Positioning & Installing a Car Seat
A car seat will only protect a child if it's used correctly, every time. On any given day in the United States, more than 80% of all car seats are being used improperly, putting children at greater risk of serious injury or death in a collision. What can you do to make sure you're getting it right and ensuring the best possible protection for your child? There are a number of important steps to take.
Placing a forward-facing child seat in the front seat of a vehicle equipped with a passenger's front air bag can be hazardous. If the vehicle seat is too far forward, or the child's head is thrown forward during a collision, an inflating front airbag can strike the child with enough force to kill or very seriously injure a small child. Consult your vehicle's owner's manual for special instructions if you must place a child's forward-facing convertible or booster seat in the front passenger seat.
The centre rear seat is considered to be the safest because it is farthest from any possible impact from any direction. However, some vehicles may not have a centre rear seating position, or there may be a hump in the vehicle seat that will impede installation of a car seat. In those cases, the safest place for a child's car seat is one of the other rear seating positions in which the restraint can be properly and securely installed. If those side seats are protected by side-impact airbags, consult your vehicle's owner's manual for instructions.
Infants younger than one year old and weighing less than their car seat's maximum limitations are safer facing the rear of your vehicle. Position the infant seat at a reclining angle, so the baby's head doesn't flop forward.
Never place a car seat on a rear-facing seat, such as those in a station wagon, or on a side-facing seat, such as those in some sports-utility vehicles and mobile homes. Also, never place a car seat on a swivel or pull-down seat.
How can you make sure the car seat is properly installed? Because some car seats may not be compatible with your type of vehicle, be sure to choose a model that can be installed securely and snugly. 80% of the car seat's surface should touch the vehicle seat, so if you have bucket seats, you may need to put a rolled towel under the car seat to level the restraint base as required (check the user's guide for instructions). Check the harness and the straps to be sure they're easy to get around your child and tighten. When you're installing the car seat, use your knee to put all your weight onto the seat before tightening and locking the seat belt; often this is easier with two people, one leaning on the seat and the other inserting and locking the belt. A correctly installed car seat should not move more than 1" to the left or right or front to back when checked at the vehicle belt path. If you can move it more than an inch in any direction, the seat is not adequately secured and you need to start over. Properly installing a car seat is not always an easy task, but the results can be life-saving for your child.
- Before selecting a car seat, make sure it has a label indicating it's certified for use in motor vehicles (some include aircraft certification).
- Make sure your child meets the age and weight guidelines for the car seat.
- Thoroughly read the instruction manual that comes with the car seat, as well as your vehicle's owner's manual. Both provide essential information for choosing the right position within your vehicle, for installing the car seat correctly, and for properly securing your child within the restraint.
- Follow all instructions carefully. Please contact your car seat manufacturer or vehicle manufacturer with questions.
- We also recommend getting a safety check by trained professionals who will help ensure you've installed the car seat correctly.
Placing a forward-facing child seat in the front seat of a vehicle equipped with a passenger's front air bag can be hazardous. If the vehicle seat is too far forward, or the child's head is thrown forward during a collision, an inflating front airbag can strike the child with enough force to kill or very seriously injure a small child. Consult your vehicle's owner's manual for special instructions if you must place a child's forward-facing convertible or booster seat in the front passenger seat.
The centre rear seat is considered to be the safest because it is farthest from any possible impact from any direction. However, some vehicles may not have a centre rear seating position, or there may be a hump in the vehicle seat that will impede installation of a car seat. In those cases, the safest place for a child's car seat is one of the other rear seating positions in which the restraint can be properly and securely installed. If those side seats are protected by side-impact airbags, consult your vehicle's owner's manual for instructions.
Infants younger than one year old and weighing less than their car seat's maximum limitations are safer facing the rear of your vehicle. Position the infant seat at a reclining angle, so the baby's head doesn't flop forward.
Never place a car seat on a rear-facing seat, such as those in a station wagon, or on a side-facing seat, such as those in some sports-utility vehicles and mobile homes. Also, never place a car seat on a swivel or pull-down seat.
How can you make sure the car seat is properly installed? Because some car seats may not be compatible with your type of vehicle, be sure to choose a model that can be installed securely and snugly. 80% of the car seat's surface should touch the vehicle seat, so if you have bucket seats, you may need to put a rolled towel under the car seat to level the restraint base as required (check the user's guide for instructions). Check the harness and the straps to be sure they're easy to get around your child and tighten. When you're installing the car seat, use your knee to put all your weight onto the seat before tightening and locking the seat belt; often this is easier with two people, one leaning on the seat and the other inserting and locking the belt. A correctly installed car seat should not move more than 1" to the left or right or front to back when checked at the vehicle belt path. If you can move it more than an inch in any direction, the seat is not adequately secured and you need to start over. Properly installing a car seat is not always an easy task, but the results can be life-saving for your child.
