Installing a car seat properly is paramount to ensure the safety of a baby riding in the car. Many parents install the seat incorrectly because they do not understand the directions, which is why there are various tips available to help. For example, parents should learn more about the LATCH system, which comes with most modern vehicles with the intention of anchoring the car seat securely. Cars that do not feature this tool rely on the use of seat belts, which need to be pulled as tightly as possible over the car seat. The final step of car seat installation is asking a local fire station or inspection center to check the result.
Most cars manufactured after 2002 come with the LATCH system, which is an acronym for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children. It is a set of hooks that affix to the typical car seat so that it is firmly attached to the vehicle, and is considered an alternative to using the seat belt to buckle it in. It was developed because so many parents struggle with ensuring that the seat belt is tight enough during car seat installation, and this tool allows parents to attach the child safety seat to the vehicle's seat quickly. The LATCH system can typically only be used when installing the car seat behind either the passenger's seat or the driver's seat, not the middle.
Car seat installation is also possible through the use of a seat belt, but it often takes a few minutes to ensure that it is tight enough. When installing the car seat, parents should pull the seat belt through the correct slots on the safety seat. Before fastening the belt, they should quickly pull it out as far as it will go. When they hear a click and cannot pull it any more, it is locked, and should be fastened into place. Parents should then pull at the car seat to make sure that the belt is tight enough around it, so that is will not move more than 1 inch (2.54 cm) in any direction when pulled or pushed.
Parents can make sure that the car seat installation was successful by checking with professionals in their area. For example, the typical fire department or police station can check to see if the seat was properly installed, and can offer additional car seat installation tips. Some retail stores that carry baby products periodically hold classes to teach parents how to put in a car seat, and can also inspect a seat that has already been installed.
