Auto crashes are one of the leading causes of injury and death amid children, but motorcar seats save lives every twenty-four hour period. The problem? Installing a car seat can be tricky, especially for first-time parents, and yardore than half of motorcar seats are installed incorrectly.

When you're installing a rear-facing infant car seat, follow these steps to make sure your petty one is as prophylactic every bit possible.

How to install a rear-facing infant machine seat

  1. Read the transmission.Different automobile seats accept different installation methods, so yous'll want to make certain you understand how to install your seat correctly.
  2. Place the car seat in the back seat.The safest spot for your baby isever in the back seat — preferably in the middle spot, abroad from passenger-side air bags. If your car doesn't fit a machine seat securely in that location, identify the seat on either side of the backseat (or, if you bulldoze an SUV, in the second row). One place you should never put a machine seat: on the front seat. If there'southward an accident (even if it'due south minor), the passenger-side airbag could open up up and seriously hurt your baby. (To note: All kids under the age of 13 belong in the backseat.)
  3. Face up it backwards.Experts including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Assistants (NHTSA) urge parents to keep kids in the rear-facing position equally long every bit possible, until they reach the highest height or weight limit allowed by their seat. Why is keeping your child in a rear-facing for as long equally possible so important? Facing backward offers the best protection for a baby's or immature toddler'due south head, cervix and spine. Infants and other small children are 71 pct less likely to be fatally injured in a auto crash if they're rear-facing.
  4. Look for the LATCH anchors.All cars fabricated in 2002 and later are designed with a LATCH arrangement (anchors and tethers designed to attach the auto seat to the backseat of the motorcar). This means your car seat or base can exist attached to metal anchors in the vehicle'due south seat. Look for small metal loops that stick out slightly well-nigh the lesser of your vehicle's seat. Keep in heed that the NHTSA says parents should use either the LATCH system or the seat belt with a motorcar seat, but not both.
  5. Install the base (LATCH method).If you're using the LATCH arrangement, place the base in the back seat, then connect the seat to the lower anchors on your vehicle's seat. Follow the instructions in the manual to brand sure the connection is secure.
  6. Install the base (seatbelt method).Some parents find that the LATCH system makes infant motorcar seats easier to install. Only using a seatbelt is considered only as safe, if done correctly. If your car doesn't have LATCH anchors, or if you'd prefer to employ the seatbelt, and then find the belt path on your base, thread the belt through and buckle it. Well-nigh seatbelts can be locked past pulling the belt all the way out, then feeding it back in. Consult your vehicle's manual if this method doesn't work for your car.
  7. Tighten the connection.Push downwardly firmly on the center of the base and pull out the slack in either the LATCH straps or the seatbelt. If your seat has additional safety measures like a load leg, make sure they're set upwards correctly likewise.
  8. Check to see if the base of operations is secure.Now, cheque your piece of work. Using your non-dominant hand, concur the base at the belt path, so shake it with the strength of a handshake. It shouldn't move more than 1 inch when shaken side to side or front to back. If it does, printing down on the center again and tighten the straps further.
  9. Check the angle.Next, yous'll want to make certain that your machine seat base is at a condom angle. This step is important to make sure your babe is sitting in the correct semi-reclined position. Look for an indicator on the side of your base of operations and adjust the seat upwardly or down until the angle is correct.
  10. Put in the infant car seat.Now that the base is installed, the adjacent step is to clip the infant carrier onto the base. This is easy to do with most car seat models, and many will "click" when the seat is locked in correctly. Some car seats can be installed without a base. Follow the same steps, making certain to bank check the angle of the seat and tightness of the connexion.
  11. Adjust the handle.Finally, check your manual to make sure the car seat handle is in the right position. This is usually unlike from the upright handle position used when carrying the seat.

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 utilise car seats correctly, with nigh strapping the harness or the car seat too loosely. Then it's e'er a good thought to go someone to double-check your handiwork.

Continue Reading Below

Try any one of these options:

  • Cheque with your local police or burn station, babe shop or car dealership. Most will practice a safety cheque for you for costless.
  • Detect a motorcar seat inspection station near you through the NHTSA directory or call 866-SEAT-Cheque.
  • Keep in mind that simply a certified car seat safety technician is probable to be up-to-date on all the latest recommendations, so for peace of listen search for one in your surface area through the National Child Passenger Condom Certification Plan.