Five Aspects To Think About While Installing A Car Seat For Newborns
Posted by Babies - 22/02/12 at 06:02 pmIt is not an easy job installing a car seat for an infant. You might think that the instruction manual will provide step-by-step instructions which are easy to follow. Practically speaking, there are several factors that you need to consider while installing the seat. In fact the National safety association (for highway safety) has determined that almost 3 out of five seats are improperly installed. These statistics are alarming and if you are concerned about the safety of your child, this guide will tell you how to install a seat for an infant.
Remember that car seats for infants are always rear facing, and experts recommend that this should be so for as long as possible. What this means is that when the child reaches the maximum limits of weight and height restrictions for rear facing seats, till then it should be placed in the rear facing seat. Also the middle part of the backseat of your car is the ideal and the safest for your child’s seat. Once the child crosses the limits of rear facing seat, then he/she can sit facing forward. But in this position too, the middle of the rear seat is the safest position.
The second factor to consider while installing the seats for infants is the instruction manual for the seat along with the vehicle’s manual. In fact, if you do not have the manuals, you can also call the toll free numbers that most car seats have printed on them. A simple search on the internet is also useful in giving these numbers. Usually, the one you’ll set up is the base as the actual car seat can be hand-carried outdoor. Don’t forget to use baby car seat covers when you do this.
All cars manufactured after 2002 have the tether system having the abbreviation LATCH. This stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children. Using the LATACH system, you no longer need to rely only on the seat belts for attaching the child’s car seat as the LATCH option provides you with a more permanent and secure attachment system. Many auto dealers also help install the LATCH system, in case your car does not have one, so try contacting your car dealer for the same.
For forward facing child car seats, the seat should be fixed flat against the bottom and the rear of the vehicle’s seat. Most manuals will also give you the recommended angle of recline for both rear and front facing car seats, so do follow the same. You can push the seat with your hand or knees and use your weight to remove the gap, if any, left under the seat.
For cars not having the LATCH system, you need to make sure that the belts are threaded correctly through the slots. This means that the belt should not slack and should be as tight as possible. The recommended position is that the car seat should not be able to move more than an inch forward, backward and sideway on the belt path.
There are special locking clips available to ensure that the seat belts are secure and held firmly in place. These locking clips are available in most children’s stores. After the installation is over, you need to check if the seat resists forward, backward and sideways motions. If it does, then you may need to reinstall the car seat.
For detailed car seat buyers guide and suggestion, visit infant car seats. Or you can choose travel systems for babies which contain a car seat attachable to a stroller.
