How to Install an Infant Car Seat

Experts' Advice on How to Install Infant Car Seats

Ensuring the safety of your children is one of the most important jobs for parents.

Yet, the statistics are frightening: Every year thousands of babies and young children are killed or injured in car crashes. And almost 95% of car seats are installed incorrectly or misused!

Most parents try to do their best to avoid being apart of these statistics. They research the "best" car seat to purchase and often spend hours installing that seat, but the information can be confusing or incomplete.

Are you in the 5% or the 95%...do you want to take that chance?

I didn't, and that is why I have been researching safety and speaking with Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians and instructors for several years. I have put together these comprehensive and easy to understand tips from the experts on how to install infant car seats correctly, so that you don't have to take that chance either.

It is my intention to present all of the essential research/information to keep your precious kiddos safe while in the car.

It is my hope that I can help you make traveling with your infant a safer experience.

How to Install an Infant Car Seat - The Basics

**Please note that you MUST read your vehicle's manual and the manual for the car seat. And ALWAYS have the installation checked by a certified technician both before going to the hospital AND with your child in the seat. I have provided several car seat inspection links below.

The Basics of How to Install Infant Car Seat

1. The safest spot for your car seat is the middle seat in the back. The second safest spot is the seat behind the driver. The seat can be placed anywhere in the back seat that fits best.

2. The angle is important, so check the manual for the correct installation angle for your seat. Some car seats have angle adjusters built into the seat. When rear-facing, a seat should be angled no more than 45-degrees from vertical. If it is too flat, your baby may slide out between the straps. If the seat is too upright, his head may flop forward, making breathing difficult. Some seats have adjustable bases that allow you to change the angle. If not, you may need to put a tightly rolled towel or a shortened piece of a swimming pool noodle under the "foot end" of the car seat.

3. NO part of the car seat (straps, harness, or the entire seat itself) should move more than an inch.

Poll: Installing Infant Car Seats

Please share what you have found the reality to be in regards to installing an infant car seat into your vehicle. Where does your carseat fit the best?

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How to Install an Infant Car Seat the RIGHT Way

1. For shoulder/lap belt installation: Thread the straps through the appropriate slots and lock the seatbelt. Apply heavy pressure to the seat and pull the shoulder strap as tight as you can. Use the locking clips provided and try to move the seat. If you can move it more than an inch, redo the procedure until you can get a tight fit.

2. In order to get a snug fit with rear-facing infant car seats, put your knee in the seat and apply the pressure of your full body weight down and back while tightening the straps (pull as hard as you can). This will make the seat tighter than if you just pulled on the straps alone.

3. Make sure you use any locking clip that your car seat comes with -- especially if there is no locking mechanism in the seat belt system -- otherwise you may have incorrectly installed your seat.

4. In convertible car seats, DO NOT USE THE TETHER IN THE REAR-FACING MODE UNLESS YOUR CAR SEAT IS DESIGNED FOR IT (reference the manual). When you are using a convertible seat in the forward-facing direction, make sure you use a tether for added safety (it prevents the seat from snapping forward). Install the car seat as tightly as you can and clip the tether to the anchors in the back of the car. Once clipped, pull on the tether strap to tighten any slack. Push on the seat, it shouldn't move.

5. For a Rear-Facing or an infant seat, the child's harness straps need to be at, or below their shoulders. For Forward-Facing car seats, it is the opposite (the harness slots should be at, or a little above the shoulders).

Watch advice from a Certified Child Passenger Safety Inspector

A car seat inspection can save your child's life!

A police officer and Certified Child Passenger Safety Inspector shares information on a few common mistakes he sees during car seat inspections.

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Additional Important Car Seat Advice

How to Install an Infant Car Seat

1. The chest clip needs to be positioned LEVEL at their armpits.

2. The harness needs to be tight. If you can feel any slack in the harness, it simply isn't tight enough. You should only be able to fit one finger between the shoulder strap and the shoulder of your child. If you can pinch a fold in the harness, it's too loose.

3. Never put a blanket between your child and the harness straps, or underneath or behind him. Bulky outerwear can interfere with the harness's tightness. Instead, place a warm blanket over your child and harness.

4. Place rolled towels on each side (but never under the head) of your infant's head to keep her head from flopping side to side (generally necessary for the first month or so).

5. The carrying handle should be completely down when your child is in your vehicle for most infant seats. Be sure to check your car seat instruction manual.

6. NEVER install a used car seat (regardless of the condition).

7. You MUST replace the car seat if you are ever in an accident, even a small one.

Top 5 Infant Car Seats

Click on any of these car seats to get more information on their safety and comfort features. You can also vote on the car seat that you believe is the safest by clicking on the up arrow.

How to Install an Infant Car Seat

Experts' Advice on How to Install Infant Car Seats

How to Install an Infant Car Seat - The Basics

Poll: Installing Infant Car Seats

How to Install an Infant Car Seat the RIGHT Way

Watch advice from a Certified Child Passenger Safety Inspector

A car seat inspection can save your child's life!

Additional Important Car Seat Advice

How to Install an Infant Car Seat

Top 5 Infant Car Seats

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Links to Help with Installing Infant Car Seats

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Top 5 Must-Have Car Seat Necessities...I mean, Accessories!

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