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Step 1
Place car seats in the backseat of the vehicle. The safest place in a vehicle for children under the age of 13 is in the backseat to prevent airbag injuries. You must disable your passenger air bag if you ever place a child under 13 in the front seat.
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Step 2
Face the car seat in the right direction for the weight and age of the child. Infants must be in rear-facing seats until they reach one year of age and 20 pounds. Booster seats must be used for children less than eight-years-old and under 4 feet 9 inches in height.
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Step 3
Use the latch system, if available in your vehicle. Check your owner's manual to see if your vehicle features these anchors and tethers, which secure the car seat without the need to use a seatbelt.
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Step 4
Recline rear-facing seats at the proper angle. Your infant's head must rest against the back of the seat. If the child's head falls forward, you must adjust the angle of the seat with rolled up blankets or a foam wedge.
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Step 5
Route the seatbelt through the correct slots in the car seat. Car seats that convert from rear to forward facing have different tracts for the seatbelt, depending on the position of the seat.
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Step 6
Adjust the harness straps and clip for the child. The straps must be even with the child's shoulders. You must position the clip over the sternum, in the middle of the child's chest. Remove any twists from the straps each time you use the car seat.
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Step 7
Remove thick winter wear before adjusting the harness straps. Children wearing thick buntings or down coats cannot be secured properly, which increases the risk of ejection in a crash.
