Properly Installing a Child Car Seat

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Properly Installing a Child Car Seat

Hi I am Kathy Moore for About.com Parenting. Though everyone knows that child car seats are required by law, studies show that many parents do not use their child car seats properly. Correct installation is the first step to safe car travel for the whole family. This program will walk through the steps of installing a child car seat.

Car Seat Location

The back seat is always the safest place for children to ride. Infants in rear-facing car seats should never be placed in the front seat when there is a passenger-side air bag.

Car Seat Instruction

Be sure to read through the instructions on both your car seat and your vehicle regarding car seat installation before attempting to install the seat.

Car Seat Attachment

All car seats, or detachable infant seat bases, have a corridor in which a seat belt should be threaded to secure the seat to the vehicles back seat. Most car seats have this path clearly labeled.

Once the seat belt is threaded through, click it into its buckle and pull the belt tightly. To make sure I am providing enough resistance, I put my knee in the car seat while I am pulling. It gives me additional leverage. The car seat should not move easily from side to side or toward the front of the car.

Before each trip, It is a good idea to double-check that the seat is still installed tightly by pulling on the car seat before you put your child in the seat.

Attaching to Post-2002 Cars

Most cars built since 2002 will have a car safety seat attachment system called LATCH, which stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children. This system makes installing a car seat easier, and does not require the use of the cars seat belts. Even newer cars also include a tether strap to better secure a forward facing seat to the vehicle.

Car Seat Resources

If you are concerned that your car seat may not be installed property, find a local car seat inspection station by visiting seatcheck.org. We have had our seats checked and I can tell you it gives me peace of mind.

Thanks for watching. To learn more visit us on the web at Parenting.About.com.