The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that child safety seats reduce the risk of death in passenger cars by 54 percent for toddlers 1 to 4 years of age. The USAA Educational Foundation recommends that all children ride in car seats until they are at least 4 ft. 9 in. tall. Proper installation of the car seat plays a vital role in the safety of your child. Basic instructions apply to most car seats, but individual brands might require slight modifications in installation procedures.
Step 1
Determine whether the car seat is the proper size for your child. According to CarSeatsMadeSimple.org, most convertible car seats (those that can be used forward or backward facing) can be used until your child's shoulders reach the top of the car seat, until your child's shoulders are higher than the top slots on the car seat, or until the child reaches 40 lbs. HealthyChildren.org states that some forward-facing only car seats provide safety for children up to 80 lbs.
Step 2
Place the car seat in the middle of the back seat, facing toward the front. CarSeatsMadeSimple.org states that if your vehicle has a third row of seats, you should place the car seat in the middle row.
Step 3
Choose whether you are going use the LATCH system, a lap belt or a shoulder and lap belt for installing the car seat.
Step 4
Strap the car seat into the vehicle. When using lap belt or lap belt and shoulder belt combination, place the belt through the slot located on the back of the car seat for the purpose of securing the car seat. When using the LATCH system, snap the hooks onto the vehicle's LATCH anchors designed for anchoring the car seat. Attach the tethers at the top of the car seat to the LATCH anchor behind the top of the car seat. Attach the tethers at the bottom of the car seat to the LATCH anchor at the bottom of the vehicles seat, usually near the seat belts.
Step 5
Make sure the car seat is flat with the back and bottom of the seat in the vehicle.
Step 6
Place knee in the car seat while tightening LATCH tethers or seat belt. According to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, a properly installed car seat will not move more than 1 inch from side-to-side or toward the front of the vehicle.
Step 7
Lock the seat in place. The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute states that locking the seat in place keeps the child seat tight. Vehicles manufactured prior to 1997 may need a locking clip to lock to seat belt. However, new vehicles have belt systems that lock once the seat belt is pulled out all the way. If your seat belt locks, you will hear a clicking sound as the seat belt retracts.
Tips and Warnings
- These are only general instructions. For specifics on how to install a car seat into your vehicle consult the owners manual of the vehicle and the instruction manual for the car seat. The USAA Educational Foundation advises not to use a car seat for a child who is over 6 years old. You should replace a car seat involved in a moderate to severe crash, according to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute. When using a pre-owned car seat, the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute advises to make sure there is a manufacturer's label on the seat to verify the age of the seat and to check for recalls. Do not use a seat unless you know its history. Avoid using a seat the does not come with an instruction manual, unless you can get a replacement one from the manufacturer.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Child Passenger Safety: Fact-Sheet
- CarSeatsMadeSimple.org: Installation Checklist 3: Forward-facing Convertible Car Seat
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute: Car Seats for Your Infant
- USAA Educational Foundation: Installing child safety seats
- Heatlhy Children: Car Safety Seats: Information for Families for 2010
