How to Install an Infant Carseat

Installing an infant carseat properly is one of the most important safety precautions a parent can take for her child. Statistically, however, moms and dads fail to install their baby's carseat correctly, thereby subjecting him to unnecessary harm. Keep baby safe by following these steps.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Choose an age-appropriate carseat. Pick an infant carseat with a detachable base that can accommodate a baby until she reaches its maximum allowable weight, or choose a convertible carseat to use once the baby is able to ride facing forward.

2. Place the carseat in the back of the car, facing the rear. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all children under the age of thirteen ride in the backseat of a vehicle.

3. Locate the metal anchors on the vehicle's seat and attach the tethered hooks on the infant carseat to the anchors in the car. Tighten the belt, removing any slack.

4. Thread the car's seatbelt through the appropriate channel of the infant carseat and tighten, removing any slack in the belt.

Tips & Warnings

• Read both the instruction manual that comes with the carseat and the vehicle owner's manual before installing a carseat.
• Have a Child Passenger Safety Technician assist in the proper installation of an infant carseat.
• Some older vehicles require the use of a locking clip to prevent the seatbelt from loosening once it's buckled. Most carseats come with a locking clip that can be installed easily by following the directions in the owner's manual.
• If the carseat moves more than an inch from side to side, it is too loose.

Who Can Help:

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Resources

• Find more carseat safety tips and tools at SeatCheck.org.
• Find a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician.