When shopping for a car seat for your bundle of joy (or soon to be), always compare several different brands for useful features, price, and most importantly, safety features. Another thing to keep in mind is the size of the seat to ensure that it will fit into your car without putting too much pressure on the front seats. If you are using a used infant carrier from another household, check the discard date of the infant carrier as they do become outdated for safety reasons. It is also a good idea to keep yourself updated on recalls at www.cpsc.gov
Getting Started
Once you have bought a safe seat of your choice you are ready to install the carrier in your car! Installing an infant seat is an extremely important process that can be quite confusing at times. It is crucial to follow all directions and familiarize yourself with every feature on your infant carrier before your first use. It is also a good idea to place an emergency medical care sticker somewhere on the carrier with the child’s medical information as well as emergency numbers in case medical professionals need this information to care for your child. Many parents also choose to put their infant carrier fabric in the wash before the first use. Not only does this help wash off any factory debris/dust, but this will help you become more familiar with the workings of your new infant carrier. You may also place a towel on your seat to save the upholstery.
Installation
If your car is equipped with the LATCH system, you may use the belts included with the carrier to clip onto the vehicle seat. If you are using the seatbelt to secure your infant carrier, follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully to secure the carrier. Some carriers require you to pull the seatbelt under the cushioning, and others simply have a notch to hold the seatbelt. After securing your infant carrier down, push down on the carrier with your body weight to pull on loose seatbelt or to tighten the LATCH belt. This will ensure a secure fit while your carrier is in use. Once your baby is placed in the carrier, they should be riding at a 45 degree angle. Most car seats have a system of indicating the correct angle for your child to be seated at the appropriate age.
If you didn’t know already, 3 out of 4 car seats are known to be installed improperly in some way. Whether it is minor or something simple, they still aren’t installed properly. So, consider a few of these steps, and be sure to look at the manual of your vehicle and the manual for the car seat. This can help you make sure all your steps are correct, and that the overall installation process was done properly.
Once the installation is complete, have your infant carrier check by a reliable Car Seat Inspection Station. You can find one near you by visiting http://www.seatcheck.org/.
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