According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 72 percent of all child seats and booster seats are misused in ways that could increase a child's risk of injury during a crash. The USAA Educational Foundation recommends infants should ride in rear-facing car seats until they weigh at least 20 lb. and are least 1 year old. Proper installation of your infant's car seat plays an important role in your child's safety.
Non-LATCH Instructions
Step 1
Check the safety instructions of the car seat to be sure it is appropriate for your child's weight and height.
Step 2
Place the rear-facing infant seat in the back seat of the vehicle. CarSeatsMadeSimple.org advises positioning the car seat in the middle rear seat. Be sure the car seat faces toward the back. Never position an infant car seat so it faces forward.
Step 3
Pass the seat belt through the slots on the sides of the car seat base designed for the seat belt. If you're just using the car seat carrier, pass the seat belt through the slots on the sides of the carrier. If the seat belt you are using has a shoulder belt, let it rest against the back of the vehicle's seat.
Step 4
Ensure the car seat is at the proper angle. The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute advises that if you recline the infant seat too far, your baby may slide out from between the straps. However, if you install it too far upright, your baby's head may flop forward, making it difficult for your baby to breathe. The recommended angle is 45 degrees. Some infant seats come with adjustable bases that allow you to change the angle. If yours does not, place a tightly rolled towel or a piece of swimming pool noodle under the "foot end" of the infant seat to force it into the correct position.
Step 5
Put your knee in the seat, and bear down on it with all your weight while you tighten the seat belt to hold the infant seat in place. The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute states the most common mistake parents make is to install car seats too loosely. Verify the seat's stability each time you buckle your baby into it. Locking the seat belt keeps the safety seat held tightly in place. If your seat belts do not have built-in lock systems on the belts, lock the seat belt with a locking clip. If it moves more than 1 inch from side to side or toward the front of your vehicle, tighten the seat belt holding the car seat in place.
LATCH System Instructions
Step 1
Remove the two anchor latches from their housings on the side of the car seat base. To get them out of the housings, you will have to loosen the straps.
Step 2
Attach the latch onto the anchor bar. The anchor bars are located between the back and bottom cushions of your vehicle's seats. Push the latch onto the anchor bar until you hear a click. Some latches have a directional indicator showing which end should face up. Others are metal clips. If your latch is a metal clip, put the thick end of the clip toward the top. Make sure that the metal clip is fully hooked over the anchor bar, and ensure the straps are not twisted anywhere.
Step 3
Pull the free end of the latch strap to tighten the base into the seat.
Tips and Warnings
- The instructions included in this article are general instructions. Each car seat and vehicle will vary slightly in the use of seat belts to install the car seat. Please review the owner's manual of your vehicle and the instruction manual of your car seat for precise installation instructions.
- The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute advises not to use an infant seat that has been involved in a moderate to severe crash. The airbag in the front passenger side of the car could kill an infant in a rear-facing car seat.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Child Passenger Safety: Fact-Sheet
- The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute: Car Seats for Your Infant
- USSA Educational Foundation: Installing Child Safety Seats
- Car Seats Made Simple: Installation Checklist 1: Rear-Facing Infant-Only Car Seat
- Car Safety: Information on LATCH
