How to install a child seat in the car?

A car seat is not a fashionable part of a car interior, not even a comfortable seat for a baby. This accessory is required if you are traveling with a child under 12 years old. All children are very active both on the street and in the car, well this is their age. So - this is your headache, how to make your child safe on the way. A seat belt is a bad option, but a car seat is a good and reliable product. We think that many will agree with us that it is possible to allocate money from the family budget, for the safety of the child. According to statistics, a properly installed product can really save a child’s life, and believe me, these figures are not just taken from the ceiling. The topic of the article is how to install a car seat in a car, it seems like I’ve bought everything, but it’s not enough just to purchase an accessory, you need to take into account several small but very important details:

• the age of the child;
• his height;
• mass.

We will deal with everything in more detail.

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Types of Mounts

There are two common mounting options.

Using regular belts

Many people consider this method of securing a child car seat as the most convenient, since all cars are equipped with seat belts. However, it is not so simple.

The method has several disadvantages:

• This is not entirely reliable.
• When securing a category 0 chair, the length of the straps may not be enough.

Important! If the length of the car belts was not enough to fasten the car seat, you can not build them yourself. Contact the after-sales service or a car dealer for specialists to choose the right length straps.

What to look for:

• When using standard belts, make sure that multi-colored marks are applied to the seats of the car seat at the places where the harnesses are skipped (for installation in the direction of travel - red, against the move - blue).
• We must not forget about the internal five-point straps. As a rule, products with categories 0, 0+ and 1 are equipped with five-point straps.
• Products belonging to categories 2 and 3 are not equipped with these elements.

Fastening with the Isofix system

The Isofix system has a universal design, so it can be used for seats of all brands. Locks on the seat and special steel hinges installed in the car allow you to securely lock the child seat.

Which is better: fastening with regular belts or using Isofix?

• According to statistics, in the first case, errors are made in 60%.
• Application of the Isofix system reduces the probability of error to zero.

Important! Naturally, before purchasing the appropriate model of the car seat, you need to find out if the car is equipped with the appropriate devices.

Other fixation methods

If you are looking for a way to fix a 0+ child car seat, then fixing to the base is considered one of the most reliable and convenient methods for this age group. The basis of the fasteners is a special platform, which is attached using the “Isofix” or standard straps.

Important! In the USA, the Super Latch system is used, which allows you to secure the chair with brackets or special straps. However, in Europe it is not accepted.

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How to fix a child car seat, depending on the category of seat?

In order for the accessory to be fixed according to all the rules, you need to take into account the category of the chair and the age of the child:

• Products of category 0 (cradle for babies) are installed in the back seat. The direction of the head of the cradle is “from the door”.The cradle should be perpendicular to the movement of the car.
• 0 + Seats can only be installed in the back seat. The baby should sit against the movement of the car.
• For category 1 car seats, a child seat can be installed in the back seat or in the front. In both cases, the child needs to be seated in the direction of the vehicle.

Important! The seat must be equipped with internal five-point belts. The main belt is located slightly above the child’s shoulder.

• Group 2 car seats can be installed on both the rear and front seats of the car. The kid is located in the direction of the vehicle. In this case, the belt passes through the center of the child’s shoulder.
• Auto seats of category 3 (they are also called boosters). These products can be mounted both in front and behind the car. The child travels along the direction of the car.

In addition to these features, there are basic recommendations on how to install a child seat in a car.

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Rules for installing a child car seat

These tips will help you avoid inaccuracies when installing a child car seat:

• Carefully read the instructions for the accessory, since the nuances of installation may depend on the brand of the product.
• The most reliable place to install the seat is centered in the back seat of the car.
• Before starting the installation, slide the front seat of the car so that it does not interfere with your work.
• Once you have installed the accessory at the back, pull the harness along the intended area.
• If the seat is equipped with special clips, the procedure for tightening the straps will be much easier.

Important! Some of the seat belts have removable clips. If they are not, then you should use the connecting elements.

• After the accessory is fixed, you need to make sure that the shoulder strap is well fastened. At the same time, its waist part is responsible for fixing the car seat itself.
• Pay attention to the adjustment of the height of the guide for the standard belt. If the guide is too high during an accident or a sudden jerk of the machine, it can squeeze the baby's neck.
• Once the auto-seat is installed, try moving it a bit. If it shifts more than 2 cm, it must be removed and reinstalled.
• Put the baby in the car seat and fasten all the belts. The distance between the child’s body and belts should not be more than two fingers.
• If you remove the product after each use, then each subsequent installation must be carried out in compliance with all rules.
• Loosen or twist the belts.
• Do not confuse horizontal and diagonal straps, as this can harm the baby.
• The safety buckle must not be in contact with the edge of the car seat - it may suddenly unfasten.

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Stock footage

Before attaching a child car seat, read the instructions and make sure that the fasteners are free from defects. The car seat is designed to make your baby’s journey truly safe. For this reason, you must strictly observe the installation rules of this device.