1. If you can, install your car seat in the center seat. It tends to be the safest spot should you get into an accident. It’s the spot that is farthest from any impact.

 

2. Not all cars have the required amount of space in the backseat for the carseat to be attached in the center seat with the latch system. How do you know? If the backseat is a 3-seater bench, you should see 2 latch system “buttons” (like in the image below) for each seat. If there are 6 of these buttons, go ahead and use the latch system. If there are only 4, they are meant to be used only with the two side seats – the one behind the driver and the one behind the front seat passenger. What do you do if you still want to install the seat in the center? Use the seatbelt!

Installing The Car Seat With The Seat Belt

1. Put the car seat base into your car in the seat where you would like to install your infant car seat. Follow instructions on the base for placement.

 

 

2. Take the seat belt through the belt pathway.

 

3. Bring the belt through and buckle it in to the CORRECT buckle.

 

 

4. Now you want to get the car seat base installed tight to the seat. Pull up on the shoulder strap of the seat belt (it should be the one on top) while pushing down with your hand and pushing in with your knee (as shown in the video above). Push down and pull up until you can no longer pull any slack.

 

 

5. Grab the seat belt, hold the tension and put it through the “lock off”.

 

 

6. The base should not move more than an inch side to side or front to back. Pull and push on it, right near the belt pathway, to make sure that it is secure.

How To Install an Infant Car Seat With the Latch System

1. Locate your lower anchors on the car seat base. They may be in the “storage box” (which is where you would store them if you are transporting the car seat or using the seat belt to install it). Unlatch them by pushing on the button.

 

2. Loosen the lower anchors as indicated in the instructions for your car seat. Usually there is a button to push and then you pull on the lower anchors to loosen the straps.

 

3. Locate the 2-inch bars below the button (which has a picture of a car seat) and open up the bite of the seat.

 

 

4. When you attach the lower anchor to the 2-inch bar, make sure it is right side up and not upside down. This will be indicated on the lower anchor itself. Then, clip it in. Pull on the strap to make sure it is secure. Do the same to the other side.

 

 

5. Check the angle of the car seat base. Check the indicator on the car seat which will look something like this image. This indicator ensures the baby is at the correct angle to keep its airway open. If you need to correct the angle, check the instructions on your car seat. Most have a button you can push to extend the base down larger or smaller until you reach the correct angle.

 

 

6. Now you need to tighten the seat. Recline the seat back to make more room. Then, pull the strap(s) to tighten the lower anchors while pushing with your knee on the outside of the base to secure it tightly. Put the reclined seat back to its original position.

 

7. The base should not move more than an inch side to side or front to back. Pull and push on it, right near the belt pathway, to make sure that it is secure.

FOR BOTH

 
8. Install the car seat into the base. Push down until you hear the click, then pull up to ensure that it is latched.
 

 
9.  Read the instructions for your car seat to ensure the carry handle is in the proper safety position while driving. Some indicate it must always be up, others will allow the carry handle to be an up or down position.
 

 
10. One hand must be able pass through between the front seat and the car seat itself. If this is not the case, you may have to move the seat behind the passenger side, to the middle or move the front seat up until you can pass a hand between the two.

When Is It Time To Move Up To The Next Car Seat?

 
1. It’s time to move up to the next car seat when you reach either the height OR the weight limit of the particular car seat you are using. Check the instructions for these indications and keep an eye on baby’s stats.

2. Most car seats will allow you to keep baby in the seat until their head is within an inch of the top of the car seat.