
Strap in the Evenflo car seat base using the LATCH system. Many cars that are model year 2003 and newer offer the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) system to facilitate car seat installation. To use it, feel in between the seats in the back of your car for metal bars in the shape of a U, which are the anchors. Attach the two clips attached to belts on the car seat base to the anchors on the back seat of the car. Press on the buttons on both sides of the car seat base near the belts, then pull the belts to tighten them.
Step 4
Use the seat belt to strap in the car seat base. Pull the seat belt and insert it through the two open areas at the top of the Evenflo car seat base, then fasten the seat belt into its buckle until it clicks. Let go of the slack in the seat belt until it is taut again.
Step 5
Push the infant carrier down onto the base unit, facing toward the rear. Make sure that you hear the unit click, and that the groove on the end of the car seat (near baby's feet) is lined up with the curved area at the back of the car seat base.
Step 6
Make sure that the car seat and base are snug. Try to move the car seat in all directions making sure that it doesn't move. If it moves drastically, tighten the seat belt or the LATCH belts until the car seat and base fit snugly.
Tips and Warnings
- Ask your pediatrician, children's hospital or local sheriff's office or fire department where you can get your car seat inspected to be sure it's properly installed.
- You don't need to use the LATCH system and the seat belt to install the car seat base--choose one or the other.
Things You'll Need
- Evenflo car seat base
