Installing children's seats
You could make installation easier by considering a car seat and car that has the new latch system, which doesn't need to use your car seat belts. Latch tether anchors can also be added to older cars.
When using an infant, seat, make sure that:
- The harness chest clip is correctly positioned in your child's armpit level so that the shoulder straps will be in the correct position
- That the harness straps are snug and straight
- The rear-facing harness straps are positioned at, or slightly below your child's shoulders
- The seat reclines at roughly a 45 degree angle
- You should never place an infant in a rear-facing child restraint in the front seat of a car with a passenger side air bag
When using a rear facing convertible seat, make sure that:
- Harness straps on rear-facing seats are positioned at, or slightly below, your child's shoulders
- The harness chest slip is in the proper location at the level of your child's armpit
- The harness straps are snug and straight
- The seat reclines at roughly a 45 degree angle
When using a forward facing convertible seat make sure that:
- The harness straps on forward-restraints are positioned at or slightly above your child's shoulder. You should also be using the top set of harness slots for convertible child safety seats
- The harness straps are snug and tight
- The harness chest clip is positioned at your child's mid-chest or armpit area
When using a forward facing combination seat, make sure that:
- The harness straps are positioned at or slightly above your child's shoulders
- At roughly 40 pounds, you should remove the harness straps and use the car's lap or shoulder belt, especially if the harness straps are below the child's shoulders
- You should stop using a shield booster once your child is 40 pound
When using a belt-positioning booster seat, make sure that:
- You always use the lap or shoulder belt combination with a belt- positioning booster. You must never use a lap belt only. This includes no back and high back booster seats.
- The shoulder belt rests snugly across the chest and rests on the shoulder. It should never be placed under the arm or behind the back.
- The lap-belt should rest low, across the lap or upper thigh area and not across the stomach.
You should avoid using a car seat that has:
- Been recalled
- Involved in a car crash
- More than 10 years old
- Doesn't have a label with the date it was manufactured and the seat name or model number
- Doesn't have instructions
- Is missing parts or has cracks in the frame