Attaching To Isofix Anchorage Points
ISOFIX anchorage systems exist in some cars in Australia, and are an alternative method of installing the car seat in the car. ISOFIX anchorage devices are metal bars which are installed in cars to anchor the bottom tether strap of a car seat. ISOFIX anchorage devices must be used in conjunction with a top-tether strap. Like other anchorage points, it is important to follow manufacturers instructions carefully when attaching car seat tethers to them.
Why Are Car Seats Important
Using a car seat, also called a child safety seat, is the best way to protect your kids when they’re in a car. Car crashes are one of the leading causes of death and injury for children. Because car seats save lives, using a car seat is the law in every U.S. state.
But keeping your child safe depends on choosing the right safety seat and using it correctly. The best car seat is the one that fits your child’s weight, size, and age, as well as your vehicle.
Here are some things to know so you can pick a seat that’s right for your child:
Babies start out in infant-only seats or convertible seats. As they grow, kids switch to forward-facing seats before moving to a booster seat. Here’s a rundown of which seat to use when.
How To Install Infant Car Seat With Seatbelt
Parents often struggle with finding a secure position for an infant seat because of the car seats design.
Hence, the right position when using a seatbelt to install an infant car seat will depend on the car seat.
Ensure that the surface and base of the infant seat contacts the car seat as much as possible.
Adjust the infant seat to the best reclining position before installation. Tipping it when installing will make the seat unstable.
Place the shoulder belt around the top or head area of the babys seat.
Use the lap seat belt to hold both sides in position. The seat belt should give an audible click when installed properly.
One major challenge with relying on the seat belt for infant car seat installation is incompatibility.
Hence, when choosing a baby car seat, look for a design that is compatible with your vehicles interior design.
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Tip : Practice Using The Harness And Straps
As well as providing safe and secure support, it is important that child car seats, harnesses and straps are correctly adjusted.You will be dealing with straps every day, so it is highly recommended to test the ease of use before you make your purchase to ensure safer harnessing.Some car seats also the feature harnesses that do not require threading/unthreading thus enable automatic shoulder height repositioning. These are important features that make using a car seat easier and less stressful.
How To Install Front Facing Infant Car Seat
Most parents prefer the front-facing sitting position because they can easily monitor the baby while driving.
The rear-facing position is safe but difficult to check on the baby.
However, with the front-facing position, it is easy for babies to topple over while trying to reach for stuff in the car.
A baby can also slide off the seat when the car brakes suddenly.
Hence, extra caution is necessary when installing the car seat in this position to avoid accidents.
Always read the manual from the manufacturer before installing the seat.
The main difference when installing the baby car seat in the front-facing position is the position of the seat belt.
In the rear-facing position, you want the belt to fall outside the car seat to keep it in position.
However, for the front-facing position, you need to buckle the seat belt in a way that the latch belt falls inside the car seat.
Manufacturers recommend that you use one or two knees to sink the baby car seat into the vehicles seat.
Do not remove the pressure from the knee until you finish the infant car seat installation process.
The result is that the baby seat sinks into the car seat and sits in a comfortable reclining position.
The position is safe for the baby even in cases of emergency braking or playing during the trip.
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A Few Extra Tips That Weve Learned Along The Way
After testing pretty much all the most popular infant car seats available today, weve learned a few things when it comes to installing them properly.
First, if youre using the seat belt to install the base or the seat without a base, you should always lock the seat belt after installing the seat. Place the seat in the correct position, adjust the angle, buckle the belt, then firmly pull the belt to engage the locking mechanism. Once the locking mechanism is engaged, tighten the installation as much as possible. The seat belt will only be able to go back in, but wont get loose.
Second, make sure to correctly adjust the angle of the seat and the base. Most infant car seats have a level line on the side that helps you see if its parallel to the road. Some bases also come with level indicators on the side.
Finally, tighten up everything before placing your child in the seat. Give a good shake to the seat when youre done to verify that the installation is secure. Wiggle the seat back and forth and from side to side. If its correctly installed, it shouldnt move more than an inch in any direction.
How To Adjust A Baby Trend Stroller Seat
Many parents will find that the Baby Trend stroller is a great investment, especially for those who are looking to buy one or more car seats. The seat on this particular model of baby strollers can be easily adjusted as your child grows and changes shape making it useful once they reach around six months old. To adjust the seat, follow these simple steps:
Place Baby in Sit Position situate baby with feet flat on floor and back leaning against the edge of the chair
Adjust Sliding Seat Pan grab handle at front of the seat pan and pull rearward until the desired height is achieved . . Adjust Head Support adjust head support so that it is above your babys shoulders. .
Place Baby on Seat and Secure Belt make sure you have a tight fit and then secure buckle across the waist of a baby by squeezing ends together until strap clicks into place. Repeat process at another side of the seat pan.
Tighten Latch Straps pull both straps down towards footrest area use one hand to hold the upper part of latch while pulling release tab back up with another hand tighten tension spring knob and then tighten latch straps again. Check Levelling check that the vehicle seat is levelled and adjust if necessary .
Note: Adjust all other belts, head support and footrest before using your childs new car seat! This will ensure you are strapping in your baby correctly for an optimal fit.
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How To Install A Rear Facing Car Seat
Below is a general guideline on how to install a rear-facing car seat
The first thing to do is to position the infant seat in your cars back seat make sure its facing the rear of the car window. Although we strongly advise setting up the restraint in the passenger front seat.
In case you must do this, make sure you turn off the airbag of the passenger seat.
Next thing is to hook the child safety seat to the base of your car seat. To accomplish this, you must follow the guideline given in the safety seat installation manual.
Make sure the infant seat is tight in such a way that its difficult to pull from any one of the sides. Ideally, it should be able to pass the inch test by shifting not more than 1 when given a forward tug.
In case the seat moves more than 1 inch when pulled, it means the installation is faulty, and you have to start all over again. The best way to avoid this is to make sure the car belt goes through the right slots specified in the installation manual.
Next is to recline the child seat. Make sure this is properly done to safeguard the babys head and prevent it from flopping forward in the event of a car jerk.
Finally, you want to ensure that the shoulder straps of the seat are positioned away from the neck. To ensure the comfort of your child, you may want to place a towel or any soft fabric between him/her and the crotch strap.
When To Move Your Child From A Rear
Rear-facing is the safest position for your child. Even if your provincial or territorial regulations allow you to move to a forward-facing seat, your child should keep using rear-facing seats as long as possible.
When your child outgrows his or her infant seat, moving to a convertible seat will allow your child to stay seated rear-facing longer. It is okay if your child’s legs touch the vehicle seat back.
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If In Doubt Seek Help
If you have problems with the installation or any doubts about whether your childs car seat is properly installed, visit an accredited installation service for advice and assistance before you travel with your child in the car. Even if you are confident with your installation, it is recommended that you have it checked by an approved child restraint fitter.
What Direction Should The Seat Face
Keep them rear-facing until at least 2-years-old or until they reach the weight or height limit. All car seats come with set limits, so check your car seat manual for that.
Infant car seats generally support up to 22 pounds or more. Rear-facing weight limits for convertible seats could be anything from 35 to 50 pounds.
Infant carriers could support up to 22 pounds or more. Convertible seats could be anything from 35 to 50 pounds.
Many parents feel kids are at risk of leg injuries while rear-facing. However, approximately only 0.1 percent of rear-facing kids suffer lower-extremity injuries in car accidents . Kids are also quite flexible and rear-facing is not usually uncomfortable for them.
They are at a greater risk of nearly all types of injury when facing forward. When an accident occurs, a childs feet come in contact with the front seat, and the head and neck are violently thrown forward.
Stay Away From The Front
Airbags deploy at a dangerous speed and could severely injure or kill your child. Yes, its possible in some older vehicles for you to switch off the airbag with a key. But any other types of airbags pose too great of a risk due to the possibility of malfunction. Airbag sensors are not 100% accurate and can still deploy in a crash.
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Use The Seat Belt Or Latch
There are two ways to secure a car seat in a vehicle. Both are safe, but dont use both at the same time. Heres a video on installing your car seat.
Watch LATCH weight limits. Lower anchor bars have a weight limit of 65 pounds, which includes the weight of the car seat plus the weight of your child. Your car seat label will tell you when to stop using the lower anchors and switch to the seat belt plus tether. Continue to use the top tether until the time your child moves to the belt positioning booster seat.
Car Seats For Toddlers And Preschoolers
- Convertible car seat. Toddlers should ride in the rear-facing position of their convertible car seat until they’ve reached the maximum height or weight for their model .
- All-in-one car seat. Again, if your toddler is riding in an all-in-one model, make sure he’s in the rear-facing position for as long as possible.
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How To Install Baby Car Seat With Seatbelt
In this article, we will cover some of the basic steps on how to install baby car seat with the seatbelt. We will also go over how to install the rear-facing and forward-facing seat with latch and with your vehicles seat belt.
Before installing your baby car seat with seatbelt please always refer to the car seat manual and your vehicles manual for complete instructions and information.
Also, before you begin the installation, make sure you have your cup holder installed on the car seat.
At What Angle Should The Seat Recline
Rear-facing car seats should be installed at specific angles depending on the age of the baby and what direction the seat is facing. All seats come with an angle indicator, though what they look like will vary. Some come with one or two lines which you keep parallel to the ground to achieve the correct angle, and some have a bubble or ball indicator which will tell you if the angle is within an acceptable range.
The goal of the angle indicator is to keep car seats with newborns at 45 degrees. If too flat, they might slide out of the straps. However, if too upright, their head might flop forward, which could limit their breathing.
If you are having trouble installing your car seat at a 45-degree angle, many car seat manufacturers allow the use of a rolled towel to be placed under the car seat to help properly position it. Always read your car seat manual because not all seats allow this, and installation instructions can vary. Older kids can recline slightly more upright at 35 degrees. Ensure your car is on level ground so you get the angle right.
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S On Installing Baby Car Seat With Seatbelt
Step 1. When it comes to installing a baby car seat with seatbelt in the car, you should make sure that it is not loose and does not move around.
Step 2. This can be done by tightening the straps or belt when installing a baby car seat with a seatbelt in your vehicle.
Step 3. You will need to go over every inch of the strap because this may cause injury if there are any gaps between them. Its also important to secure all clips on the harnesses as well as buckles for added safety during the driving process.
Step 3. Ensure that all parts of your childs body do fit within confines safely without being too tight or too close together so they dont get stuck between bars either inside or of infant carrier/car seat when you pull them out.
Experts Can Help You Install Your Car Seat
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Checking The Fit Of The Harness
Adjust the harness straps so they are at or just below your child’s shoulders. Some child car seats allow you to adjust the harness height by moving the headrest up or down. You may find this easier to do before you install the child car seat in the vehicle.
As your child grows, check the fit and readjust the harness.
If Your Vehicle Is Not Equipped With Latch
If your child safety seat has built-in straps for LATCH but your vehicle is not equipped with LATCH, you can install your child safety seat correctly with the seat belt . Check both your vehicle and child safety seat manuals.
Visit Car Seat Safety by age for information and videos on how to install your child safety seat in vehicles not equipped with LATCH.
For help with LATCH or seat belt installation, find a local car safety seat checkpoint for free inspections held in most areas.
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How To Make Sure Your Car Seat Is Installed Properly
According to a 2014 report by the AAP, fewer than 10 percent of new parents install or use car seats correctly, with most strapping the harness or the car seat too loosely. So its always a good idea to get someone to double-check your handiwork.
Try any one of these options:
- Check with your local police or fire station, baby store or car dealership. Most will do a safety check for you for free.
- Find a car seat inspection station near you through the NHTSA directory or call 866-SEAT-CHECK.
- Keep in mind that only a certified car seat safety technician is likely to be up-to-date on all the latest recommendations, so for peace of mind search for one in your area through the National Child Passenger Safety Certification Program.
From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You’re Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.
