In this article, we will cover some of the basic steps on how to install baby car seat with the seatbelt. We will also go over how to install the rear-facing and forward-facing seat with latch and with your vehicle’s seat belt.
Before installing your baby car seat with seatbelt please always refer to the car seat manual and your vehicle’s manual for complete instructions and information.
Also, before you begin the installation, make sure you have your cup holder installed on the car seat.
Installation for Rear-facing Car Seat:
For rear-facing, make sure that the crotch buckle is in a spot closest to the child without being underneath the child.
To adjust the headrest you are going to squeeze the lever and pull up until it locks into position. You want to make sure that the straps which are moving up and down with the headrest are coming from at or below the child’s shoulders. You are going to want to recline the seat to the appropriate angle so on the rear-facing positions.
There is a slight difference between Canada and the US. You need to check the manual for different seat positions. Most of the seats have a ball indicator which is like a dark blue zone and a light blue zone as well as red zones on ends.
For rear-facing, you want to make sure if the child is under three months that you are in the light blue zone the ball or the bubble will be in the light blue zone for over three months the ball should be in the dark blue zone.
How to Adjust the Recline Position?
To adjust the recline on the baby car seat you are going to squeeze the lever at the bottom and the seat is going to tilt back. There will be a little arrow at the bottom of the seat and you are going to make sure it is pointing to a safe position.
Also, in the bottom of the seat is the extendable footrest so it is right above the recline you can just squeeze the lever and pull out.
One tip that will help to tighten the seatbelt when you are installing rear-facing is to lift up the car seat cover around the rear-facing belt path.
Now you need to take the vehicle seat belt and thread it through the rear-facing belt path which is under the child’s thighs. After that, you can buckle the seat belt.
Locking the Car Seatbelt:
To lock the seatbelt what you have to do is to pull the seatbelt slowly all the way out until stops and then let it go back in and you will hear a ratcheting sound which indicates that the seatbelt is locked.
Most vehicles will probably lock this way if your car doesn’t seem to have this feature check your vehicle owners manual or consult the CPST.
Finally, double-check the recline indicator on the side of the seat. Now tighten the seatbelt to make sure that you can get this seat to move less than one-inch side to side and front to back.
Installation for Forward-facing Car Seat:
Before getting started for forward-facing you need to identify the anchor points in your vehicle.
You should find lower anchor points in the vehicle seat crease. To find the top tether anchor point check your vehicle manual as its location varies from car to car.
LATCH Installation with Built-in Harness:
To use the latch or lower anchors and tethers for children system unhook the latch from the storage bars on the sides of the seat and extend each latch to its maximum length. Consult your vehicle owner’s manual and the car seat instruction manual for latch usage and weight guidelines.
Place the baby car seat firmly against the back of the vehicle’s back seat. Hook the latch connectors to the vehicle’s lower anchors and pull firmly to make sure they are attached.
Tighten the latch by pushing down hard on the car seat and pulling the adjustment belt. If you need to remove the latch to re-adjust, just push the button on the latch buckle to loosen the strap.
If the vehicle top tether is available to secure the tether to hold the seat in place. Fasten the tether clip to the anchor point and tighten the adjustment belt to remove any slack.
If you are not using the tether hook it on the tether storage bar on the rear of the seat. It’s time to confirm a secure installation twist and pull the seat forward and from side to side.
To make sure the vehicle belt does not lengthen or loosen and the car seat doesn’t easily move more than one inch in any direction. If it does repeat the procedure until you cannot make it move more than one inch.
After Installation:
When your child is ready to ride in the seat here are some important tips for getting a proper fit;
- Adjust the harness system every time you place your child in the car seat.
- Make sure that your child’s back is flat against the back of the car seat.
- Place the harness straps over your child’s shoulders and insert the tongue into the buckle until they click into place.
- Make sure that the straps are not twisted and that the harness is secure by pulling up on the straps.
Now fasten the chest clip making sure that the chest clip is level with your child’s armpits.
Tighten the harness straps by pulling the adjustment strap on the front of the baby car seat.
Make sure that the straps are flat and snug against your child’s shoulders and thighs so that you can’t pinch any slack in the straps. But it shouldn’t be so tight that it presses into your child’s skin.
Seatbelt Installation with Built-in Harness:
How to Install Baby Car Seat with Seatbelt?
To install using your vehicle seatbelt store the latch anchors on the storage bars provided on the side of the seat. Place the car seat firmly against the back of the vehicle seat.
Thread the seat belt through the belt slot openings. Buckle the vehicle belt and make sure it is not twisted. Push down hard in the middle of the car seat. It is helpful to use your free hand then pull and tighten the vehicle seat belt.
If the vehicle top tether is available to secure the tether to hold the seat in place.
Fasten the tether clip to the anchor point and tighten the adjustment belt to remove any slack. If you are not using the tether hook it on the tether storage bar on the rear of the seat.
It’s time to confirm a secure installation twist and pull the seat forward and from side to side. To make sure the vehicle belt does not lengthen or loosen and the car seat doesn’t easily move more than one inch in any direction.
When your child is ready to ride in the seat here are some important tips for getting a proper fit;
- Adjust the harness system every time you place your child in the car seat.
- Make sure that your child’s back is flat against the back of the car seat.
- Place the harness straps over your child’s shoulders and insert the tongues into the buckle until they click into place.
Now fasten the chest clip making sure that the chest clip is level with your child’s armpits. Tighten the harness straps by pulling the adjustment strap on the front of the car seat.
High Back Mode:
Your child must be 3 to 10 years old, weigh between 30 and 100 pounds. Be between 38 and 57 inches tall and his or her ears must be below the top of the booster seat.
Backless Booster Mode:
When your child is ready and when he or she is 4 to 10 years old, weighs between 40 to 100 pounds and is between 40 and 57 inches tall you may use in backless booster mode.
Use the vehicle’s lap/shoulder belt system to restrain your child. Have your child sit with his or her back flat against the back of the baby car seat. Either in high back mode or flat against your vehicle seat.
When in high back mode positioned the lap and shoulder belt through the shoulder belt guide not underneath it.
Fasten the buckle and pull up on the shoulder belt to tighten. If the belt lies across your child’s head, neck or face, redirect the belt over his shoulder by adjusting the head support height.
The lap portion of the shoulder belt must be low and snug on your child’s hips just touching his or her thighs.
When using the baby car seat in backless booster mode the shoulder belt must lie across the child’s shoulders. If the shoulder belt guide lies outside of this zone the shoulder belt positioning clip must be used.
“This article on how to install baby car seat with seatbelt is written with the help of a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician“.
Leave a Reply