How to Install a Child Car Seat in a Ford Mustang

The Ford Mustang is an iconic vehicle in the United States. It often symbolizes freedom, independence, and free spirited travels. However, more people are purchasing Mustangs today, and many of them are parents or expectant parents. Infant and child safety seats are an essential part of parenting in modern society and are designed to fit in nearly every vehicle manufactured. They are simple to install, and can be a lifesaving device when properly used.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Approved car seat
• Car seat base (if necessary)
• Ford Mustang

1. The most important step is deciding what kind of car seat you need. Infants under one year of age should always be in a rear-facing carrier designed specifically for infants. They offer the most protection and safety for babies. If a seat is needed for an older child, a variety of forward-facing toddler car seats and booster seats are available. The size needed depends on the age and height of the child, so be sure to check carefully to assure you’re purchasing the right seat. Any infant or toddler seat can be installed using lap belt, shoulder belt, or the combination lap-shoulder belt popular in most cars today.
2. Infant car seats are often a little more difficult to install, due to their design and shape. Many infant car seats today come with a removable base that the user can chose to leave in the vehicle when the carrier itself is removed. If you plan on using the base, it needs to be installed in your Mustang securely. Remove the base from the carrier and place it in the rear seat of the vehicle. It will have slots or holes for the seat belt, so run the belt through the appropriate slots and fasten the seat belt in the lock. Pull firmly on the belt to ensure that it is tight-fitting and that the base does not move more than one inch in any direction. Once the base is secure, attach the infant carrier to it, and once again check to assure it is secure. If you chose not to install the base, the carrier can be installed alone. Place the carrier facing the rear seat of the Ford Mustang. The carrier should have slots along the edge of the seat that the seat belt will fit into. Run the seat belt through the slots and secure it in the seat belt lock. Again, pull firmly to secure the seat is stable and does not move more than one inch in any direction.
3. If you will be using a forward-facing toddler seat, installation is slightly different. Most toddler seats sold now come with attachments for the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) safety system, and most cars, including the Ford Mustang, are equipped with tether spaces for the LATCH system. The LATCH is another security feature for your car seat, which allows for a secure tether to be used in addition to the regular car seat belt. The LATCH devices are often located on the upper portion of the rear seat, or on the seat itself, next to the regular seat belts. The LATCH works with the use of a strong tether and buckle system, which clips onto the LATCH mounting hooks found in most cars. Place your car seat forward facing in the rear of your Ford Mustang, making sure the LATCH system is out and ready to be attached. Sliding the car seat belt through the middle portion of the seat, and locking it in on the opposite side is the appropriate method for installing most toddler seats. Pull on the belt to assure it is secured firmly. If your Mustang has a top LATCH bracket, then pull the LATCH system over the top of the seat, attach the buckle, and pull the loose end of the strap to tighten. If your LATCH is a bottom-mounted unit, fasten it to the anchor and pull to tighten.
4. Booster seats, designed for larger children, do not usually have a LATCH system and are installed in using only the Mustang’s seat belt. Booster seats which have their own child safety harnesses can be used with either the lap or lap-shoulder combination belts, but if your booster seat has no harness of it’s own, only lap-shoulder combination belts should be used. A booster seat with it’s own harness is installed using the same basic procedure as the toddler seat. The Mustang seat belt is designed to slide through the center portion of the booster seat and lock on the other side. If you child’s booster seat is the seat-only design or has no harness of its own, it must be installed after the child is sitting in it. Run the seat belt of your Mustang across the base of the seat of your child’s lap, and secure the shoulder portion across your child’s body. Secure the seat belt in the lock, and tighten it firmly, but not tight enough to hurt the child. The booster seat should be firmly and securely installed, with little movement in any direction.

Tips & Warnings

• Always be sure your car seat fits your child according to size and age. If they seem to be outgrowing the current seat, than a larger one is needed.
• Children must be secured in some form of car seat or booster seat until they are 8 years old, or 4 feet 9 inches tall.
• Double-check the straps on your car seat to assure it is firmly secured in your Mustang. There should be little to no shifting whatsoever in the seat.
• Never allow your children to ride in the Ford Mustang without an appropriate car seat installed.
• Do not use a car seat that has ever been involved in a car accident. Even if the seat looks safe, there may be internal damage you cannot see.