Difficulty: Moderately challenging
Step1
Buy a car seat or booster seat appropriate for your child's current weight and age. Do not buy a used car seat. It may not have been designed for today's more stringent specifications.
Step2
Call the manufacturer or visit its Web site to make sure your car seat has not had any safety recalls.
Step3
Read the owner's manual and instruction book that came with your car seat. Many manufacturers list a toll-free number you can call for help installing your seat.
Step4
Place the car seat in the proper place and direction. Infants must always be placed in rear-facing car seats until they are at least 1 year old and 20 lbs. (9 kg). Babies younger than 1 year old and more than 20 lbs. (9 kg) should ride in a rear-facing seat approved for heavier babies until at least 1 year old. Children more than 40 lbs. (18 kg) should always ride in a booster seat until at least 8 years old. The middle of the backseat is the safest place for a car seat or booster seat.
Step5
Thread the seat belt through the designated slots and snap the seat belt together. Tighten the seat belt before and during this process.
Step6
Push the car seat firmly against the seat.
Step7
Ask a friend to lean down on or sit on the car seat while you tighten the belt as tight as possible.
Step8
Use the locking clip that came with the car seat if you have an over-the-shoulder seat belt or the kind that locks up only when jerked hard. The locking clip secures the shoulder belt to the lap belt.
Step9
If the seat belt is connected to the door frame, you may need a tether, which you can have installed at a car dealership.
Step10
Make sure the car seat cannot move more than 1 inch (2.5 cm) in any direction. If it does, push it against the back of the seat and lean down on it while tightening and refastening the seat belt.
Step11
Have a car-seat inspector check your installation.