Using your seat correctly will reduce the risk of injuries or death
Read the manual
First read your car seat manual then grab your vehicles manual and read the section about child restraints. Mistakes and questions will be solved if you read!
Direction
-Is your infant seat rear facing?
-Is your forward facing only seat forward facing?
-Is your child under age 2 still rear facing?
-Is your forward facing only seat forward facing?
-Is your child under age 2 still rear facing?
Checking the install
Grab at the belt path of your seat and use the same force you would for a hand shake to move the seat left to right. If the seat moves more than an inch, you need to either reinstall, or tighten the seat belt/lower anchors and tether (which ever you use).
Top tether
All forward facing harnessed seats need to be top tethered, if vehicle permits. If your vehicle doesn't allow it, or you're having a hard time using it, please be sure to install with a lap and shoulder seat belt.
The tether limits head, neck and spine movement in a crash(see image). That being said, only some car seat manufactures allow rear facing top tethering. If you're not sure, check your manual or contact me. |
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Harness height
Rear facing direction seats must have the strap coming out at or below his shoulders.
Forward facing direction seats must have the strap coming out at or above his shoulders.
Forward facing direction seats must have the strap coming out at or above his shoulders.
All straps un twisted
Nothing on your entire car seat should be twisted. Check the seatbelt, lower anchors and tethers, and harness. If there is a twist in a strap, it could add space in the webbing that shouldn't be there, or it could allow the seat to not work properly in a crash.
Retainer (chest) clip
Be sure the clip is at armpit level. During a crash the clip will be against your childs sternum which is a strong bone on your chest. If it's lower, it could cause internal injuries, and if it's higher it could damage the throat and neck.
All slack removed
Using a method called 'The Pinch Test' by taking your index finger and thumb, placing it on the strap near the childs collarbone try to pinch any slack. If you can't, you're good! If you can, use the front harness adjuster by pulling it tight, or if you have a rear harness adjuster, tighten there.
Riding in a belt positioning booster seat
ONLY used by a child who has outgrown the internal harness height of a car seat but not tall enough (less than 4'9'')to ride in a seat belt system.
Always use lap/shoulder belt with booster seats. The lap belt is snug flat across the child's upper thighs and the shoulder belt is snug across the chest not touching the neck.
Always use lap/shoulder belt with booster seats. The lap belt is snug flat across the child's upper thighs and the shoulder belt is snug across the chest not touching the neck.
Seat belt systems
Your child must pass every step in order to ride in a seat belt system alone.
- Does the child sit all the way back against the auto seat?
- Does the child's knees bend comfortably at the edge of the auto seat?
- Does the belt cross in between the shoulder and the neck?
- Is the lap belt as low as possible only touching the upper thighs?
- Can the child stay seated like this the entire trip (including falling asleep)?
You may have all of these things correct in your vehicle and I congratulate you! Check 'mistakes you might be making' to see what you may need to take away or change.