Installing a car safety seat

Making sure that you have installed your new baby car seat is very important. Never rush it and always check to make sure you have done it properly. A couple of things to make sure of are that your baby must be snugly buckled into their seat. Then the seat also must be buckled into the car tightly.

How can you feel if your child’s buckled into their safety seat correctly? Follow these tips to make sure your child’s safely buckled into their seat and their car seat is safely buckled to the vehicle.

1. Make sure harnesses are snug
2. Use the correct harness slots on chair
3. Make sure the harness straps lie flat
4. Are you using the plastic harness clips and are they at armpit level?
5. Make sure nothing is under your baby including blankets
6. Make sure your child is not slouching to the side or down. Pad the sides with a blanket if needed.

Next it is time to check and make sure that the baby’s car seat is properly installed in your car. Here is a list of things to check before you leave for your destination

1. Is your baby car seat facing the right direction? This will depend on size and age of child and type of seat. Check the owners’ manual to make sure.
2. Make sure the car’s safety belt is going through the proper slot in the seat.
3. Tighten the seat belt.
4. Make sure your rear-facing seat is reclined for enough so your child’s head is not forward.
5. Use the locking clips that comes with all new care safety seats

Remember not to be in a hurry and read the instructions that came with your car seat. Safety is the most important thing to take into consideration with baby seats. And safety starts with proper use and installation.

Read How To Buy a Baby Car Seat, a Consumer Buying Guide.