Purchasing & Installing

Things to remember when Purchasing a Child Safety Seat:

When purchasing add-on child restraints, be sure they are designed to be used in a motor vehicle. If they are, the restraints will have labels saying that they meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
Since not all child restraints are the same, take the child along when shopping in order to try them in different models.
Before you buy a seat, try it in your car to make sure it fits the vehicle and can be buckled in tightly. If you choose a convertible seat, try it facing both rearward and forward.
Look for the seat you can use facing the rear as long as possible. Read the labels to check weight limits. If you buy an infant-only seat, you will need a convertible seat later.
Choose a seat that you find easy to use and that fits in your vehicle.
Check the ease and safety of latching buckles, straps, locks, and harnesses. Make sure the child can not remove them themselves.
When securing an add-on child restraint into the vehicle, refer to the instructions that come with the restraint, which may be on the restraint itself, in a booklet, or both, and to the vehicle owner's manual.
The instructions that come with the infant or child restraint, together with the vehicles owner's manual, will explain how to secure the child into the restraint, using the restraint's harness system.
Check for, and mail, the child restraint's registration card so the manufacturer can contact you in the event of a recall.

NEVER put a child safety seat in a vehicle seat that faces backwards.
NEVER put a rear-facing child safety seat in front of an air bag.
A vehicles rear seat is the safest place for children.
When using an infant car bed, place the head toward the middle of the vehicle.
Installing a child restraint takes time and is of critical importance.
Refer to all the instructions that come with the child restraint, to the section in the vehicle owner's manual on installation of child restraints, and to the labels that are on both the child restraint and the vehicle.
In order to secure a child restraint in some vehicles, you may need a locking clip or a special additional belt. Check the vehicle owner's manual.
Secure installation of a child restraint may be difficult in some deeply contoured vehicle seats, bucket seats, and raised-center rear seats
The lap part of the belt must hold the safety seat firmly in place. To make it tight, push the safety seat down into the seat cushion while you tighten the belt around it, using all your weight.
To check for a tight fit, pull the safety seat forward and push it from side to side. If the belt loosens or the base of the safety seat slides forward or sideward more than an inch, your child may not be well protected. If the safety seat moves, first try another seat location in your vehicle with a different kind of belt. The lap belt in the middle of the back seat may work best to keep your safety seat in place.