Installing a car seat comes with recurring and periodic fit checks, as your baby is always growing!
Here are some common adjustments that need to be made with car seats:
Remove newborn inserts:most babies grow out of the extra inserts by five months, but it will vary by baby and car seat. Keep this top of mind and be ready to ditch them to ensure proper fit!
Untwist straps:There should never be twisted straps, either with the seatbelt that secures the seat to the vehicle or in the harness straps that secure the baby. Twisted straps can increase risk of injury.
Check for latch weight limits:Be cognizant of any latch weight limits your car seat may have. A latch weight limit means that when your baby gets to a certain weight, the latches are no longer safe to use, and you would need to re-install the car seat using the seatbelt method.
Check harness height:When your baby is rear-facing in their car seat, the harness straps should come from slightly below or at their shoulders – but not from above (the opposite will be true for forward facing). As they grow, you may need to slightly raise the headrest or manually rethread the harness straps depending on your seat.
Check crotch buckle fit:Many seats have different slots for positioning the crotch buckle. In general, you’ll want to ensure it is routed through the slot that is closest to your baby without being underneath.
Adjust recline:The recline you’ll need for a newborn will be different than the recline needed for an older baby. Adjusting recline will vary by car seat, but most have a visual way to check recline on the sides of the seat. Park your vehicle on a flat surface to get the most accurate reading of recline.
Remove crumbs:It’s quite easy for car seats to get messy fast. It’s important to remove crumbs and spills promptly to keep your car seat in good condition.
As your baby gets a little older and more alert, you may be tempted to add a bunch of car seat accessories sold separately. However, these are not safe to use when they did not come with the original car seat. Stick to accessories that come with your specific seat, and remember less is more. Add-ons, even mirrors, can become a projectile risk in the event of a crash. To check your install, connect with a car seat certified technician, such as Safe in the Seat or Car Seats for the Littles.