If your baby is under a year old or weighs less than 20 lbs., it is important to always place him in a rear-facing car seat every time he rides in a car. Many parents of young infants choose to use an infant car seat that can be easily attached to and removed from a base that stays installed in the vehicle. Before using any car seat for your child, read the instruction manual thoroughly, and make sure that your baby is within the height and weight requirements for the seat.
Step 1
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends putting babies only in the back seat of the car. If there are two rows of back seats, use the middle back seat, which is considered the safest. Whether the baby is seated behind you or to your right behind the passenger seat is of no consequence, as both sides are considered equally as safe.
Step 2
Place the base of the infant car seat in the seat of the car, and pull the seat belt all of the way out. Slide the seat belt through the appropriate path of the base and fasten it.
Step 3
Tighten and remove any slack in the seat belt by putting all of your weight on the car seat base and pulling the lap belt, as well as the shoulder belt, if applicable.
Step 4
Use a locking clip to get a more secure fit if you do not have locking seat belts, as indicated in your vehicle's owner's manual. Do this by tightening the seat belt as much as possible, and holding it in position. Unbuckle the seat belt while continuing to hold the lap and shoulder portions of the belt together, and slide the locking clip onto the belt near the buckle of the seat belt. Feed the belt through the path on the base and re-buckle, placing all of your weight into the car seat's base.
Step 5
Using both hands, push and pull the infant base in all directions. It should not move more than an inch in any direction. If it does, repeat the previous steps to get a tighter fit.
Step 6
Place the infant seat into the base in the rear-facing position. Push down on the seat until you hear a click that indicates that the seat is attached. Pull up on the seat to be sure that it is secure. Read the car seat's instructions to determine which position the handlebar should be in. Some seats are designed to travel with the handlebar in the upright position, while others are meant to be used with the handle swung behind the seat.
Tips and Warnings
- If your seat and your vehicle are equipped with LATCH, or Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children, follow the car seat's instruction manual to use this method of installation, if desired. When using a rear-facing infant seat, the harness straps should be at or below your baby's shoulders. The chest clip should sit on your child's chest, and the straps should be snug enough around your baby to allow only one or two adult fingers between the strap and your baby's collarbone.
- Never place any rear-facing child safety seat in a seat with an airbag. This can cause severe injury or death.
Things You'll Need
- Infant car seat
- Locking clip, if required
