How should a baby car seat be installed to maximize safety?
Monday, June 29th, 2009 at
4:46 am
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go to your local fire station they can show you
Each seat has its own set of instructions, however you can take it to your local police station and they will install it, as well as take you through a step-by-step demonstration of the proper ways to install and remove it.
I think if that's how it says in the book, then it should be ok. If you're not quite sure, you could ask a local police officer, they have courses sometimes that teach you how to do this properly. Take care, and I hope it will all work out well for you!
Melissa
Go to the police station or fire company. They will check it for you and if it is not installed properly they will do it for you.
Go to your local fire station. They will check your seat for proper installation.
There is a web site that will show you videos for correct safety depending on your child's age. Hope this helps. Happy safety.
http://www.chop.edu/consumer/jsp/division/generic.jsp?id=77971
First, instal it like the pictures tell you to. Then climb into the car, knee down into the carseat and pull that seatbelt as hard as you can, to get rid of the extra slack. Then climb back out and try to wiggle the seat. If it moves easily, or much at all, then you need to roll up a towel and stick under the seat at the area closest to the car's seat back. It should help fill in any extra space. Then redo the kneeling and try the seat again. It should now be in there very tight, and be totally safe for your precious bundle.
Depending on where you live, the are places that you can go to check the seat…where I live the insurance agancy has clinics
go to baby's-r-us (or??) and get a foam wedge for the gap. secondly, go to the Highway Patrol office and have them do the installation FOR YOU.
Go to your local fire department. They are actually trained on car seat installation!! Give them a call and schedule an appointment.
mb
each manufacture is different so the best thing to do is go to the police or fire station…it's easier to watch and learn than it is to follow written instructions
Where the gap is you can put a taped pool noodle (they taught us in training). Make sure the seat is firmly strapped in. It should not move. If it is a rear facing infant seat, the seat should be able to flip up towards the back of the seat. This is to lessen impact for an infant.
Go to the place your children would be immunized and ask them for a hand. They will be glad to show you.
We had that gap too. It depends on the shape of your seats. Don't worry, if you've followed the instructions, and the seatbelt is as tight as you can get it, then it's fine. If you want to fill the gap….You know the tons of recieving blankets you get at the baby shower? Well, roll a couple of them up to fill the gap.
Your best bet would be to take it to your local police station. They will install it for you.
Back when we were kids, as long as we were somewhat buckled in…we were considered 'safe mode'…nowadays, as parents…we hear too many stories pertaining to our kids safety…the only reasonable safety response you will receive will be from your local authourities….give them a call to see when they are having their 'annual safety check'…or ask them if you can come by to have them check your situation out…whatever will serve as peace of mind.
First of all, good thing you followed the instructions. I am a child saftey restraint system technician for my job. You would be surprised how many parents do not follow instructions and make the seat unsafe.
Step one, check the car seat for recalls. Consumer information should have that.
Step 2 to install the seat in the car as tight as possible use two people, have one person sit in the seat and the other tighten the seat belt or the univarsal system (just one, not both).
step 3 Make sure the car seat does not move more than an inch at the base of where the child seat meets the car seat.
step 4 be sure to put the baby in the seat correctly. Chest clip at arm pit level and no more than one finger under the belt at the child's collar bone. If the seat is rear facing, make sure the belt is at or below the child's shoulders, if the seat is forward facing then the belt should be at or above the child's shoulders.
Other notes, check your car owner's manual to see the safest position to install a car seat.
Make sure the seat is appropriate for the child's age, weight and height. As well as physical development.
Check at your health unit or fire/police department to see if the have clinics or technicians to check car seats.
Hope this helps!
Contact your local CAA (or AAA)… or Ministry of Transportation… they usually have car seat clinics where they actually show you how to install YOUR car seat (model) safely into YOUR car (model / seat belt configurations).
Also read the instruction manual that came with it from cover to cover. If you can't find it, the manufacturer's site should have a copy online.
HTH
.
You've already gotten some good answers, so I won't tell you anything different, but if you are talking about the car seats for newborns, which face backwards, I remember that there was always that gap. But so long as the seat belt has integrity, and the strap clicks in, I don't see a problem. My main worry with that system was the fact that the buckle on the baby's chest would either be choking her or be so loose that if an impact occurred, she'd fly right out of there, so I always double checked the fastener over her breastbone to make sure it was neither too loose, nor too tight. Ja-ne!
Any firestation will be able to show you.
I'm not sure of the exact set up but I do know this:
In the back seat
Facing backwards
On one side or the other, Not the center.
Reading the manual and installing it according to the manufacturers instructions is the first step. Then you should take it to get inspected by an expert to make sure that it is right. Try your local health unit and they should know who does it, or your local police station. Police need to know how they are installed since they do vehicle checks and stuff. We did that before our son was born so that for his first ride home, he would be completely safe.
Yes you can go to your local fire dept or hospital or even the police station and they will show you or even do it for you if you would like for them to. There is no shame in getting outside help for the actual instalation. But I myself shove my knees into the seat to make sure I am getting the seat belt on there as tight as I can. Good luck and congrats on the new baby.
I totally respect you and your question. I see so many irresponsible parents that don't give child safety a second thought. BRAVO !!!! Your local fire station will be happy to double check and adjust your baby seat. You don't even need an appointment.
Happy Parenting !!!
Go to your local fire station- they are specially trained to ensure seats are installed correctly. I know the seat belt has to be tighter than you can imagine!! Also. should be rear facing for young babies.
Go to a fire station and they will you.
YOur local fire station will show you exactly how to do it. also watch for car seat safety checks. My community does them at least once a month.
Each Individual Baby Car Seat Has There Own Instructions,So Choose One,And Read The Instructions.
Theres a safety strap that's attached to the car seat it has a hook type deal on the end that seems to go no where well you can attach the strap to one of the bars under the seat(The Cars Seat) fasten the seat belt and the car seat shouldn't be able to move. Or you might want to call your local DMV office and see if some one can show you how to properly install it.
the trick to installing a baby car seat is to make sure it don't move more then 1" after you install it. it has to be tight. if there is gaps put something between it like a shirt or something so it will not move this will make sure it does not slide. usually its just one seat belt holding the baby seat in place where it goes in depends on the baby seat. however make sure its secure tightly also put a safety pin on it to keep it from coming lose.
install backwards
follow directions. if you're unsure, or just to be safe, get inspected or assistance from police or fire department.
If you do this, I GUARANTEE you will put the seat in for 100% safety.
There was a MANUAL that came with the car seat.
F O L L O W
T H E
D I R E C T I O N S
T O
T H E
L E T T E R
I N
T H E
M A N U A L.
TFTP
You can go to the local sheriffs office or health department and they will check it for free to make sure you installed it properly
If you go to you local police station they have cert. officers to install the seat for you-they are very helpful.
I guess if you followed the manufactures directions, you should have it under control.
There is an insturction book with a baby car seat to show you plain and simple. http://health.discovery.com/convergence/momsguide/gear/carseat.html
This website will give you a list of sites in your area that do carseat checks for free:
http://www.seatcheck.org/
you really want to make sure that when you set it up, it is flush to the seat once you belt it in…its been a while since my kids have been that little…they are preteens now…but i do know that it was also always better to put the seat in the middle of the backseat of your vehicle in case of a collision.
Be patient as you will have to adjust the seat belt several times to get the proper fit. But know that it is extreemly important to do a good job so take the extra time required to do a good job. When positioned the seat should NOT move more than an inch in any direction. It should be SOLID. First adjust the belt to a length that you estimate will secure the seat. Put your knee (or two knees) into the seat to really weight it down and buckle the seat belt. Wiggle the seat. Is it loose? If so then unbuckle, adjust the belt and repeat the belting process again and again until the seat does not move. It should in the end be very difficult the buckle the buckle. You should have to push down on the seat with all you weight in order to buckle it to the seat. I work with Police and people regularly stop by the PD to have them install the car seat correctly. I think the cops cheat a little because to get a snug fit they will put a section of swimming pool noodle under the seat (you know, the dense spongy tube that kids use in the pool). The noodle piece allows you to compress down on the noodle which will give more than the automobile seat. Also use the proper clip provided with the car set (or you can buy at store for a couple bucks) that locks the shoulder strap to the lap belt so that the shoulder strap is immobilized.
You should go to your local fire station to find out. Every seat is different and every car is different….. Also, find local car lots that are giving demonstrations.
Your child should be placed in the back seat of the car facing the back of the car for safety purposes. Place safety seat on the back seat position seat belt through the holes that I hope your safety seat has. Make sure the seat is tight and secure. Put the baby in the
safety seat and secure the baby to the seat with the straps that
hopefully came with it. Now you are ready to drive.
what kind fo carseat? convertable? infant? booster?
Best way is through the latch system
if you dont have latch use the seat belts and carseats are always best in the center seat..if not behind the passenger is best.
use your weight to properly tighten the seat belts/latch belts so they can get as tight as possible.
For maximum safety but the Anetia car seat. I think thats what its called. It helps to keep the baabyy safe in a car accidenttt. Make sure the baby is strappped in too so it doesn't fall out!
u should set it up just like it tells u
In order to MAXIMIZE your childs safety, you will have to visit your local hardware store and purchase a chain/padloc, rope, zipties, duc tape, clamps/screws, rubber padding, etc…
To be sure it's installed properly you must follow the directions provided in the box the car seat came in, and if you have questions or concerns you can contact ti toll free number listed in the pamphlet. Due to error in reading and understanding the directions I would say the 100% safe way to install a car seat is to go to your local police or state police headquarters and have them install it for you, here in Arkansas they are always having safety seat inspections for free at the state police headquarters!
Depends on the car seat and the age of the child.If it is a infant the it facing the back of back seat.And the should be belted tightly against the seat as so it doesn't move and depended on the gap if it is just a small area it should not be a problem but if it is a larger gap I would take it in to be fix.If it is a toddler or older child then it should face forward like seating in the seat normal.and should also be tight against the back seat with the belt unable to be moved.hope that helps
You need to carefully read not only the baby car seat instructions, but also your vehicle's manual for any specifics regarding optimum installation of a baby or booster seat. Generally speaking, if you have the room you should put the seat in the center backseat. Watch out for potential airbags that could hit the seat – you may have to have them disabled as generally speaking a child should be at least 80lbs. and a certain height before they become protective as opposed to destructive.
If any doubts, check with your local fire or police station depending on your area.
One other thing that a friend of mine used for her baby then toddler that I found kind of interesting was a series of mirrors so you could see the baby/child without having to turn around. The baby set-up is a little more complex because of the backfacing design, but after that you just have the one on your rearview mirror to adjust to see whatever kid. In fact, I think parents of older kids use them too for safer 'keep your eyes on the road' reason.
BESIDES ALL THE OTHER THINGS, THE MOST IMPORTANT IS THAT THE BABY SEAT BELONGS IN THE CENTER OF THE BACK SEAT. NEVER THE FRONT SEAT, AND NEVER A SIDE SEAT. IT MAY BE MORE CONVENIENT ON THE SIDE, BUT IF YOU GET T-BONED IT WOULD BE TRAGIC. THE CENTER IS THE MOST SAFE HANDS DOWN.