How to Install a Baby Seat Correctly

A baby seat is a crash-tested, regulated seat which protects children in the event of a collision.

Infant seats should be facing rearwards until the child reaches the maximum weight or height permitted by the manufacturer.

Installation is simple

Car seats must pass strict safety tests before they can be sold However, even the best seat could be unsafe when it's not properly installed. This is why ease of installation is one of the most important aspects to look for in car seats. It's important to spend the time to learn how to install the seat in your car and to practice the installation prior to when the baby is born.

The first thing you should do is read the instruction manual for your car seat. Do not read the Table of Contents and head to the index, and then look for the "child safety seat" section. The exact steps for installing your car seat will be contingent on your vehicle make and model, but most vehicles have a designated area in the rear where child seats can be installed.

It is also important to determine whether your vehicle has LATCH systems and what kind of anchors it has for lower, as some seats use different kinds of anchors. The best infant car seats will feature a system that is user-friendly with clear instructions and a color-change indicator to let you know that the anchors on the lower side are in good order. Many models click when locked properly, which is a good method to ensure the safety of the seat.

If you want to go that extra mile and buy a seat that has an easy-to-install base that has a load leg for added safety. This will stop the seat from exploding during the event of a crash, and also from tipping over during braking. Finally, you'll want to consider the weight of the base and seat together. If you intend to carry the seat around or take it to Grandma's place frequently, a light-weight style is important; you don't want to be lugging around a heavy, bulky product.

If you're not sure what to do to install your seat, it might be beneficial to seek out advice from a certified child safety technician. They are trained to show parents and caregivers the proper method of installing car seats. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also maintains a list of inspection stations.

Ease of Use

A baby seat, also referred to as an infant safety seat or car seat is designed to cradle and safeguard the smallest of children. A majority of them have bases that can be used as an convertible seat or a carrier. The base is usually one with a buckle that remains in the vehicle. They are often lightweight and have stroller attachments that allow parents or caregivers to move their sleeping child from one vehicle to another without waking them.

Car seats are designed to meet government standards that are based on the weight, height and age of the child, with the goal of keeping them safe in a crash. These standardizations, called federal motor vehicle safety regulations (FMVSR) are the guidelines used by manufacturers in the develop and test their products. To be sold in the United States, a seat must pass these tests.

Many infant seats, particularly the lower priced ones come with a harness and headrest constructed of plastic. It is designed to absorb a portion of the impact from an accident by crumpling and dispersing the force. The higher end models may have soft, flexible foam that can better protect the child's body from the shock of a crash. The EPS foam is a popular material used in safety devices that need to be lightweight and resistant to impact, such as car seats and helmets.

A good quality car seat should include a 5-point harness that connects at the shoulders, hips and between the legs. It should also include an over-tether that keeps the child safe in the event of a frontal collision. The straps must have an instrument to tighten and loosen them. It can be accessed by a button on the seat or by pulling a lever between the child's legs.

Make sure the car seat is able to fit in the other vehicles in your family, if you plan to use it regularly. Some manufacturers have guides online that show how their seats will fit in different family vehicles. The use of Isofix connectors, which are built into the seat and connect to the vehicle's anchor points in a one click, can simplify the process.

Safety

A car seat is one of the best methods to ensure that children are safe. Parents are constantly working to shield their children from illnesses as well as injuries from bullying and sports. A child restraint system lowers the risk of injuries by more than 70% compared with unrestrained adults -- but it's only effective if used correctly. Unfortunately, according to some Canadian and American studies, 73 percent car seats are incorrectly used.

Picking a car seat with a 5-point harness is one of the best ways to ensure your baby or toddler will be safe in the event of an accident. The 5-point harness disperses the impact force across an entire area of the body, so it's less likely to cause injuries. The harness holds the car seat in place to ensure that it isn't moved in the event of a collision, thereby increasing the risk of injury to your child.

Additionally, the best car seats newborn infant car seats have an adequately cushioned seat that will protect your child and offer plenty of head support. Some have energy-absorbing foam or other features to safeguard your child's head and chest in a crash with a side.

When looking for a car seat do not purchase or borrow one from garage sales, flea markets and second-hand stores since you don't know the history of the car seat or whether it's been involved in crash. You should also avoid using a car seat that is more than six years old.

Before installing a child's seat ensure that the latch is secured and that the straps are secure. Don't allow your child to wear bulky clothing while they are in the seat. The fabric can compress in a crash, leaving the harness straps loose. This increases your child's injury risk.

You'll require a booster seat or convertible seat after your child has reached the weight and height limits of an infant seat. Review the manual of your seat for the recommended weights and ages.

Reliability

A child safety seat or a baby car seat is a crash tested device that can be used to secure children and babies in vehicles. The seat holds the child in place using a harness, and in certain models, is cradled and moves with them in an accident to lessen the pressure on their necks and spinal cords. It is essential that the child seat is fitted correctly to your vehicle, and is properly used every time you drive.

A system that can detect and makes public the unintended consequences of consumer or medical products - such as car seats - could be beneficial to parents. A system like this could collect data from doctors who diagnose car seat-related injuries and also encourage patients to seek out Transport Canada (9).

Read the manual before installing your child's car seat. Many car seats include guides that show you how to install the seat in your vehicle. Many manufacturers also offer online tutorials. If you're sharing your car or traveling with other family members frequently, consider buying a child's seat that has Isofix connectors built in to make installation easier.

If you own an older car seat or a second-hand one, make sure it has not been involved in any recent moderate or serious crashes. Check that it has never been damaged or recalled, and read the instruction manual carefully to ensure that your child can sit upright, bend their knees easily over the front edge of the seat, and that they can wear a lap strap across their hips and shoulder belt across their chest and mid-chest (9).

Some children have physical or behavioral problems that require a bespoke car seat. The only way to transport children with special needs is to use the seat specially designed for them and is installed correctly. For more information, call your pediatrician or the local public health department.