How To Install Forward Facing Car Seat

Convertible Car Seat Installation Tips

Many parents choose convertible car seats because they grow with the child, saving mom and dad from having to upgrade with every growth milestone.

Convertible seats are designed to protect a wide range of children from small babies to larger children. For smaller children, a convertible car seat is designed to be installed facing the rear of the car. As the child grows, the car seat converts to a forward-facing position for larger children. Weight ranges for convertible car seats vary dramatically. Always check your labels and instructions to make sure your child is the appropriate size for your car seat and installation position. Follow these guidelines when installing a convertible car seat:

Read Also: What To Use To Clean Car Windows

How Long Should My Child Remain In A Forward

Once your child has graduated to a forward-facing car seat, its recommended they remain in it until they reach the height and weight limit of their seat. This can be quite some time as forward-facing car seats can hold anywhere from 60 to 100 pounds depending on the model!

Its important to also keep in mind that even after your child has outgrown their forward-facing car seat, they should still use a booster seat to ensure your cars seat belt system fits them properly.

Children arent ready to use the seatbelt alone until theyre around

How To Install Baby Car Seat Rear Facing

A rear-facing child seat configuration should be used for about the first 12 months of your child’s life.

Australian baby car seat installation laws stipulate that you keep your child facing rearward for the first six months, but you should leave them rear facing for as long as they physically fit – its safer when theyre rear facing.

This size seat is an alternative to a baby capsule and is suitable for a newborn. It’s a completely personal choice as to which you buy. Once they’re big enough, you’ll turn them around to face the front until they’re four-years-old. Ready for installation?

1. You’ll more than likely be able to discard the top-tether anchor point attachment that comes with the child seat. It looks like a big bolt. Unless your car is more than around 15 years old, your car is likely to have built in anchor points so you wont need it.

2. Choose which side of the car you’ll put the seat on. Your safest option is the passenger side but if you’ve got more than one child or are fitting an additional car seat that advice is moot anyway.

3. Set the base at the rear of the child seat to the correct angle for your child. There’s likely to be decals on the side to guide you.

4. Pull out the stabiliser bar from the front of the child seat , and set the child seat into position in the car, with the stabiliser bar firmly up against your car seat’s backrest.

• You’ll find the ISOFIX straps either side of the seat.
• ISOFIX logos will guide you to the ISOFIX mount locations.

Don’t Miss: How To Fix Sun Damaged Paint On Car

How To Clean A Graco Convertible Car Seat

Generally, Graco convertible seat covers can be washed in a washing machine, so you can just throw them in the washer. To get the buckle and harness clean, use warm water. You can also use a mild detergent on your harness, but NOT on your buckle. Finally, allow the buckle to dry completely before reinstalling it.

Why Use Front Facing Car Seats After The Weight Limit Is Reached

Once your child has outgrown the height or weight limit of their forward-facing car seat, they should switch to a booster seat. A booster will help position the safety belt properly across your childs body so that it reduces the risk of injuries in accidents. There are many different types of boosters on the market, so be sure to do your research before making a purchase!

A good forward facing car seat is essential when it comes to transporting your child safely in a vehicle. By following the guidelines set by organizations like AAP and NHTSA, you can ensure that you are giving your kid the best chance at surviving an accident without sustaining serious injuries. Stay safe and buckle up!

You May Like: Repair Clear Coat Car

Car Seat Mistakes Youre Probably Making

Installing a car seat might seem easy, but its actually quite complicated. The reality is most kids arent riding as securely as they should be. The good news: with a bit of know-how from experts, you can avoid the most common errors and ensure your kids riding safe and snug.

By Dory CernyMarch 26, 2017

When Monica Cheung was pregnant with her now-four-month-old son, Elliott, she spent months researching car seats, asking friends for recommendations and reading online reviews. After finally deciding on and purchasing one, Cheung signed up for a free car seat clinic to have the installation checked. Some of our friends thought we were being too intense, that it was overkill, says Cheung. But the possibility of putting our little ones life at risk was not something we were willing to do.

Heading to the clinic, Cheung felt prepared she and her husband, Aaron Igel, had looked at Transport Canadas website, carefully read the car seat manual and watched several installation videos on YouTube. But it quickly became clear to clinic staff that the seat was too loose, and though two different volunteers tried to install it tightly, it just wasnt working. One volunteer told us that perhaps this was just the wrong car seat for our car, says Cheung. He suggested we return it and buy another one, but we had purchased the car seat months before. We wouldnt be able to return it.

Online resources:* Transport Canada: tc.gc.ca

* St. John Ambulance: sja.ca

Read more:

How Do You Use The Britax Marathon

This car seat is perfect for travel, as it features a removable cover that can be machine washed. The full-body support helps maintain the correct contours of your childs head and neck during sleep. It also has an energy-absorbing foam liner to help protect against side-impact collisions.

The Britax Marathon is designed with safety in mind, but parents will appreciate its simple installation methods and easy-to-use harness system.

This model only weighs 26 pounds which makes it easy to move from one location to another or even transfer between vehicles if necessary!

Youll love this car seat because you wont have any trouble keeping track of where you left off when installing thanks to marked adjustment handles on either side of the base pan area.

The Britax Marathon is perfect for children weighing between 20-65 pounds and who are over 29 inches tall. This seat can accommodate rear-facing use from five to 40 pounds or forward-facing toddlers up to 65 pounds.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you keep your childs car seat in the backseat until they reach age 13! With a simple click, this convertible model easily converts into a belt-positioning booster with no rethreading required thanks to its high harness slots.

Don’t Miss: How To Put On Tint

How To Install A Car Seat: A Confused Parent’s Guide

Why oh why are car seats so complicated? We finally cracked the code so you can install or reinstall your kid’s seat with confidence.

When Adrienne Penake’s son, Brandon, developed a high fever and began wheezing one night, the San Mateo, California, mom knew she had to get her 11-month-old to the local urgent-care center. There was just one problem:

“My husband, Dave, and I had taken the car seat out of my car a few days prior and hadn’t set it back up yet. That night, Dave wasn’t home and I was unable to connect the clips to the latches in my car,” Penake recalls. “After many tries, I just couldn’t do it. In a panic, I had to borrow the car of a friend who has kids the same age as mine to get Brandon to the doctor.”

Struggling to install a car seat is tough enough on a good day. When you’re in a hurry, it can be next to impossible. LATCH, which stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children, is a system of built-in straps and hooks created to makes car seat installation easier. But despite nearly every car seat and most vehicles manufactured since September 1, 2002, being required to use the LATCH system, weve still got a long way to go when it comes to simplifying installing a car seat.

RELATED: The Best Car Seats for Babies and Toddlers

RELATED: How to Choose the Right Car Seat for Your Child

When To Use Forward

Most children are turned forward-facing much too soon. Before you buckle your child up in a forward-facing car seat, check to see if they could still be riding safely rear-facing.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children ride rear-facing for as long as possible . For most kids, this will happen between the ages of 3 and 5.

Parents sometimes rush kids out of their forward-facing car seat and into a booster seat .

You can tell when your child is ready to switch from a car seat to a booster seat because they will be all three of these criteria:

Also Check: How To Remove Scuff Marks From Car Dash

Installing The Car Seat With A Seat Belt And Tether

How Do You Restrap A Safety 1st Car Seat

The safety seat should be securely fastened in the car using a three-point harness and/or LATCH system. Make sure that your childs feet do not touch the back of the seat or buckle area while they are seated, especially if their legs bend at odd angles when they sit up straight.

If youre unsure about any aspect of how to properly install your car seat, consult with an expert such as a police officer or firefighter for help on this matter.

Some examples include: consulting online communities like Child Seat Safety , asking friends who may have some experience, calling local fire stations and reading forums including one from AAA which has several articles regarding proper installation.

When you make use of these resources it is advised that you dont remove the child safety seat from your car while it is being inspected. And, unless you are speaking to someone in person, make sure to double check all of the information that you receive through these resources.

If an officer tells you something different than what another officer told you previously , consult with a third party who has experience or knowledge on this matter before following any advice given.

Also Check: What Was Columbo’s Car

Find The Best Place In The Car

The back seat is the safest place to ride for all children under age 13. But not all cars allow for a car seat in every place that has a seat belt. Check your car owner manual to see where you can put a car seat. Make sure that the car seat or booster seat for each child riding in the car is in the best possible place. Also, make sure other passengers in the car can ride safely.

Latch: The Journey Continues

Talk about a long and winding road. Even if the reality of LATCH hasnt quite met the initial promise, its undeniable that it provides parents and manufacturers with a valuable tool in keeping kids safe on the road. And, as has been the case through its history, vehicle and car seat manufacturers, along with child passenger safety advocates, will continue to push the standard forward as the journey continues.

The Ride Starts Here

Remember, if youre a Clek owner with questions about your seat, its safety features, or your installation, we invite you to reach out to our Customer Service team each of whom are trained CPSTs.

If youre currently in search of the right seat for your needs, you can join a Clek expert for a virtual product tour and explore seats that combine best-in-class safety with parent-friendly ease-of-use and modern style.

Get Product Specific Support

For more Clek model-specific information about LATCH, including video installation guides and more, visit our help center at:

Don’t Miss: Militos Car Repair

Buying A Child Car Seat

When purchasing a child car seat or booster seat, check that it has:

• a National Safety Mark label which indicates that the seat complies with Canadian regulations and standards and is legal for use in Canada
• an expiry date or useful life date that has not past
• all necessary components
• instructions on how to use and install it
• no signs of wear, torn harness straps, stress marks or cracks
• never been in a collision

Top Rated Best Forward Facing Car Seat For Small Car

Contents

Also Check: Can I Use My Synchrony Car Care Card Anywhere

What Should I Do Before I Change A Convertible Seat From Rear

When changing a convertible car seat from rear- to front-facing, follow two important steps before you install it:

Installing The Car Seat With Lower Anchors And Tether

You May Like: How To Program A Car Computer With A Laptop

How To Install A Car Seat: A Confused Parents Guide

Why oh why are car seats so complicated? We finally cracked the code so you can install or reinstall your kids seat with confidence.

When Adrienne Penakes son, Brandon, developed a high fever and began wheezing one night, the San Mateo, California, mom knew she had to get her 11-month-old to the local urgent-care center. There was just one problem:

My husband, Dave, and I had taken the car seat out of my car a few days prior and hadnt set it back up yet. That night, Dave wasnt home and I was unable to connect the clips to the latches in my car, Penake recalls. After many tries, I just couldnt do it. In a panic, I had to borrow the car of a friend who has kids the same age as mine to get Brandon to the doctor.

Struggling to install a car seat is tough enough on a good day. When youre in a hurry, it can be next to impossible. LATCH, which stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children, is a system of built-in straps and hooks created to makes car seat installation easier. But despite nearly every car seat and most vehicles manufactured since September 1, 2002, being required to use the LATCH system, weve still got a long way to go when it comes to simplifying installing a car seat.

Still confused? Heres an extra cheat sheet for using the LATCH system in particular:

Lower anchors: These are the small bars in the space between the rear seat backs and the seat cushions theyre used for installing forward- and rear-facing seats

Children Are Flexible What Seems Cramped To You Is Not Necessarily Uncomfortable For A Toddler

Since kids’ bones and joints aren’t fully developed yet, they’re much more flexible than adults. Even though riding rear-facing longer may require them to cross or prop up their legs, these seating positions are no big deal to a flexible toddler and allow for crucial protection of the head, neck and spine.2

When rear-facing, a child’s head, neck and spine are all supported by the car seat during an accident.

Don’t Miss: Iseecars Vin Check