How to Install a Car Seat
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Baby is due any day now and you want to make sure the car seat is installed properly and ready and waiting for the new arrival. However, you have encountered one small little problem. You have absolutely no idea how to install a car seat and the directions that came with the seat dont seem to make much sense at all. You are overly nervous about having this car seat installed perfectly before the birth of your infant and you have struggled with the directions and the car seat for hours to no avail. Its a good thing you are worried, too, because more than 80% of car seats are not installed correctly. This is an overwhelming percentage and its better safe than sorry.
Fortunately, installing a car seat is fairly easy although it does depend significantly on what kind of car you have. Most car seats are now LATCH compatible as are new cars; however you might have an older car and need to use the seatbelt. The following instructions will help you figure out which option is for you and then how to install the car seat with both methods.
LATCH Car Seats
First of all, LATCH stands for lower anchors and tethers for children. If your car was made after 2002 it is more than likely has the LATCH system and all new car seats today do. With this all you need is the car seat and the latches that are installed on your car. You simply hook the latches on the car seat to the hooks that are in the middle of the seats and your car seat is ready to go. You may need to do some tightening and adjusting of belts, but nothing more. The LATCH system makes installing car seats much easier and you dont have to contend with the seat belt at all.
Seatbelt Installation
If you have an older car or if the combination of your seats and your car seat dont allow for a LATCH installation then you will need to use the old standby seatbelt installation. Dont worry, it is just as safe, but it requires a different setup.
First, you will need to find the belt path and place the belt through these slots. Once you get the seatbelt threaded you will need to place all of your weight on the seat to flatten the cars seats so you can tighten the belt as much as possible. You dont want any slack in the lap or shoulder belt. There is a locking clip that comes with new car seats that will make your installation even safer. Make sure that the angle of the car seat is always 45 degrees. Most new car seats have a gauge on the side that shows you if the seat is installed at the correct angle or not.
Things to Remember
All car seats come with directions and a lot of times personnel from the store you bought the car seat from will be willing to help you install it correctly. However, just to make sure you are riding your infant around in a perfectly installed car seat you might want to visit a fire station where there are individuals who are certified in child seat installation. They can check it for you and help you install the seat correctly.
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