How to install a car seat

Car accidents are stressful at best, and tragic at worst. Although they are the leading cause of death for young children, using the proper car seats correctly means this doesn’t have to be the case.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, child and infant car seats significantly reduce the risks of fatal injury in infants and toddlers in the event of a crash.

Keep reading to see how you can both choose and install the best car seat for your child, and take a look at our traffic safety laws page for more information on state-specific laws.

Choosing the Right Infant Car Seat

Maybe you’re a new parent and have never had to worry about purchasing a car seat before. How do you know whether your child needs a front-facing infant car seat or a booster seat?

Don’t stress—the NHTSA lightens the load of this task by offering an interactive tool to help you choose the best car seat for your child’s age, weight, and height.

Read on to learn the organization’s guidelines.

Rear-facing infant car seats:
- Are usually for children under 1 year old, but if your child can still fit in a rear-facing car seat until they are 1 to 3 years old the NHTSA recommends that you do so.
- Feature a harness strap system and a cradle design to protect a child’s neck and spine in a crash.
Front-facing car seats:
- Are typically for children 4 to 7 years old, OR children under 4 years old who have outgrown their seat’s height and weight maximum.
- Feature a tether strap system that is much safer than a standard seatbelt for young children.
Booster seats:
- Are designed for children 8 to 12 years old, OR children under 8 years old who have outgrown their seat’s height and weight maximum.
- Are built to add extra height so the car’s seat belt fits your child properly.

Car Seat Installation Tips

Don’t be intimidated by the seat once you take it out of the box. While car seat installation may vary slightly from vehicle to vehicle, there are some basics that always apply.

When installing a car seat, make sure to:

Read the instructions. Don’t try guessing—read the directions thoroughly and make sure you clearly understand how to securely install the car seat.
Position car seats in the back seat. This is the safest location in the car for a child to ride.
Reference your vehicle’s manual. Some cars have lower anchors built into the seats that can be used to attach a car seat. Older cars may not have these and require the seat belt to secure the car seat. The owner’s manual will help you find what you need.
Lock the seat belt. If your vehicle doesn’t have lower anchors, refer to your owner’s manual to find out how to lock a seat belt once the seat is in place.
Secure tightly. Once the car seat is in place and attached with either the seat belt or lower anchors, wiggle it side to side, back and forth. It should not move more than 1 inch in any direction.
Adjust the recline angle. For rear-facing seats, it is important that the base of your car seat is level to prevent your child’s head from flopping forward. Most seats will have indicators on the side to help.
Connect the tether strap. Forward-facing infant car seats have an extra strap at the top as an added safety measure. Double check your vehicle and attach and tighten the tether strap if possible to prevent head movement in the event of a crash.

Position Your Child Safely

Once you are finished installing the car seat, you still need to place your child into it properly to ensure their safety. Below are specifics for the harness system in both rear- and front-facing seats.

To properly position your child in the car seat, you will need to:

Remove bulky clothing or unnecessary layers.
Place your child so their backside is flush against the seat without arching or slouching.
Make sure all straps should lie flat against your child without twists or knots.
Check that straps are snug but not too tight.
Verify the chest clip sits level with their armpits.
See that the shoulder straps connect to the seat at or directly below their shoulders.

Safety Seat Inspection

Even if you follow all the directions perfectly, and you’ve checked off all of our safety tips, it’s wise to have your work inspected. There are child safety seat inspection locations across the country where an expert will make sure your child will be safe when buckled in.

If you don’t know where to go, the NHTSA offers a seat inspection location finder for you to quickly and easily find an inspection facility near you.

More Child Seat Safety Tips

Here are a few additional tips all drivers should keep in mind when it comes to child seat safety.

Use a car seat every time your child rides in a motor vehicle.
If you’re transferring your seat to a different car, refer to that car’s manual for specific installation directions.
Keep your child in a rear-facing seat as long as possible—it’s the safest traveling position.
Size, not age, should be the key factor in moving your child to the next seat type.
The back seat is the safest place in your vehicle for a child to ride for age 12 years old and under.

Installing the Car Seat Base With a Seat Belt

Read your car seat’s instruction manual and your vehicle’s owner manual. Pay close attention to the information about your vehicle’s seat belt system, and how to “lock” the seat belt. Every seat and vehicle is different, which affects the way you’ll install your particular seat.
Place the car seat base in the back seat of your vehicle.
Carefully thread the seat belt through the rear-facing belt path. Check to make sure there are no twists in the seat belt.
Buckle the seat belt.
Lock the seat belt.
Press down firmly on the car seat base and tighten. The base should not move side-to-side or front-to-back more than 1 inch.
Make sure your car seat base is installed at the correct recline angle.
- Babies must ride sitting semi-reclined to keep the airway open.
- Most infant car seats have built-in angle indicators or adjustors to assist you.
- As your child grows, the angle may need to be adjusted, so be sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions.
Attach the infant carrier to the base.

Fitting Your Child Correctly in the Car Seat

Place your child in the car seat with the child’s back flat against the car seat.
Place harness straps over the child’s shoulders. Harness straps should lie flat, not twisted, and be placed through the slots located at or below your child’s shoulders.
Buckle the harness and the chest clip, and tighten until snug. The harness is snug enough when you cannot pinch any extra material at the shoulder.
- Bulky clothing or blankets can prevent a snug harness fit. Always buckle the baby in the seat first, and then place coats or blankets over the harness.
- If your baby needs support, fill the empty spaces with small, rolled blankets on each side of the baby’s shoulders and head.
- If there is a gap between the buckle and your child’s groin (common for young infants), try placing a rolled washcloth or diaper in the space for a more secure fit.
- Never put thick padding under or behind the baby unless it is recommended for use by the car seat manufacturer.
Place chest clip at armpit level. This holds the harness straps in place on the child’s chest and shoulders.

Best Practice

When your child outgrows the infant car seat, switch to a convertible or all-in-one car seat and use it in the rear-facing position. These seats typically have weight and height limits for the rear-facing position that allow you to keep your child rear-facing longer. If a baby under 1 year old grows too tall or too heavy for an infant car seat, a car seat with a higher rear-facing size limit is strongly recommended.

Installing the Car Seat Base With Lower Anchors

Read your car seat’s instruction manual and your vehicle’s owner manual carefully. Pay close attention to the location of the lower anchors, and directions on how to use this vehicle hardware.
Place the car seat base in the back seat of your vehicle. In a crash, the back seat is the safest place to be, and rear-facing car seats provide extra protection for your child’s head, neck and spine.
Locate the lower anchors in your vehicle.
Connect the lower anchor attachments on the car seat base to the lower anchors, making sure the straps aren’t twisted.
Press down firmly on the car seat base and tighten the straps. You should not be able to move the car seat base side-to-side or front-to-back more than 1 inch.
Make sure your base is installed at the correct recline angle.
- Babies must ride sitting semi-reclined to keep the airway open.
- Most infant car seats have built-in angle indicators or adjustors to assist you.
- As your child grows the angle may need to be adjusted, so be sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions.
Attach the infant carrier to the base.

Fitting the Child Correctly in the Car Seat

Place your child in the car seat with the child’s back flat against the car seat.
Place harness straps over the child’s shoulders. Harness straps should lie flat, not twisted, and be placed through the slots located at or below your child’s shoulders.
Buckle the harness and the chest clip, and tighten until snug. The harness is snug enough when you cannot pinch any extra material at the shoulder.
- Bulky clothing or blankets can prevent a snug harness fit. Always buckle the baby in the seat first, and then place coats or blankets over the harness.
- If your baby needs support, fill the empty spaces with small, rolled blankets on each side of the baby’s shoulders and head.
- If there is a gap between the buckle and your child’s groin (common for young infants), try placing a rolled washcloth or diaper in the space for a more secure fit.
- Never put thick padding under or behind the baby unless it is recommended for use by the car seat manufacturer.
Place chest clip at armpit level. This holds the harness straps in place on the child’s chest and shoulders.

Best Practice

When your child outgrows the infant car seat, switch to a convertible or all-in-one car seat, and use it in the rear-facing position. These seats typically have higher height and weight limits for the rear-facing position, allowing you to keep your child rear-facing longer. If a baby under 1 year old grows too tall or too heavy for an infant car seat, a car seat with a higher rear-facing height and weight limit is strongly recommended.

Experts Can Help You Install Your Car Seat

Go to a Checkup Event. Safe Kids coalitions have car seat checkup events and inspection stations around the country. Find an event.
Find an Expert. If there isn’t an event near you, look here for a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician who can help you.
Do it Yourself. Take time to read the owner manuals for both your vehicle and your car seat. Each type of car seat is different. We have more tips for installing seats for babies, little kids and big kids.

Find the Best Place in the Car

The back seat is best. It is the safest place to ride for all children under age 13.
Find the best position. Not all cars or SUVs allow for a car seat in every place that has a seat belt. Check your car owner manual to see where you can safely put a car seat.
Consider every passenger. Make sure that the car seat or booster seat for each child riding in the car is in the best possible place. Also, make sure other passengers in the car can ride safely, too.

Use the Seat Belt or LATCH

There are two ways to secure a car seat in a vehicle. Both are safe, but don’t use both at the same time. Here’s a video on installing your car seat.

Seat belt. Place the seat belt through the car seat at the belt path. Look for arrows and directions on the car seat label to show you the correct belt path to use. Use the top tether on all forward-facing car seats.
LATCH. That stands for lower anchors and tethers for children. Car seats have lower attachments that connect to the car’s lower anchor bars. Use the top tether on all forward-facing car seats.

Watch LATCH weight limits. Lower anchor bars have a weight limit of 65 pounds, which includes the weight of the car seat plus the weight of your child. Your car seat label will tell you when to stop using the lower anchors and switch to the seat belt plus tether. Continue to use the top tether until the time your child moves to the belt positioning booster seat.

Congratulations! You’ve found the right car seat to keep your kid safe. Now it’s time to get it in the car.

Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as just buckling the seat in place. But getting it right is crucial; in this study, 91 percent of parents of newborns unintentionally made “serious” misuse of their car seats, mostly errors of infant position or installation, and getting it wrong can have serious consequences. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), vehicle crashes are among the leading causes of death in children between the ages of 1 and 13.

When it comes to car seats, each model—and each vehicle—has its own specific installation needs. Whether you’re getting ready to take baby home from the hospital or trying out a new car seat, you should read the installation instructions for both the vehicle and the seat before you attempt to install it, says Gloria Del Castillo, the senior specialist of community engagement for the Buckle Up for Life program at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Once you’re educated, there are a few other steps you can take to make sure you’re using your car seat properly.

Getting The Right Fit

Not all car seats fit all cars, and vice versa. The type and orientation of the seat will determine how you install it into your vehicle. “Just use the inch test,” says Del Castillo. “If your car seat is installed properly and works with the vehicle, it shouldn’t move more than an inch side to side or forward and back,” she says.

For rear-facing-only seats (e.g., for newborns) and all other seats with a harness, many cars are compatible with the LATCH system (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children), which provides a secure base. Many parents prefer it for peace of mind, but it isn’t always available in every position in the car. For instance, the middle of the back seat may not have lower anchors in that position. In that scenario, you don’t want to try using a tether from the left or right seat, says Lorrie Walker, the training and technical advisor for Safe Kids Buckle Up. You’ll need to either move the car seat to the seating position that has LATCH (check your owner’s manual) or use the seatbelt to secure it. “The seatbelt is the one thing that works in every car in every seating position,” says Walker. Use the seatbelt with a tether for forward-facing seats with a harness, or alone with rear-facing seats.

How to Install a Car Seat

Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For Help

NHTSA has very specific instructions on how to install each type of car seat, but sometimes trying it on your own can be intimidating. Fortunately, local certified child passenger safety technicians can happily inspect your installation for free and help you learn the crucial steps to secure your little one; NHTSA has a directory to help you find an inspection station near you. Similarly, classes may be available in your area, like the 88 courses GEICO has sponsored in alignment with the Tucson Medical Center Booster Seat Program since 2015.

Buckle Up

Once the car seat is properly installed in the back seat, make sure you know how to put your child in it. For rear-facing seats, it’s important that the harness go through the slot at or below your child’s shoulders. Once you switch the seat to a forward-facing position, the harness should go through the slot at or above the child’s shoulders. Either way, make sure the strap is flat, not twisted, and properly buckled at the chest clip. Buckle Up For Life recommends the “pinch test” to make sure it’s tight enough. If you’re able to pinch any of the straps vertically between your fingers, then you need to tighten it. Another good way to tell, says Del Castillo, is to slide your pinky under the strap. If you can fit any more than that, then the strap needs to be tighter.

Though it may seem intimidating at first, using your car seat properly will become second nature after a while. And look for a model that makes life easier. “The best child safety seat is the one that’s appropriate for the age and weight of your child and convenient enough for you to use it properly every trip,” says Del Castillo.

Installing the Car Seat With a Seat Belt

Read your car seat’s instruction manual and your vehicle’s owner manual. Pay close attention to the information about your vehicle’s seat belt system, and how to “lock” the seat belt. Every seat and vehicle is different, which affects the way you’ll install your particular seat.
Place the car seat in the back seat of your vehicle, in the rear-facing position.
Carefully thread the seat belt through the rear-facing belt path. Check to make sure there are no twists in the seat belt.
Buckle the seat belt.
Lock the seat belt.
Press down firmly on the car seat and tighten.
- You should not be able to move the car seat side-to-side or front-to-back more than 1 inch.
Make sure your car seat is installed at the correct recline angle.
- Babies must ride sitting semi-reclined to keep the airway open.
- Most car seats that can be used rear-facing have built-in angle indicators or adjustors to assist you.
- As your child grows the angle may need to be adjusted, so be sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions.

Fitting Your Child Correctly in the Car Seat

Place your child in the car seat with the child’s back flat against the car seat.
Place harness straps over the child’s shoulders. Harness straps should lie flat, not twisted, and be placed through the slots located at or below your child’s shoulders.
Buckle the harness and the chest clip, and tighten until snug. The harness is snug enough when you cannot pinch any extra material at the shoulder.
- Bulky clothing or blankets can prevent a snug harness fit. Always buckle the child in the seat first, and then place coats or blankets over the harness.
- If your baby needs support, fill the empty spaces with small, rolled blankets on each side of the baby’s shoulders and head.
- If there is a gap between the buckle and your child’s groin (common for young infants), try placing a rolled washcloth or diaper in the space for a more secure fit.
- Never put thick padding under or behind the baby unless it is recommended for use by the car seat manufacturer.
Place chest clip at armpit level. This holds the harness straps in place on the child’s chest and shoulders.

Best Practice

Read the car seat manual carefully and remember that children should ride rear-facing until they reach the top weight or height limit.

Installing the Car Seat With Lower Anchors

Read your car seat’s instruction manual and your vehicle’s owner manual. Pay close attention to the location of the lower anchors, and directions on how to use this vehicle hardware.
Place the car seat in the back seat of your vehicle, in the rear-facing position.
Locate the lower anchors in your vehicle.
Connect the lower anchor attachments on the car seat to the lower anchors, making sure the straps aren’t twisted.
Press down firmly on the car seat and tighten the straps.
- You should not be able to move the car seat side-to-side or front-to-back more than 1 inch.
Make sure your car seat is installed at the correct recline angle.
- Babies must ride sitting semi-reclined to keep the airway open.
- Most car seats that can be used rear-facing have built-in angle indicators or adjustors to assist you.
- As your child grows the angle may need to be adjusted, so be sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions.

Fitting the Child Correctly in the Car Seat

Place your child in the car seat with the child’s back flat against the car seat.
Place harness straps over the child’s shoulders. Harness straps should lie flat, not twisted, and be placed through the slots located at or below your child’s shoulders.
Buckle the harness and the chest clip, and tighten until snug. The harness is snug enough when you cannot pinch any extra material at the shoulder.
- Bulky clothing or blankets can prevent a snug harness fit. Always buckle the baby in the seat first, and then place coats or blankets over the harness.
- If your baby needs support, fill the empty spaces with small, rolled blankets on each side of the baby’s shoulders and head.
- If there is a gap between the buckle and your child’s groin (common for young infants), try placing a rolled washcloth or diaper in the space for a more secure fit.
- Never put thick padding under or behind the baby unless it is recommended for use by the car seat manufacturer.
Place chest clip at armpit level. This holds the harness straps in place on the child’s chest and shoulders.

Best Practice

Read the car seat manual carefully and remember that children should ride rear-facing until they reach the top height or weight limit for the rear-facing position before you move them to the forward-facing position with a harness and tether.

You’re a handy guy. You can replace a light bulb and unclog a toilet. How hard can it be to install a car seat? Two hours later, you’re scratching your head, trying to figure out the easiest way to do it while also keeping your baby safe and sound.

Car seat instruction manuals are terribly confusing because they list numerous ways to secure it. Really though, you only need to focus on the latch system. That’s the gold standard, and every car made after 2002 (and even some before that) uses this system. It utilizes built-in steel anchors in the car, and latches from the car seat.

It makes installing a breeze — once you know how to do it, that is (I can now install and uninstall a car seat in under 5 minutes). So why list those other ways in manuals? Just in case you happen to be driving a classic Corvette and need to tie your baby in with the seat belt. Here’s a hint though: don’t do that. Save the Corvette for when you’re driving by yourself; you don’t want baby vomit getting your seats all dirty anyway.

I’m only going to cover the latch system here, largely because most parents of car-seat-age children are driving a car that’s less than 15 years old.

1. Get to Know Your Car Seat

Almost all car seats these days utilize a “click and connect” type system in which the car seat base stays permanently in the car, and the actual seat where the baby lies clicks easily in and out. Makes it super easy to carry your baby into the grocery store or coffee shop.

Close up of the latch that has the buckle.

From the back of the seat, you’ll see straps with hooks at the ends (sometimes it’s separate straps, sometimes the hooks are connected by a single strap). These are what you use to secure the seat in the car. One side will have a buckle for loosening and tightening.

That red dial is for raising and lowering the seat to ensure it’s even — car seats are in fact tilted back quite a bit for the comfort of adult riders.

Some newer car seats use more of a clip than a hook-type latch. These are even easier to install (and tighten — which is often the hardest part).

2. Find the Anchors in Your Car

The metal anchors used to secure the car seat base are incredibly easy to find, and always marked with this little plastic tab. The anchors are found directly below this tab; sometimes they are easily visible, and sometimes they’re a little more hidden in the seat (as is the case in my own vehicle).

A close up of the anchor. The latch goes right over that bar and securely hooks in.

Those marks and indentations? The marks of parenthood (and car seats). They aren’t going away anytime soon, FYI. Nowadays, you can buy special pads that will theoretically protect against that.

Each back seat in a car (including the captain’s seats in minivans) will have two of these anchors — one for each side of the car seat base — already installed. Again, that’s any car made after September 1, 2002.

3. Place and Position the Car Seat

Infant car seats are positioned so the baby is facing the rear. This means the higher end of the base goes against the seat.

Somewhere on your car seat you’ll see a level like this. You want it to be all blue — no red showing at all. If you do see some red, you need to turn that red dial — which adjusts the gray booster, seen in the first photo of this step — to level things out.

4. Attach the Latches

Grab the first hook — in my experience it doesn’t much matter which side is first — and line it up with the anchor. I have found, especially when it’s hidden in the seat a little bit, that it’s easiest to start with the hook sideways, then slip it over the anchor and turn downward to secure it.

Attach the other side after doing the first one.

5. Tighten it up!

The side with the buckle has a strap to pull in order to tighten the car seat and really clamp it down. This is the hardest part. That tightening strap is just darn stubborn — has been on every car seat I’ve installed, which has been a few more than just my own. And I’ve commiserated with other dads about this too.

Really the only way you’ll get it tight enough is to put your bodyweight on that base (so that the seat cushion compresses), get a comfortable grip on the strap, and pull with all your might. Helps to even get a knee up on the base. Ultimately, baby’s car seat shouldn’t move more than about an inch side to side (at the rear, that is; the front will understandably move a little more). It will have some wiggle, but not much.

Once it’s tightened, you’re good to go!

To loosen the straps and uninstall, you’ll then press down on the button on the buckle, and pull down/away. This also sometimes takes a tremendous amount of force. On clip-style latches, it’s usually a quick-release button that makes it even easier.

The latch system carries through to other types of car seats as kids get older, too. You can see it here at the bottom of our toddler’s seat (the latch/buckle looks exactly the same despite being a different brand).

If you have never installed a car seat in a Volvo, you may feel overwhelmed. Many advances have taken place with car seats to ensure a easy installation and comfortable, safe travel for your child. While Volvos may be some of the safest cars on the road, the addition of a car seat is a requirement in all states for children under a certain weight (each state has different weight requirements.) Later model Volvo’s use the Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system.

Locate the lower anchors and tethers for children in the Volvo. There are two located in the back seat on both the passenger and the drivers side. This allows you to place the car seat on either the diver’s side or passenger side. The LATCH looks like a belt with a hook at the end.

Position and hook the seat. The car seat should lay flat between the hook LATCH 2. There are two latch attachments on each car seat 2. Hook the LATCH attachment farthest away from the anchor latch. Push your knee or arm into the car and press hard until you can hook the second latch attachment 2. Pull the LATCH attachment straps as tight as you can.

Test the seat for movement. The car seat should not be able to more than an inch in any direction. If it does, tighten the seat straps.

Route your lower anchor strap through the right area of the car seat. Forward facing car seats the strap should go through the back. Rear facing car seats the strap needs to go through the child’s legs.

Choose your car seat to fit the child and car. Try different makes of car seats, some fit Volvos better than others.

Have a professional inspect your car seat. Your local fire department or children’s hospital have Certified Child Safety Seat Inspections.

Warnings

Never place your car seat in the middle of the back seat row. Some people think this is safer or more convenient, but Volvo strongly advises against it.

Never leave your child unattended in a car seat.

Check your car seat for manufacturer recalls.

car seat safety

At Chicco, child safety is our priority – especially when it comes to riding in the car. That’s why we’re committed to helping parents and caregivers learn the ins and outs of proper car seat safety, including how to install a car seat, and whether a forward- or rear-facing car seat is the best option for your child.

How to Install a Car Seat

Rear-Facing: Why and How Long

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that children ride rear-facing in their car seats as long as possible. Because rear-facing is the safest option for growing children whose skeletal systems are still developing, be sure to maximize the height or weight limits of the seat. According to the AAP, “this will include virtually all children under 2 years of age and most children up to age 4.” 1

When rear-facing, a child’s head, neck and spine are all supported by the car seat during an accident.

Children are flexible. What seems cramped to you is not necessarily uncomfortable for a toddler.

Since kids’ bones and joints aren’t fully developed yet, they’re much more flexible than adults. Even though riding rear-facing longer may require them to cross or prop up their legs, these seating positions are no big deal to a flexible toddler and allow for crucial protection of the head, neck and spine. 2

When rear-facing, a child’s head, neck and spine are all supported by the car seat during an accident.

Secure Car Seat Installation

LATCH vs. Seatbelt

When installing a car seat in your vehicle, you can use either the vehicle seat belt or LATCH system. (LATCH stands for “lower anchors and tethers for children.”) Both methods are equally safe, so choose the one that gives you a confident, tight and secure fit. Check the owner’s manual for your vehicle and your child’s car seat for details and specific instructions. For forward-facing car seats, always supplement your installation with the top tether. 3

LATCH installation is only approved up to a certain weight. Refer to the labels/manual for your child’s car seat and switch to seat belt installation when the time comes.

The Inch Test

To ensure your installation is secure, do the “inch test” by giving the car seat/base a tug forward and from side to side. If it moves more than one inch in any direction, uninstall and start over. 4

Getting Help

If you have questions or want hands-on assistance, SafeKids.org can help you find a car seat checkup event in your area or contact a local child passenger safety technician (CPST). You can also get in touch with a nearby CPST via

How to Install a Car Seat

Installing with LATCH

How to Install a Car Seat

Installing with the Vehicle Seat Belt

Car Seats Can Expire

Check the seat for a label or imprint indicating the date of expiration. Often it’s 6-10 years after its date of manufacture. 5

When your child outgrows the height or weight limits of the harness, remove the harness and use the seat as a booster. Be sure to carefully follow the instructions on how to convert your seat to a booster.

Some younger children may outgrow the weight or height limit of the forward-facing car seat with a harness but may not be ready to stay seated properly in a booster seat using the lap and shoulder belt. If this is the case, look for a harnessed car seat with higher size limits.

Converting Your Car Seat to a Booster Seat

Read the manufacturer’s instruction manual for your seat and the portion of your vehicle owner’s manual on child restraint systems before you begin converting your combination car seat to a booster seat. Because every car seat and vehicle is different, it’s important to follow all instructions carefully.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to remove the harness.

How to Use a Booster Seat

Place the booster in the back seat of your vehicle. Make sure the booster seat fits flat on the vehicle seat.
Have your child sit in the booster seat.
Pull the seat belt across your child’s body and buckle the seat belt.
Make sure the belt fits your child properly. If the seat comes with seat belt guides, use them to achieve good belt positioning.
1. Adjust the lap belt so it lies snugly across the child’s upper thighs, not across the stomach.
2. Adjust the shoulder belt so it rests across the chest.
Check the fit of the seat belt often.

Best Practice

Continue using the booster seat until your child is big and mature enough to fit an adult seat belt properly. Even if the child is not present, booster seats should be secured in the vehicle at all times. When not buckled in place, the booster seat can be tossed around the vehicle causing injury to vehicle occupants during a crash or sudden stop.

Each car seat model works slightly differently, but most car seats fasten in to the car through anchors or seat belt straps. You should consult your car seat’s manual to determine which specific method your seat uses.

Understanding Car Seat Types

How to install a car seat properly depends on the type of car seat you need to install. Car seats fall into three main types: rear-facing car seats, front-facing car seats, and booster seats.

Rear-Facing Car Seats

Rear-facing car seats must always be secured in the back seat, and they use either an anchor system or a base that can be secured with a seat belt.

Front-Facing Car Seats

When children outgrow the manufacturer’s recommended top height and weight limits for a child seat, they are ready for a front-facing car seat. These seats can also be secured by either an anchor or a seat belt system.

Booster Seats

Once children outgrow the front-facing car seat, they will use a booster seat. Boosters are usually affixed using the vehicle’s installed safety belts.

Installing Your Car Seat or Booster Seat Safely

No matter what type of car or booster seat you have, installing a car seat will always involve certain standard guidelines. These steps will ensure a secure car seat installation.

Read the Owners Manual: Every car seat or booster seat comes with thorough instructions from the manufacturer. This manual will include detailed information about how to install your car seat. Don’t skip ahead and try to guess about the proper installation. The best way to securely install a car seat is by thoroughly reading and following the directions provided by the manufacturer.
Review Your Car’s Manual: Cars come with different car seat safety features that will help you securely install your car seat. Some have anchors built in to the seats that are used to secure a car seat. Refer to your vehicle’s manual to find out if your car has anchors and where they are located.
Put Your Car Seat in the Right Spot: The back seat is the safest place in the car for children to ride. Rear-facing car seats should always be installed in the back seat, but kids should stay in the back after graduating from rear-facing seats, too—even in a front-facing or booster seat. If possible, place the car seat in the center of the back seat, which is the safest spot in the vehicle. Car seats should never be placed in seats with active airbags.
Lock Seat Belts: If your car doesn’t come with lower anchors, check the owners manual to find out how to lock the seat belt. Locking the seat belt once the car seat is installed adds extra security and ensures that the belt won’t come loose.
Use the Tether Strap: Some front-facing car seats come with an extra strap included as an additional safety measure. The tether is usually located at the top of the seat and should be attached to the vehicle to prevent head movement in the event of a crash.
Tighten It Up: Once the car seat is installed and affixed to the anchors or seat belt, make sure everything is as tight as possible. Wiggle the seat back and forth and from side to side. If it moves more than one inch in any direction, you need to tighten up the restraints that secure the seat to the car.
Adjust the Angles: When using rear-facing car seats, you need to make sure that the base of the seat is level. If the base is angled, the child’s head can fall forward, making them less safe during vehicle travel. Most car seats have level indicators on the side of the seat to help you identify if the base is not level.

Keeping your child safe whether you’re on the road or at home is a top priority. Be sure to save this child safety seat how-to, and bookmark other safety resources, to make sure you’re prepared for safety in every situation. We also have a helpful guide to choosing a reliable car seat or booster seat, so read through that to ensure you find a safe seat for your little one.

How to Install a Car Seat

How should I install a child car seat?

With great care. Fitting and securing your child’s car seat correctly is essential to his safety.

So before you start, read the instruction manual that came with the seat, as well as your car’s user manual. Then follow the instructions exactly.

It may not be the most thrilling of reads, but this part is crucial. Studies show that around seven out of 10 child restraints aren’t fitted correctly, or aren’t being used properly (RACV nd) .

A child who isn’t restrained properly may be killed at speeds as low as eight kilometres an hour (Roadwise nd, RSGB nd) . That’s just above walking pace. And if your child is thrown forward during an accident because he isn’t properly restrained, he could also injure, or even kill, other people who are sitting in the car.

So it pays to take extra time and care to fit your seat correctly and securely.

Should I fit my child’s car seat myself?

You can, but car safety experts strongly recommend having your child’s car seat fitted professionally, at least for the first time (RACV nd) . Capsules and rear-facing or convertible seats – the ones that will best protect your newborn on the roads – can often be the toughest to fit properly.

If it’s possible, watch the car seat fitting expert carefully while she fits the restraint into your car and ask lots of questions while she’s doing it. Read the instruction manual and keep it in a safe place for future use, or watch instructional videos online.

How should I choose a child car seat?

All child car seats sold and used in Australia must comply with Australian Standard 1754 (CREP nd) . It’s one of the most stringent child car seat standards in the world, ensuring your child is better protected in a crash. And since 1995, all new passenger cars are required to have anchor points for child restraints.

It’s the law on car seats that all children under the age of seven years old must use a child restraint or booster seat when travelling in a car.

The two most important things to consider when buying a child car seat are:

the age and size of your child
whether the car seat will fit in your vehicle

Congratulations! You’ve found the right car seat to keep your kid safe. Now it’s time to get it in the car.

Getting The Right Fit

How to Install a Car Seat

Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For Help

Buckle Up

November 2, 2019 // by Nasreen Stump

Congratulations – you have a baby on the way! You made lists, researched brands, weight limits and gear, and swore to yourself that you’d still wander the globe with Junior in tow. If you plan to travel with a baby, be sure to buy a travel-friendly car seat. The right car seat makes it so much easier, but begs the question: how do I safely install a car seat without a base?

Travel with baby requires buying a travel friendly rear-facing car seat.

City dweller? Frequent traveler? If you frequently use taxis or ride share services like Uber and Lyft, you’ll want to buy a car seat you can install without a base. Convertible car seats are great, but can require tethers and latch systems that aren’t speedy for installation. We personally own a Britax Clicktight, but we also owned a Britax B-Safe for travel when my son was a baby.

Don’t get tripped up on the rules of baseless car seat installation. These tips will turn you into a pro.

How to Install a Car Seat From choosing the best car seat to installation in an Uber or airplane, these are the best tips on how to safely install a car seat without the base. Travel tips for babies and toddlers that require an infant car seat or high backed car seat.
Photo Credit: Encrier from Getty Images Pro.

How to Choose a Travel-Friendly Car Seat for Easy Baseless Installation

When it comes to infant bucket style seats, there are two major types: standard and European belt path. Most infant carriers come with bases for convenience. This means that parents can just plop them onto the already installed bases, listen for the click and go. The majority of these car seats can also be installed without the snap-in base, following some simple steps.

Most parents examine safety ratings and ease of install before they buy a car seat. But if you will be using ride shares and taxis regularly, consider buying one with a feature called “European belt path.” A European belt path allows you to stretch the shoulder part of the seat belt behind the infant car seat and secure it through a special “belt path” on the back. That gives the car seat two spots where the seat belt holds it in rather than just one.

A baseless car seat installation is possible even without a European belt path. But the second anchor will give you peace of mind if you regularly travel with a baby.

Practice Installing Your Car Seat Without a Base Before Travel.

Don’t let the first time you install a car seat with no base be when you need to. Practice makes perfect. Try installing the seat — both with and without the baby in it — before you travel. Practice before you go, more than once.

Practice installing the seat on both the center of the back seat and the sides. Studies have shown that the center position in the back seat can be up to 43 percent safer for baby. But some center seats bump out a bit, which can make installation tricky.

What is the right installation? One that you feel confident is secure. Go with what you feel most comfortable with.

TravelingMom Tip: Check your area for car seat fittings or workshops with a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician. You can call your local hospital, first responders and retails stores to locate one.

How to Install a Car Seat in Uber Without the Base

Let’s walk step by step through a baseless car seat installation.

Place your car seat, rear-facing, on the rear vehicle seat- never the front seat near an airbag.
Pull out the seat belt; thread the lap section through the lap belt guides on the car seat.
Put the shoulder belt portion through making sure it lies flat. (If your car seat has a European belt path you will pull the shoulder belt behind the car seat and secure it in that belt path.)
Check the level indicator if your car seat has one.
Buckle the safety belt.
Pull down on the shoulder belt to activate the locking mechanism.
Push on the car seat and pull on the safety belt to make sure your installation is tight. The seat should not move more than one inch if you try to wiggle it.
Double check that the seat is level.

Checklist for a Baseless Car Seat Installation

You’ve practiced installation and you’re ready for your first road trip with a baby. Here are a few last minute hints to be sure the baseless car seat installation goes smoothly.

Have your infant buckled into the car seat and ready to go. Remember that the same rules apply as in your own car, so be sure the child is securely strapped in without any poofy coats or unsafe car seat add-ons. Their chest clip should be fastened at armpit level.
Going in a taxi? Tell the driver to start the meter while you install. This will relieve some of the “rushed” feeling and allow you to put your full attention on the install without the driver getting frustrated.
Perform the above-mentioned installation instructions.
Before you shut the door to the car make sure the seat is tight (no more than one inch of wiggle in any direction), level (check your car seat manual to see what the visual on the car seat should look like), and that the seat belt is locked.
Never shut the door until the car seat is fully installed. This signals to the driver that you are ready to go!

Official Blog

How to Install a Car Seat

Last month, we told you that Cars.com announced the Toyota RAV4 was at the top of its class for car seat installation. But what does that mean, and how can that even be determined? It basically means that Toyota has gone above and beyond to make sure that car seats can be easily and properly installed. After all, car seats won’t work if they aren’t installed the right way. This got us wondering: what is the correct way to install a carseat in the Toyota RAV4?

How to install a rear-facing car seat in the Toyota RAV4

The first step to installing a rear-facing car seat into a Toyota RAV4 is to place the car seat in the RAV4 and secure the car seat using the RAV4’s lower LATCH anchors. This will secure the child seat much better than regular seat belts will. Next, you’ll want to make sure that the car seat is reclined sufficiently so the child’s head won’t be bent forward for the duration of the trip. The Toyota RAV4 offers a large enough backseat to accommodate rear-facing car seats, so you should have plenty of room to guarantee the car seat is reclined the proper amount. Now you’re ready to put the child in the car seat, so make sure you put the shoulder straps in the lowest possible position and adjust the harness straps.

How to install a front-facing car seat in the Toyota RAV4

Most car seats require different harness slots, so the first step to installing a front-facing car seat into the Toyota RAV4 is to read the instruction manual for your car seat. Once you’ve determined the proper harness slots, you’ll need to put the car seat into the RAV4 and make sure the bottom is flat against the seat and the back of the car seat is straight against the back of the seat. Then, look for the car seat’s belt path. They are usually located in the back of the seat and market with stickers. Now you’re ready to attach the car seat to the RAV4’s LATCH anchors, and you’re all set to put your child in the vehicle!

While this is a basic how-to guide, it’s important to consult your car seat’s instruction manual to make sure you are getting the most specific information you can. If you’re interested in test driving the Toyota RAV4 , stop in and see us at Serra Toyota of Decatur or schedule an obligation-free test drive online.

Placement and orientation of the car seat

The safest place for a car seat is in the back seat. Never use a rear-facing seat on a passenger seat fitted with an airbag. It is illegal to do so, unless the airbag has been deactivated. According to Transport Canada, car seats or booster seats should never be used in the front seat.

If your car has side airbags, make sure your child sits properly in his seat and does not lean close to, or against, the door or window. Again, check with the manufacturer how far the airbag comes out as it deploys.

While the middle seat is statistically the safest place because it is the furthest point from any impact, it may not be the safest if the car seat or booster seat cannot be safely installed in this seat.

Older children using the seat belt or a booster seat must use a lap AND shoulder belt to be safe. If the middle position has a lap-belt only, save that position for a harnessed car seat. Children also must have head support in the car to the tops of their ears. If the middle seat does not have a headrest, a child in a seatbelt or backless booster seat will be safer in a seat with a head rest.

Your child’s weight and height, as well as the regulations in your province or territory, are the determining factors in deciding which car seat is best, which Transport Canada calls the “car time stages”.

Babies and toddlers from birth up to about 18 kg (40 lbs), which is from birth to 2, 3 or even 4 years old. A rear-facing seat is recommended for as long as they still fit the height and weight limits for their seat.

Children from 10 kg and 30 kg (22 lbs to 65 lbs), and if provincial/territorial law allows, your child can use to a forward-facing seat harnessed seat. There is an overlap in the weight ranges of forward and rear-facing seats, and if you have a choice it is best to use a rear-facing seat as long as you possibly can as children are safest in this position.

From 18 kg (40 lbs), and not before four years old, a booster seat can be used. A booster seat boosts a child up so that the adult seat belt fits their smaller bodies. The law varies from province to province but generally states that children must use an appropriate child’s seat (not solely an adult seatbelt), until they fulfill certain criteria.

Many provinces require children to use booster seats until they meet certain criteria. Booster seats are required in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, Ontario, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Yukon, and Newfoundland and Labrador. The booster laws do vary slightly across Canada, so it’s best to check with your provincial or territorial regulations.

A child is safest in a booster seat until they are at least 4’9” tall (145 cm) and pass the five-step test for using the adult seat belt.

Although there are many car seat options, the safest restraint is the seat that fits your car, your budget and your child that will be used correctly on every ride.

Steps for installing your seat successfully

Always follow the manufacturers’ instructions when fitting the seat and keep them for future reference. With convertible seats, this is particularly important as you will need the instructions again when changing the seat to its forward position.
Fit your child car seat as firmly as possible with no excessive movement when testing where it attaches to the vehicle.
If it is difficult to get a firm fit, try installing the seat in another seating position. If in any doubt, contact your local public health or police department to see if they can recommend a local Child Passenger Safety Technician or check event so you can make sure the seat is installed correctly.

Using the installed car seat

The harness should be adjusted on every trip. If there is any slack in it, this drastically reduces the protection it gives your child. Straps should be snug, so you can’t pinch the strap horizontally at the collarbone. The harness buckle should be as low as possible to keep the lap section of the harness across your child’s pelvis, not resting on his stomach.

Having chosen and installed your seat correctly, remember that your child could be still be injured if not strapped in properly, and that does not just mean tightly. The harness, chest pads and shoulder height must all be correctly adjusted according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

By Jennifer Newman

September 10, 2019

The verdict: It’s hard to beat a full-size pickup truck when it comes to hauling the kiddos, and the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 crew cab proves our point, earning nearly all A’s in our Car Seat Check. It also fit our three car seats across its spacious backseat.

Does it fit three car seats? Yes

Take a look at how the Latch system and each car seat scored below in our Car Seat Check of the 2020 GMC Sierra 1500.

Grade A

Latch system: The GMC Sierra 1500 has two sets of lower Latch anchors in the outboard seats, which were easy to connect to. It has three tether anchors behind the head restraints. To use the tether anchors, you’ll need to run the tether strap through the tether loop directly behind your car seat and then connect the tether strap to the tether anchor found behind the seat next to your car seat. It can be confusing, so check the owner’s manual for more info.
Infant seat: This rear-facing car seat installed easily in the Sierra 1500 and fit well. There’s so much rear legroom that we didn’t need to move the front passenger seat forward to accommodate the car seat.
Rear-facing convertible seat: This car seat was a breeze to install thanks to its rigid Latch connectors; legroom was not an issue.

Grade B

Forward-facing convertible seat: The tether setup can be a little tricky in the Sierra 1500 (and all full-size pickup trucks with a crew cab), but other than that, the forward convertible installed easily.
Booster: Our high-back booster seat fit well on the GMC Sierra’s wide rear seats. We install the booster seat behind the driver’s seat. In the Sierra, the seat belt buckle in that position has a long, floppy strap, making it difficult for little ones to use on their own. The other rear seat belt buckles are on stable bases, which may be easier for your child to use.

Grade C

About Cars.com’s Car Seat Checks

Editors Jennifer Geiger, Jennifer Newman and Matt Schmitz are certified child safety seat installation technicians.

For the Car Seat Check, we use a Graco SnugRide Classic Connect 30 infant-safety seat, a Britax Marathon convertible seat and Graco TurboBooster seat. The front seats are adjusted for a 6-foot driver and a shorter passenger. The three child seats are installed in the second row. The booster seat sits behind the driver’s seat, and the infant and convertible seats are installed behind the front passenger seat.

We also install the forward-facing convertible in the second row’s middle seat with the booster and infant seat in the outboard seats to see if three car seats will fit; a child sitting in the booster seat must be able to reach the seat belt buckle. If there’s a third row, we install the booster seat and a forward-facing convertible. Learn more about how we conduct our Car Seat Checks.

Parents should also remember that they can use the Latch system or a seat belt to install a car seat, and that Latch anchors have a weight limit of 65 pounds, including the weight of the child and the weight of the seat itself.

How to Install a Car Seat

One of the several reasons you need a car booster is because it would keep your baby safer than a typical car seat. In fact, this is one that your baby can grow with because it’s designed solely for babies from infant hood to their youth stage.

Now, the level of the safety henceforth, aside from those we listed aforetime, depends on the product that you purchase.

Moreover, what you’d be mindful after the purchase is the critical ways to install a car booster so that your baby can be ultra-safe, right? Yes! You’d want to be clinical about this so that your baby can obtain maximum safety and remain comfy.

And guess what? Here is the best way to learn how to car booster seat. All you need is to ensure that you purchase one that you know is washable, and your child would love to use it over and over again.

Nonetheless, the construction of car booster seats is different. It’s their differences that determine the manner they can be used. However, the viability of its use is proportional to the weight of the baby at that point.

Therefore, they need severe consideration before mounting a car booster is a specific direction. Once that’s done, here are tips that you can imbibe in mounting your car booster regardless of the shape:

8 Things to Consider about How to Install a Car Booster Seat:

Types of Car Booster Seat

There are three major types of car booster seats. Some come singly, while some are detachable into the three major sections. The sections are:

1. Backless Car Booster Seat

This is a car booster seat that doesn’t have a high-back. However, one can only use the typical high-back of the car seat for the conveniences of the baby. You’d still need to ensure that you use the appropriate size for your car seat so that your baby would be at full ease.

2. High-Back Car Booster Seat

The car booster seats that have a high-back are somewhat found to feature recline. This is an addition that makes the whole comfort measurable and predetermined.

It also increases the safety of the baby from the pelvis to the head. However, that depends on the product you purchase.

3. Harness Points

Harness points vary. The number of points on a unit is the number of safety measures that are in the design. Moreover, the importance of this decrease as the child grows. And, it’s found in most modern car booster seats.

4. Applicable Tips

There is a need to know if the dimension of the car booster seat suits the size of your car seat. You’d still have to find out the part that suits the placement of your car booster seat the most. This would aid you in having the best set up of the unit.

Besides, some car booster seats are transformable in to several types. Indeed, that’s why you need to consider the next step before any other thing.

5. Instructions

There are innumerable approaches required in installing car booster seats, so it isn’t straightforward to be assertive. However, you must consider the instructions listed on the manual before any other thing. This would make the work easier.

In cases whereby there are difficulties in assimilating the instructions on the manual, then you might need to use the tips that we’ll be enumerating in the next section. This may be of immense help to you than you ever thought.

Mounting of the Car Booster Seat

Remove the product from the box and make sure that you mount it on the seat.
Place it on the surface of the car seat and ensure that it’s firm and not hanging around the edge.
Allow the clip of one of the seat belts to pass through the car booster seat.
Know the side that suits the spot that you’re mounting the car booster upon matters. And, what you need to consider is the spot where the splitter plate is located behind the car seat and where suit the placement of the car booster seat.
You can ask your baby to sit on it so that you can have a glimpse of its conveniences.

6. Threading of the Seat Belt

After that, you can ensure that you pass the seat belt and clip it to the “recipient.” Clip and know whether the car booster seat is lingering or staggering around the edge or not.

Howbeit, ensure that the belt passes from one section to another on the car booster seat when connecting it from one end to another. This would make it firmer.

Another thing is that the belt is expected to pass across the torso of your baby so that it could keep it safe. However, that’s not a criterion, though. It’s one of the necessities to ensure your child’s safety.

Some car booster seats are designed to pass through a medium from the interior, and some are the exterior. Indeed, that’s why you still need to consider reading the manual before any other thing.

Safety Tips

Make sure that you register your car booster seat immediately after purchase so that you can validate it for purchase.
Make sure that you return the product if it doesn’t fit your car.
Ensure that the seat belt has a good grip of the car booster seat.
It’s safer following the diagrammatical depiction of the manual for explicit knowledge. Also, consider the weight limit as stipulated by the manufacturer so that your baby won’t end up breaking it.
Supervise its use so that it can be safe for your kid always.

7. Removal of the Car Booster Seat

It should be easier if you install the booster seat yourself. Howbeit, if you’re not the one that did the assembling, then trace the set up so that you can easily remove it.

Also, you need to understand the construction of your car matters, too. Trace the belt seat so that you can have the right method of doing that explicitly.

8. Repetition

Once you’ve done that, it’s expedient that you do it again. The continual practices of this would make you an expert in no time.

Final Verdict

This is how to install a car booster seat. The eight steps are virtually an addition to what you’ve learned from the manual. Please note that this can’t be the best replacement for your manual. However, you can use it as a subset. It’s one that would be of immense help, trust me.

Adjusting car seats can be a hassle, particularly if the you have a bad back. Although, the adjuster lever position is ergonomic, a button located on the armrest or the dashboard to bring about the desired adjustments is more convenient. Power seats are available and though it may be challenging, with a simple push of a button, you will have the seat adjusted for your comfort after it is completed.

Removing the Factory Seats

Step 1

Park the car in neutral and engage the hand break. Remove the bolt caps located on the front and backside of the seat rail. Loosen the rear bolts securing the seat to the frame of the car; then loosen the ones in the backside of the seat rail.

Step 2

Collapse the seat for better handling, take the bolts out of their grooves and gently lift the seat off.

Pull out the seat gently and take it out of the car. Put this seat away. Repeat the same steps for the front passenger seat.

Installing the Power Seats

Step 1

Clean the area around the seat rail with your hand-held vacuum cleaner and lubricate the rails sparingly.

Step 2

Collapse the power seat and gently place it on the rails. Keep the wires clear of the rail.

Step 3

Finger tight the bolts in the front and back. Inspect the rail and the seat and make sure they are of the same length. If they are, tighten the bolts and replace the bolt caps. This replaces the seats.

Step 4

Run the wires for both the seats under the foot panel of the door-sill and attach it with the fuse box according to the wire diagram provided with the power seats. Use a 20-amp fuse to complete the circuit between the seat and the switch. Test the seat before attaching the switches with the dashboard.

Step 5

Unscrew the console and gently pull it off. The switch for the power seat is most ergonomic on the center console. Use your speed drill and make a small hole in the center console for the wires to run through. Run a set of wires from the 20-amp fuse to the center console. Cut any excess wire length. Clip on the switch over the hole in the center console; the switch shall cover the hole and attach cleanly.

Attach the wires with the switch and test the switch repeatedly. Clip on the switch over the hole in the center console. Make sure the switch shall cover the hole and attach cleanly.

Lubricate the seat rail to reduce stress on the motor of the power seat.
Attach the switch in such a position that is easy to access but away from any unintentional activation.
After installation is complete, sit in the seat and test the operation. If you notice any abnormal smell or see smoke, immediately switch off the car, disconnect the battery and check the power seat and its connections.

Warnings

Seat rail lengths may vary from vehicle to vehicle so make sure to measure the rail your vehicle before acquiring replacement seats.
Loose wires can cause sparks resulting in fire. Be careful not to leave any wire loosely connected or improperly insulated.
The fuse box houses all the fuses electronics of the car rely on. Make sure it does not interrupt another device’s performance.
Working with grease inside the car can leave hard to remove blotches on the carpet of the car so use old newspapers to cover the carpet around the seats.

Items you will need

Two power seats
Power wire
Variable speed drill
Vacuum cleaner
20-amp fuse
Wire clippers

This article was written by the It Still Works team, copy edited and fact checked through a multi-point auditing system, in efforts to ensure our readers only receive the best information. To submit your questions or ideas, or to simply learn more about It Still Works, contact us.

Although it is optimal to use a car seat base with a car seat, there may be times when this is not possible, such as while traveling. You may need to install your car seat in a taxi cab, a friend or grandparent’s vehicle or even on an airplane. It should be noted that there are some car seats that cannot be installed without a base — check your owner’s manual to be sure.

Position the car seat on the back seat facing the rear. Infant car seats must always face rear — never forward or even sideways.

Route the lap belt portion of the seat belt under the belt guides and buckle it.

Make sure that the level line on the car seat, if there is one, is level with the ground. Place a rolled towel underneath the front part of the car seat if needed to keep the seat stable and secure.

Tighten the belt as much as possible by pulling on the shoulder section until it locks.

Push the car seat into vehicle seat and seat back with your arms and tighten the seat belt even further.

Make sure the belt locks into position each time you tighten it. If it does not lock, you may need to purchase a locking clip.

Double check what you have done. Make sure the seat belt is tight and locked, the car seat is stable and cannot be rocked more than one inch back and forth or side to side. If there is a line on the car seat to indicate level, make sure that it is level with the ground.

Local sheriff’s offices, police stations or fire stations usually have someone on staff who is certified to check that car seats have been installed correctly. Take yours to be checked if you have any question at all about its installation.

Warnings

Installing a car seat without a base is not optimal. Using a base is always the best way to ensure the car seat is as secure and stable in the vehicle as possible.

How to Install a Car Seat

Now, the level of the safety henceforth, aside from those we listed aforetime, depends on the product that you purchase.

8 Things to Consider about How to Install a Car Booster Seat:

Types of Car Booster Seat

There are three major types of car booster seats. Some come singly, while some are detachable into the three major sections. The sections are:

1. Backless Car Booster Seat

2. High-Back Car Booster Seat

The car booster seats that have a high-back are somewhat found to feature recline. This is an addition that makes the whole comfort measurable and predetermined.

It also increases the safety of the baby from the pelvis to the head. However, that depends on the product you purchase.

3. Harness Points

4. Applicable Tips

Besides, some car booster seats are transformable in to several types. Indeed, that’s why you need to consider the next step before any other thing.

5. Instructions

Mounting of the Car Booster Seat

Remove the product from the box and make sure that you mount it on the seat.
Place it on the surface of the car seat and ensure that it’s firm and not hanging around the edge.
Allow the clip of one of the seat belts to pass through the car booster seat.
Know the side that suits the spot that you’re mounting the car booster upon matters. And, what you need to consider is the spot where the splitter plate is located behind the car seat and where suit the placement of the car booster seat.
You can ask your baby to sit on it so that you can have a glimpse of its conveniences.

6. Threading of the Seat Belt

After that, you can ensure that you pass the seat belt and clip it to the “recipient.” Clip and know whether the car booster seat is lingering or staggering around the edge or not.

Howbeit, ensure that the belt passes from one section to another on the car booster seat when connecting it from one end to another. This would make it firmer.

Some car booster seats are designed to pass through a medium from the interior, and some are the exterior. Indeed, that’s why you still need to consider reading the manual before any other thing.

Safety Tips

Make sure that you register your car booster seat immediately after purchase so that you can validate it for purchase.
Make sure that you return the product if it doesn’t fit your car.
Ensure that the seat belt has a good grip of the car booster seat.
It’s safer following the diagrammatical depiction of the manual for explicit knowledge. Also, consider the weight limit as stipulated by the manufacturer so that your baby won’t end up breaking it.
Supervise its use so that it can be safe for your kid always.

7. Removal of the Car Booster Seat

It should be easier if you install the booster seat yourself. Howbeit, if you’re not the one that did the assembling, then trace the set up so that you can easily remove it.

Also, you need to understand the construction of your car matters, too. Trace the belt seat so that you can have the right method of doing that explicitly.

8. Repetition

Once you’ve done that, it’s expedient that you do it again. The continual practices of this would make you an expert in no time.

Final Verdict

Installing your baby’s rear-facing car seat into the Lexus RX crossover SUV is similar to other rear-facing installs 13. Because the RX has LATCH anchors and ample room in the backseat, most car seats should fit safely and easily in the seat. Check your car seat’s manual to make sure you’re installing it per its manufacturer’s instructions to prevent injury or death 13.

Installing an Infant Car Seat with LATCH

Locate the LATCH anchors on either window seat in the backseat of your Lexus RX. Vehicles manufactured after 2002 all have LATCH, so your RX will have it, too.

Place the base on the seat. Make sure that it’s level. Many bases come with level indicators on the side of the base. Look at your indicator to determine if your seat is appropriately level. The RX has 36.8 inches of legroom in the back seats, so this should be enough for your seat to remain level; however, if your seat is bulkier, you can move the front seats up a bit as needed.

Locate the LATCH attachments. These are black belts with hooks at the end.

Clip the LATCH hook farthest from you into its corresponding LATCH anchor.

Clip the other LATCH hook into its corresponding LATCH anchor.

Tighten the straps. Use your body weight to push down on the base to make sure you tighten any slack.

Place the car seat onto the base. You should hear a click.

Installing an Infant Car Seat with a Seat Belt

Place the base on one of the back seats. See Section 1, Step 2 for instructions on making sure your base is level.

Thread your lap and shoulder belt through the base’s belt path and plug the latch plate into the buckle.

Push down on the base while pulling on the seat belt to make sure the base is secure.

Put the car seat on the base.

If your Lexus RX model has leather seats, you can place a plastic perforated sheet, similar to what you might line your cupboards with, to prevent the seat from sliding.

Many people use the infant car seat systems with bases for the first year of a child’s life or until he reaches the maximum weight. You can also simply purchase a convertible car seat that you can turn around when your child is old enough. Many of these seats can fit babies as small as 5 lb.

How to Install a Car Seat

A car seat that normally clicks into a base can also be used without a base in rideshares and taxis. Photo Credit: Nasreen Stump

Choosing the correct car seat for your baby is one of the first big decisions parents make.

Before your baby is even born, you likely spent hours researching which car seat to buy. You chose one you believe will be easy to use and will keep your baby safe and secure. But did you think about how much time you will spend in other people’s cars?

If you live in a city where you will use taxis or rideshare services like Uber and Lyft or you travel to areas where you will use them, you’ll want to consider buying a car seat you can install without a base.

Baseless car seat installation can be tricky. These tips will turn you into a pro.

Pick the right seat for a baseless car seat installation

When it comes to infant bucket style seats there are two major types: standard and European belt path. Most infant carriers come with bases for convenience sake. This means that parents can just plop them onto the already installed bases, listen for the click and go. The majority of these car seats can also be installed without the snap in base following some simple steps.

Most parents examine safety ratings and ease of install before they buy a car seat. But if you will be using rideshares and taxis regularly, consider buying one with a feature called “European belt path.” A European belt path allows you to stretch the shoulder part of the seat belt behind the infant car seat and secure it through a special “belt path” on the back. That gives the car seat two spots where the seat belt holds it in rather than just one.

A baseless car seat installation is possible even without a European belt path. But the second anchor will give you peace of mind if you regularly travel with baby.

Practice makes perfect when it comes to baseless car seat installation

What is the right installation? One that you feel confident is secure. So go with what you feel most comfortable.

How to Install a Car Seat with No Base

How to Install a Car Seat

Installing a baseless car seat in a rideshare or taxi is as easy as Step 1, 2, 3, 4, 5! Photo Credit: Nasreen Stump

Let’s walk step by step through a baseless car seat installation.

Place your car seat, rear-facing, on the vehicle seat.
Pull out the seat belt; thread the lap section through the lap belt guides on the car seat.
Put the shoulder belt portion through making sure it lies flat. (If your car seat has a European belt path you will pull the shoulder belt behind the car seat and secure it in that belt path.)
Buckle the safety belt.
Pull down on the shoulder belt to activate the locking mechanism.
Push on the car seat and pull on the safety belt to make sure your installation is tight. The seat should not move more than one inch if you try to wiggle it.
Double check that the seat is level.

Checklist for a Baseless Car Seat Installation

You’ve practiced installation and you’re ready for your first trip. Here are a few last minute hints to be sure the baseless car seat installation goes smoothly.

Have your infant buckled into the car seat and ready to go. Remember that the same rules apply as in your own car, so be sure the child is securely strapped in without any poofy coats or unsafe car seat add-ons.
Going in a taxi? Tell the driver to start the meter while you install. This will relieve some of the “rushed” feeling and allow you to put your full attention on the install without the driver getting frustrated.
Perform the above mentioned installation instructions.
Before you shut the door to the car make sure the seat is tight (no more than one inch of wiggle in any direction), level (check your car seat manual to see what the visual on the car seat should look like), and that the seat belt is locked.
Never shut the door until the car seat is fully installed. This signals to the driver that you are ready to go!

Good luck and happy travels with your baby!

Lake Ford helped make these videos

How to Install a Car Seat

We are still working to obtain content for your car, however the video above is believed to have similar characteristics as your car.

Learn how to install a car seat in your 2014 Toyota Highlander. Regardless of whether your make has the latch system or the seat belt attachment method, this video shows how to tether a baby seat or a booster seat to the rear seats. In addition this video shows how to connect rear facing infant car seats, forward facing child seats and booster with latch seats. The connection point to your 2014 Highlander is then same regardless of what car seat is chosen. Note that most rear facing car seats do not utilize the center anchor point to connect the car seat but rely on the two lower anchor points exclusively. The center anchor point is typically only used for forward facing car seats. You should always defer to the owners manual for your specific car seat for size determinations and front vs rear facing recommendations.

Determining whether your child should be front facing or rear facing in your 2014 Toyota Highlander is dependent on the height and weight of your child and the specific car seat model. The rear facing position is safest and children should remain rear facing as long as possible. It is imperative that newborns are always rear facing.

Method 1 of 2: Installing a rear-facing car seat

A newborn will be placed in a rear-facing car seat. They will remain in this position until they are at least two years old or meet the minimum requirements for front-facing seats.

Step 1: Attach the tethers to the car seat. All cars manufactured after 2002 are required to have lower anchors and tethers, which provide more security than seatbelts. This is known as the LATCH system.

Clip the two lower restraint belts to the LATCH loops on the seat bottom.

The loops are rigid, fixed to the seat frame near the join between the seat back and the seat bottom.

Press down on the seat to secure it tightly then pull the adjustment straps to hold the seat firmly in place. It shouldnвЂ™t move more than an inch in any direction when it is attached correctly.

Tip: If you have leather seats, place a towel under the child seat to prevent the plastic base from cutting into the leather surface.

Read the car ownerвЂ™s manual for exact placement of the anchors and tethers for the make and model.

Step 2: Make sure that tethers are secured properly. Check the tethers to make sure they are secure and arenвЂ™t twisted.

Step 3: Adjust the seat to the correct angle. Adjust the angle of the car seat to match what is indicated on the seat itself or the instructions that come with the seat.

Some child seats come with a level attached to the seat to assist in correctly angling the seat.

To adjust the angle, loosen the LATCH belts, fold a towel to the necessary height, and insert it under the seat.

Tighten the belts again and recheck the angle.

Method 2 of 2: Installing a forward-facing seat

Step 1: Determine the best position for the child seat. Not every place that can accommodate the LATCH system is approved for use with a forward-facing child seat.

Check your ownerвЂ™s manual or your car manufacturerвЂ™s online resources to determine the best placement for a front-facing child seat.

Step 2: Attach the car seat in place. Place the child seat in its spot and snap the LATCH belts onto the lower LATCH loops.

Locate the upper LATCH anchor strap and put it over the seat back. There will be a LATCH loop on the seat back or on the back dash to connect the strap.

Check to make sure all belts and tethers are secure and not twisted.

Step 3: Pull the straps tight. Bear your weight into the child seat with your knee to press it firmly down onto the seat, compressing the cushion underneath.

Pull up on the bottom LATCH straps until the seat is tight.

Pull the upper LATCH strap firmly, ensuring the child seat is tightly in place.

The child seat should not move more than an inch forward or to either side.

Tip: You can go to a fire station and ask for help with installing a car seat. They will be glad to assist you in proper placement.

Take the time to learn correct placement of a car seat to ensure your child stays safe no matter how long the trip you are taking. Make sure you have a car seat that fits your childвЂ™s height and weight for the best protection, and always properly secure your child in their seat every time.

Baby is due any day now and you want to make sure the car seat is installed properly and ready and waiting for the new arrival. However, you have encountered one small little problem. You have absolutely no idea how to install a car seat and the directions that came with the seat dont seem to make much sense at all. You are overly nervous about having this car seat installed perfectly before the birth of your infant and you have struggled with the directions and the car seat for hours to no avail. Its a good thing you are worried, too, because more than 80% of car seats are not installed correctly. This is an overwhelming percentage and its better safe than sorry.

Fortunately, installing a car seat is fairly easy although it does depend significantly on what kind of car you have. Most car seats are now LATCH compatible as are new cars; however you might have an older car and need to use the seatbelt. The following instructions will help you figure out which option is for you and then how to install the car seat with both methods.

LATCH Car Seats
First of all, LATCH stands for lower anchors and tethers for children. If your car was made after 2002 it is more than likely has the LATCH system and all new car seats today do. With this all you need is the car seat and the latches that are installed on your car. You simply hook the latches on the car seat to the hooks that are in the middle of the seats and your car seat is ready to go. You may need to do some tightening and adjusting of belts, but nothing more. The LATCH system makes installing car seats much easier and you dont have to contend with the seat belt at all.

Seatbelt Installation
If you have an older car or if the combination of your seats and your car seat dont allow for a LATCH installation then you will need to use the old standby seatbelt installation. Dont worry, it is just as safe, but it requires a different setup.

First, you will need to find the belt path and place the belt through these slots. Once you get the seatbelt threaded you will need to place all of your weight on the seat to flatten the cars seats so you can tighten the belt as much as possible. You dont want any slack in the lap or shoulder belt. There is a locking clip that comes with new car seats that will make your installation even safer. Make sure that the angle of the car seat is always 45 degrees. Most new car seats have a gauge on the side that shows you if the seat is installed at the correct angle or not.

Things to Remember
All car seats come with directions and a lot of times personnel from the store you bought the car seat from will be willing to help you install it correctly. However, just to make sure you are riding your infant around in a perfectly installed car seat you might want to visit a fire station where there are individuals who are certified in child seat installation. They can check it for you and help you install the seat correctly.

By Jennifer Newman

September 18, 2018

Editor’s note: This Car Seat Check was written in December 2016 about the 2017 Nissan Titan. Little of substance has changed with this year’s model. To see what’s new for 2018, click here, or check out a side-by-side comparison of the two model years.

Nissan’s redesigned 2017 Titan competes with other full-size pickup trucks such as the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Ram 1500. When properly equipped, the Titan can tow more than 9,000 pounds and carry more than 1,500 pounds of payload. What we loaded it with in our Car Seat Check won’t tip the scales quite that high. We tested the 2017 Titan Platinum Reserve crew cab with a leather interior and room for five. It easily fit our three car seats across its roomy backseat.

How many car seats fit in the second row? Three

Solid

Latch, grade A: The Titan has two sets of lower Latch anchors in the outboard seats. The anchors are in slits in the seat cushions and are easy to use. The three tether anchors sit behind the rear seatbacks. They were surprisingly easy to use despite their hidden location.
Infant, grade A: This seat fit well. There were no installation issues and no need to move the front passenger seat forward.
Rear-facing convertible, grade A: This seat also fit well. There were no installation issues and again, there was ample front passenger legroom.
Forward-facing convertible, grade A: To install the forward-facing convertible, the owner’s manual recommends removing the head restraint first and then installing the car seat using the lower Latch anchors before connecting to the top tether anchors. We followed those instructions but made sure to add a lot of slack to the Latch straps before connecting to the lower anchors. Next, we folded the seatback forward and connected the tether strap to the anchor, tightening the strap as much as possible. After putting the Titan’s rear seatback into the upright position, we were able to keep tightening the tether strap (that’s not always possible with this tether design). We then tightened the lower Latch straps to get a secure fit. After all that effort, the forward convertible fit well.

So-So

Booster, grade B: The booster fit well, but the Titan’s floppy seat belt buckles will likely make it difficult for kids to buckle up independently.

Skip It

Grading Scale

Solid indicates an A grade for optimum ease of use and fit. So-So indicates B or C grades for one to two ease-of-use or fit issues. Skip It indicates D or F grades.

A: Plenty of room for the car seat and the child; doesn’t impact driver or front-passenger legroom. Easy to find and connect to Latch and tether anchors. No fit issues involving head restraint or seat contouring. Easy access to the third row.

B: One room, fit or connection issue. Some problems accessing third row when available.

C: Marginal room plus one fit or connection issue. Difficult to access third row when available.

D: Insufficient room, plus multiple fit or connection issues.

F: Does not fit or is unsafe.

About Cars.com’s Car Seat Checks

Editors Jennifer Geiger, Jennifer Newman and Matt Schmitz are certified child safety seat installation technicians.

By Jennifer Geiger

September 17, 2015

How to Install a Car Seat

CARS.COM — The Latch system was designed to make child-safety seat installation easier for parents, but sometimes it doesn’t work out that way. Despite the fact that all automakers have been federally mandated to include the anchors as standard equipment on all vehicles since September 2002, all Latch systems are not created equal, as we often discover during our Car Seat Checks. Many parents think that using the Latch anchors to install a car seat is a safer choice for their child than using a seat belt. Using a seat belt can be just as safe — if it’s done correctly.

Related: More #FamilyCarAdvice

Buried or nonexistent anchors mean that the seat belt is often your best — or only — option when installing a car seat. This might make parents nervous, but a car seat installed with a seat belt can be just as safe as one installed with the Latch system, provided you know what you’re doing. Follow these tips to ensure safe car-seat installation with a seat belt in your vehicle.

Most seat belts have a switchable retractor with two modes. In Emergency Locking mode, the seat belt strap can be pulled freely and will only lock into a tight, fixed position when the car abruptly slows or stops. You can switch a seat belt out of Emergency Locking mode and into Automatic Locking mode by pulling the belt freely until the strap webbing runs out, then ratcheting the slack back into the retractor for a fixed, tight strap.

You can switch between these two modes in most vehicles, which is important when installing a car seat: In order for a child-safety seat to be safely secured using a seat belt, you must make sure your car’s seat belt is in Automatic Locking mode:

Step 1: Using your car seat’s manual, find its seat belt path; this is a set of slots or holes generally located near the Latch connector strap path on the seat.

How to Install a Car Seat

Step 2: Feed the seat belt strap through the appropriate car-seat belt path and buckle the seat belt.

How to Install a Car Seat

Step 3: Pull the vehicle’s seat belt all the way out of the retractor. Do this slowly. You should hear a click when it’s all the way out.

How to Install a Car Seat

Step 4: Feed the belt slack back into the retractor, listening and feeling for a ratcheting motion. If this isn’t working, reference your car’s owner’s manual. Some vehicles have a button that switches between modes.

How to Install a Car Seat

Step 5: Pull up on the seat belt strap and feed it in as far as it will go, so the strap is completely taut and rigid. In a crash, the seat belt won’t move at all, holding the car seat in place in much the way a Latch connector does.

How to Install a Car Seat

Step 6: If installing a forward-facing car seat, don’t forget to connect the tether strap to the vehicle’s top tether anchor. Just because you’re not using Latch to install the car seat doesn’t mean you can skip the tether anchor connection. Using the tether anchor lessens your child’s risk of head and neck injuries in a crash.

If your car’s seat belt retractor doesn’t go into Automatic Locking mode — which could be an issue in older cars — you’ll need to look at the owner’s manual and lock the seat belt strap using the buckle’s latchplate. This is the section of the buckle that holds the buckle clip to the strap. It can be locked so that the buckle doesn’t slide along the webbing, effectively removing slack from the seat belt and locking it into position. Look for a small switch on the buckle.

If this still doesn’t work, you’ll need a belt shortening clip, which is a small metal clip that allows you to take out the seat belt’s slack. A certified child-safety seat installation tech will have one; click here to find a tech near you.

Regardless of how you lock your child’s seat belt, it’s important to make sure your car seat isn’t able to move more than an inch side-to-side. If your car seat is installed incorrectly, it will move around in the seat because the belt is not properly securing it, increasing the risk of injury in a crash. It’s also important to note that this should never be done with a belt-positioning booster, only with harnessed-based car seats. Boosters should be only be buckled in using the car’s default, emergency mode.

By Jennifer Geiger

September 3, 2019

Editor’s note: This Car Seat Check was written in February 2018 about the 2018 Toyota 4Runner. Little of substance has changed with this year’s model. See what’s new for 2019 or check out a side-by-side comparison of the two model years.

The verdict: The rugged Toyota 4Runner SUV is the kind of vehicle that can handle just about anything — on- and off-road — and it turns out that its backseat is just as capable when it comes to pulling family duty. The Toyota 4Runner has standard seating for five (an optional third row increases capacity to seven) and it easily fit three car seats across its second row. We tested the two-row version, and it earned high marks across the board for its roominess and accessible Latch system.

Does it fit three car seats? Yes

Take a look at how the Latch system and each car seat scored below in our Car Seat Check of the 2019 Toyota 4Runner.

A Grade

Latch: Two sets of lower anchors sit in slits in the leather and are accessible; the seat reclines for even better access. Three top tether anchors sit near the top of the seatbacks; they’re clearly marked and easy to use.
Infant: This seat was easy to install in the Toyota 4Runner and our 5-foot-6-inch front passenger had ample legroom.
Rear-facing convertible: Again, this seat was easy to install in the SUV and our front passenger again had abundant legroom.
Forward-facing convertible: Installation was easy, and the seat fit well and had ample room after we removed the head restraint.
Booster: After removing the head restraint, this seat also fit well. The Toyota 4Runner’s buckles are on stable bases, which should make them easier for kids to grasp and use independently.

B Grade

C Grade

About Cars.com’s Car Seat Checks

Editors Jennifer Geiger, Jennifer Newman and Matt Schmitz are certified child safety seat installation technicians.

See all 23 photos

There are a lot of reasons you may want to swap out the seats in your ride. Maybe the stocker is a giant bench and you want buckets, or like so many 70s and earlier models, they don’t recline. Regardless of the reason, there is an entire subsection of the automotive aftermarket dedicated to vehicular seating. While the most common muscle cars have direct bolt-in options, most cars fall into the universal fit category. Take this 1969 Road Runner. The factory buckets were in good shape, but they were not the most comfortable and they certainly did not match our updated design.

The interior design calls for four bucket seats; two in front and two in the rear. This means we need four matching seats. We selected the Elite style from ProCar by Scat. The seats come with sliders that bolt directly to the seat. ProCar offers a universal seat bracket, but they work best with flat floors, commonly found in full-frame vehicles. Uni-body cars like the Mopar B-body have uneven floors with corrugations that eliminate the universal brackets. We could elevate the universal brackets off the floor with spacers, but that can lead to other issues and they don’t exactly have a cool look either. We need to make our own brackets.

Seat brackets are more than just a mount; there are safety considerations to take into account for the design. The main issue is stability. Under heavy acceleration/braking and to a slightly lesser extent cornering, your seat mounts see heavy stress. The brackets have to support your weight, which in reality is being transferred to 4 small bolts in the floor pan. The reason you don’t see seat brackets that run side to side without any connecting points front to rear is because the main stressor is the front to rear plane. Instead, your brackets need to run front to rear along the seat.

We could modify the original seat brackets, but the sliders were built-in to the brackets and there was enough rust damage to make them unstable, so we opted to design new brackets based on the original. This means that the new brackets will match the floor pan and have the right angle, because they need to run downward front to rear. This Road Runner is a show and go, so we need to dress them up as well. To accomplish that, we added some dimple-die holes on the sides.

The original seat brackets were stamped from 14-gauge steel with engineered corrugations to make them strong. We don’t have the ability to form steel that way, so we upgraded the metal to 11-gauge, which is 1/8″ thick. Once fully welded, the new brackets will be very sturdy, and the dimple-died holes add strength to the long, wide vertical sections.

Materials needed
11-gauge cold rolled steel
5/16″ Grade 8 bolts, nuts, and washers (4 per seat)
Matching bolts for your seats (ProCar seats use metric bolts)

Tools required
Welder
Grinder
Drill and bits
Clamps
Tap and die set
Optional tools include dimple dies, press, drill press, and band saw

The entire process took about two days to complete. Once the brackets were built and test fit, we powder coated them to match the rest of the components in the car. Building new seat brackets is not difficult; you just need to focus on building them strong so that they are safe and functional. The last thing you want is for a seat mount to fail while you are driving.

See all 23 photos

The original brackets are stamped steel with a built-in slider, besides not matching up to the new ProCar seats, they are not exactly good looking. The outer (shown) have a taper that runs front to rear, which gives the seat a semi-reclined position. Each section was measured and the new plates were cut to match the design.

See all 23 photos

One issue with the original design is that the offset of the original mounts would have exposed fasteners on the new design. Instead of the Z design, we opted for a C shape, which will allow the fasteners to be hidden from view.

See all 23 photos

The 2-inch wide lower mount was clamped to the table, while the vertical plate was positioned at approximately 65-degree angle. We can’t run the vertical plate straight up due to the floor pan shape and the offset of the seat mount to the lower reinforced mounts on the floor.

See all 23 photos

After the lower section was tacked together, the upper mount was positioned using welding magnets.

See all 23 photos

Using a square, the upper mount was checked for square with the lower mount. It is important that this relationship be parallel.

See all 23 photos

With everything set and in the correct position, the brackets were welded up. We welded the inside joints with a 1-inch bead every 2 inches, and the outside joints were fully welded.

See all 23 photos

There are two different seat brackets, outside and inside. The inside floor pan sits higher than the outside, about an inch, so the inside brackets have to be shorter to match. This is all based on the original seat brackets, so the math is easy.

See all 23 photos

To add some strength and style to the mounts, we used a set of dimple dies from Hornet Machine. 4 different sizes were used to make a line of decreasingly smaller holes in each bracket. We marked the centerline and then split that into four points for the holes. Once marked, each hole was drilled for a pilot hole.

See all 23 photos

We used a set of Blaie Holecutters to make quick work of the holes. A drill press makes this task easier, but it can be done by hand.

See all 23 photos

The dimple dies can be used with a press, hydraulic knockout tool, or a large grade 8 bolt. The dies press the metal between each half, creating a dimple.

See all 23 photos

We used a press, which is the fastest method. If this had been done before the brackets were welded, the plate would warp and have to be flattened again.

See all 23 photos

Here you can see the difference between the dimpled and non-dimpled holes. The dimples add strength and a lot of character.

See all 23 photos

The upper mount is not finished quite yet. In order for the slider to fit (the slider mounts are recessed slightly) and to add some thickness for the threads, we needed to weld in some more plate.

See all 23 photos

The ProCar sliders have riveted L brackets which were designed to allow vertical adjustment. These have to go. We drilled the rivets to remove them.

See all 23 photos

You can see the recess here. The holes left by the rivets will be used to mount the sliders to the seats.

See all 23 photos

The holes were marked, drilled and then tapped for a -20 grade 8 bolt.

See all 23 photos

We bolted the slider to the mount and operated the slider to make sure the bolt head does not interfere with the action of the slider.

See all 23 photos

At this point, the sliders were bolted to the seat and again checked for smooth action.

See all 23 photos

The seats were set into the car, and we used the existing bolt holes in the floor pan to mark the new brackets for the bolts. They were drilled and then the seat bolted down. All that was left was to powder coat the brackets

Choosing the Right Infant Car Seat

Car Seat Installation Tips

Position Your Child Safely

Safety Seat Inspection

More Child Seat Safety Tips

Installing the Car Seat Base With a Seat Belt

Fitting Your Child Correctly in the Car Seat

Best Practice

Installing the Car Seat Base With Lower Anchors

Fitting the Child Correctly in the Car Seat

Best Practice

Experts Can Help You Install Your Car Seat

Find the Best Place in the Car

Use the Seat Belt or LATCH

Getting The Right Fit

Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For Help

Buckle Up

Installing the Car Seat With a Seat Belt

Fitting Your Child Correctly in the Car Seat

Best Practice

Installing the Car Seat With Lower Anchors

Fitting the Child Correctly in the Car Seat

Best Practice

1. Get to Know Your Car Seat

2. Find the Anchors in Your Car

3. Place and Position the Car Seat

4. Attach the Latches

5. Tighten it up!

Warnings

Rear-Facing: Why and How Long

Children are flexible. What seems cramped to you is not necessarily uncomfortable for a toddler.

Secure Car Seat Installation

LATCH vs. Seatbelt

The Inch Test

Getting Help

Car Seats Can Expire

Converting Your Car Seat to a Booster Seat

How to Use a Booster Seat

Best Practice

Understanding Car Seat Types

Rear-Facing Car Seats

Front-Facing Car Seats

Booster Seats

Installing Your Car Seat or Booster Seat Safely

In this article

How should I install a child car seat?

Should I fit my child’s car seat myself?

How should I choose a child car seat?

Getting The Right Fit

Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For Help

Buckle Up

Travel with baby requires buying a travel friendly rear-facing car seat.

How to Choose a Travel-Friendly Car Seat for Easy Baseless Installation

Practice Installing Your Car Seat Without a Base Before Travel.

How to Install a Car Seat in Uber Without the Base

Checklist for a Baseless Car Seat Installation

Official Blog

How to install a rear-facing car seat in the Toyota RAV4

How to install a front-facing car seat in the Toyota RAV4

Placement and orientation of the car seat

Steps for installing your seat successfully

Using the installed car seat

Grade A

Grade B

Grade C

About Cars.com’s Car Seat Checks

8 Things to Consider about How to Install a Car Booster Seat:

Types of Car Booster Seat

1. Backless Car Booster Seat

2. High-Back Car Booster Seat

3. Harness Points

4. Applicable Tips

5. Instructions

6. Threading of the Seat Belt

7. Removal of the Car Booster Seat

8. Repetition

Final Verdict

Removing the Factory Seats

Step 1