Installing a car seat for a baby can help parents ensure that the baby is safe while travelling. Read on to find tips for installing a car seat for a baby right away.Mike wants to get a car seat for his infant who is only 4 months old. He wants to give the best protection to his child while he is travelling. Mike has got the instruction booklet to install the car seat but would like to know further more about how to make the installation completely safe and error free.
Installation of Car Seat for Baby
The prime concern of parents while
travelling along with their babies is the safety of the babies. Properly installed car seats would definitely lower the risk of serious or fatal injury in case if an accident happens. Whether it is an infant car seat or a convertible car seat, parents have to ensure the installation is done the perfect way. Statistics have revealed that three out of four installations of car seats are done improperly. Some of the important tips regarding installation of car seat for babies are provided here.
Important Tips for Installation of Car Seats
Have a quick look at the important tips for the installation of a
car seat for a baby. After a car seat is installed for your baby, get it checked from a professional to ensure that it is installed the right way.
Consult Auto Maker in Case Instructions are Not Clear
Though car and car seat manuals come along with full instructions for installation but if dads find these instructions unclear, they need to get in touch with the auto maker or auto dealer to understand how the process has to be done.
Choosing the Safest Position for the Car Seat
Dads have to choose the safest position for installing the car seat for their babies so that best protection is provided to the babies. Babies must have back facing car seats till they become two years old. The car seats have the exact weight and height range at their back. Babies who travel in back facing seats are sure to get the maximum protection for the spine, neck and back. If the baby car seat cannot be installed in the back then it has to be installed in the front but any airbag near the car seat must be deactivated. Inflated airbags create huge pressure on the baby car seat in case of accidents and can cause serious damage to the baby.
Checking the Anchorage Point
All the car seats of recent years (those which got manufactured after 2002) have to offer LATCH system which means low anchorage and tether system thereby better safety. With LATCH system, car seats can be installed easily and they get permanently attached to the cars.
Dads have to ensure that all types of car seats for the babies must have lower anchors. In case low anchorage is not there in the vehicle, it can be done at the local car workshop. The car seats must provide enough resistance for side-to-side movements. Cars where seats for babies are to be installed must have anchorage points. Additionally extension straps are needed so that car seats remain attached to the anchorage points. If anchorage points are not there in the car, they are to be installed at the nearby car shop.
Securing the Straps
After installation of car seat is over, dads must test the installation by shaking the seats firmly. If they find that seat is moving few centimetres in a particular direction then it is not a secure installation. The straps have to be checked properly and any kind of twist or knot in the strap has to be cleared to make it more secure. The harness of the seats must be buckled correctly and should come from the exact slot. When the chest clip remains at the level of the armpit of the child, pinching the shoulder of the child will ensure if harness is tight or not. After the pinch if no excess webbing is felt then it is properly installed.
With the tips given above it become easy for the dads of infants and toddlers to install the car seats properly and ensure the baby gets the maximum
safety and comfort during their journey. In case dads are not confident enough with the baby car seat installation, they must secure help from professionals as the safety of the baby comes first. In fact it is a must to get the car seat checked from a professional after the installation is done.
